New Hampshire
Mount Moosilauke, 4802 feet
"I live on a one-way dead-end street."
July 2000.
Mt. Moosilauke is the first mountain above tree line for northbounders. When I got to the top it was raining and the winds were so strong that I could not stand up straight to take a picture of the sign. I quickly got myself across the top and to the safety of tree line on the other side. I met two day-hikers (Rob & Bob) coming down who were out doing Moosilauke as one of the 4,000-footers of NH. We came down together, which by the way is one of the steepest downhill sections of the entire trail. I was telling them how I was meeting dad in town that day to hike with him for a few days. They kindly offered to give me a ride to the hotel and so it turned out to be a good day.
I got some great trail magic just south of Mt. Moosilauke in Glencliff, NH from a guy named Roger, who had hiked the trail himself as a section hiker 20 years ago. He now lives near the trail and everyday he drives to the post office at 4pm and if you are there he will pick you up and take you home. He picked up four other section hikers and me, made us dinner and took us back to the trail the next morning. He had an amazing house and a beautiful mural of the AT painted on the inside walls of his barn.
Journal Entry 7.14.00
"7pm at Roger's house in Glencliff, NH. 14.7 miles today from the Hexacuba Shelter. 18 miles yesterday from Moose Mountain Shelter. The hike yesterday was tough over Smarts Mountain, plus it was hot and humid. I was exhausted when I got to Hexacuba. Two-Stepper, L'Escargot, Goodwheels, and Forbin & Mable were also there. This morning i left at 7:15am. Another climb over Mt. Cube and then a tough downhill...I decided that I didn't want to do Moosilauke today. So I got off at Glencliff and found some other section hikers waiting to be picked up by Roger and I decided to join. His house is GREAT! We've had cocktails and cheese and crackers by the pool and are now waiting for dinner. I talked to Dad and it looks like I'll be meeting him at Rte. 112 tomorrow!"
Journal Entry 7.16.00
"8pm at the hotel in North Woodstock, waiting for Dad to come back with PIZZA! Today dad dropped me off at the trail at 7:30am. It was raining hard for the first 2 hours and the hiking was tough all day. Dad hiked into Lonesome Lake Hut to meet me there at 4:45pm. It took me 9.5 hours to do 13.5 miles. Lots of big rocks, tough terrain, scaling up and down over South Kinsman, everything wet and slippery from the rain. Of course it would have been much easier had I slack-packed but I've come this far carrying my pack and I'm not about to start slacking now. My shorts got soaked and I have the worst rub-rash between my legs from them being wet. I can hardly walk. Only 10 miles tomorrow - thank God!!"
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