August 12: One thing I had planned on from the very beginning of this journey: slack pack as much of New Hampshire as possible! The slack packing began today.
Buddy Backpacker's mom, Adriana, offered to shutte some packs to Lincoln. So we were able to hike Mt Moosilauke without packs. Score!
The day started out with a river crossing- I crossed on a fallen log while Sub opted to rock hop across. Then we began the ascent. Slow and gradual at first quickly gave way to steep and rocky. Without packs, though, we made good time. We passed along a path right at tree line, surrounded by 3 foot tall evergreens. It was like a Christmas tree farm!
Buddy Backpacker's mom, Adriana, offered to shutte some packs to Lincoln. So we were able to hike Mt Moosilauke without packs. Score!
The day started out with a river crossing- I crossed on a fallen log while Sub opted to rock hop across. Then we began the ascent. Slow and gradual at first quickly gave way to steep and rocky. Without packs, though, we made good time. We passed along a path right at tree line, surrounded by 3 foot tall evergreens. It was like a Christmas tree farm!
After about a quarter mile of Xmas trees, we again started climbing, this time above tree line with cairns instead of white blazes to mark the way.
The summit of Mt Moosilauke was fantastic! The sky was a blue you usually don't see outside the Caribbean and it was warm enough to hang out for a while.
The descent started tamely enough- pretty much the climb on reverse. Then we hit the waterfall.
The trail grew sharply steep. Steep enough for the reappearance of rebar and the appearance of something new: wooden steps placed into notches in the bedrock. Steep wooden steps. Steep, wet wooden steps from the waterfall spray. Boy was I glad I didn't have my pack! Boy was I glad it wasn't raining
The trail grew sharply steep. Steep enough for the reappearance of rebar and the appearance of something new: wooden steps placed into notches in the bedrock. Steep wooden steps. Steep, wet wooden steps from the waterfall spray. Boy was I glad I didn't have my pack! Boy was I glad it wasn't raining
Our pace slowed down to around one mile per hour. It was agonizing to have to move so slowly.
We reached the road around 2:30 and caught a ride into Lincoln with a couple day hikers who had also just finished the waterfall trail.
In Lincoln, we were staying at Chet's Place, another word- of-mouth hostel that was operated out of Chet's garage for donations.
Chet is a pretty interesting guy. Many years ago, he was injured in a camp- stove explosion. He was burned and in a coma for quite a while. Newspaper articles on scrapbooks around the hostel tell of his rehab to get back moving and living on his own.
Now he has this nice service out of his home for thru- hikers. Shower, laundry, and a bunk for whatever you want to throw in the jar.
We came in, met Chet, found our stuff that had been shuttled ahead, claimed some bunk space, and showered. Then we hit Lincoln for some errands. On the way to town, we passed this colorful house:
We reached the road around 2:30 and caught a ride into Lincoln with a couple day hikers who had also just finished the waterfall trail.
In Lincoln, we were staying at Chet's Place, another word- of-mouth hostel that was operated out of Chet's garage for donations.
Chet is a pretty interesting guy. Many years ago, he was injured in a camp- stove explosion. He was burned and in a coma for quite a while. Newspaper articles on scrapbooks around the hostel tell of his rehab to get back moving and living on his own.
Now he has this nice service out of his home for thru- hikers. Shower, laundry, and a bunk for whatever you want to throw in the jar.
We came in, met Chet, found our stuff that had been shuttled ahead, claimed some bunk space, and showered. Then we hit Lincoln for some errands. On the way to town, we passed this colorful house:
I've been to Lincoln several times before to go to Loon Mountain, but never in the summer. It's like a different town altogether! We hit the outfitter, the post office, the grocery store, and had some food at a cute little restaurant.
Then we went back for laundry.
The weather forecast was calling for rain the next day. So there was a lot of grumbling around Chet's place and a lot of " I don't hike when it rains." We should have known.
With the sheer number of people zeroing the next day, and the sheer number of people who hadn't been to town in a while, it added up to another sleepless night. Some people should not drink!
The weather forecast was calling for rain the next day. So there was a lot of grumbling around Chet's place and a lot of " I don't hike when it rains." We should have known.
With the sheer number of people zeroing the next day, and the sheer number of people who hadn't been to town in a while, it added up to another sleepless night. Some people should not drink!
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