Date: August 13 2000
Trail Day: 74
Miles Today: 13
Location: Old Cube Shelter
Section Mile: AT 412
ECT Mile: 1095
Packrat - one of the guys running the hostel showed a slide show of his PCT
hike. Quite different from the AT - much drier in some areas and lots of
snow in others. All of us slept somewhat late as a result. Got up also
slightly late and got to the trail by about 10 AM. Today's hike was
quite easy but towards the end there was a climb up Mt. Cube which was
quite long and steady. Near the peak the blazes all of a sudden became
different colored - some red and some blue. I continued downhill and
ended up on a dirt road. I did not know if I had taken the wrong trail.
I went to one of the houses and they told me that I had followed an old
trail.
I decided to sleep at the
Old Cube shelter
as it was getting late.
Tomorrow I will have to climb back to the summit and find the right
trail down - quite a pain to have to climb the peak again. This is an
abandoned shelter and has spiders, slugs etc all over.
Date: August 14 2000
Trail Day: 75
Miles Today: 14
Location: Trapper John Shelter
Section Mile: AT 426
ECT Mile: 1119
Last night I heard my plastic food bag rustling. I thought it was mice
getting to my food. But in the morning I found my food intact. Also started
smelling some very bad stuff - turned out to be my socks. They were smelling
much worse than usual. I think I stepped into some awful stuff.
Started hiking back up Mt. Cube. Managed it quite easily. I saw a double blaze
indicating a turn in the trail. How I missed it I don't know. I saw several
places with blue berries - ate some. It started raining about noon and
kept on. I got drenched but was in good spirits. However towards evening
I had had enough and was ready for the shelter.
There was only one other guy in the shelter. He was quite talkative.
He told me all about his gear, hike etc. He is from Boston. It continued
to rain all night.
Date: August 15 2000
Trail Day: 76
Miles Today: 16
Location: Alpha Theta Fraternity, Dartmouth College
Section Mile: AT 442
ECT Mile: 1135
It rained again in the morning. I waited till the rain let up. Saw several
salamanders today. I am also getting into the bad habit of tasting
unknown fruits along the way. I need to cut this out or I may end up
hallucinating or sick.
Easy terrain today. Very muddy though. Saw numerous north bounders. I
think the wave is just coming through. I think they will get to Katahdin
just before they close it for winter.
Also went through a place called Velvet Rocks. It has large rocks covered
with Spanish moss which gives it a velvety feel - looks nice. Got
into Dartmouth College. Its supposed to be a high brow, snobbish college.
Didn't see any evidence of it though. They all looked normal. The
fraternity Alpha Theta takes in thru hikers. So I went there. I have never
been in a frat. Went to the library, checked email, talked to Suriyan,
ate, drank and slept. A zero day tomorrow.
Date: August 16 2000
Trail Day: 77
Miles Today: 0
Location: Tabert House, Dartmouth College
Section Mile: AT 442
ECT Mile: 1135
A O day today. The Alpha Theta fraternity was closing for the season.
Found a place in Tabert House - another fraternity. Bought groceries
for 5 days. Suriyan will be visiting me on August 22 and I wont be
going into town till then. They had Indian food in the store so I
bought them. They are heavy but good. Also ate at the Indian restaurant.
The food was spicy. Tried reading a novel but got bored. All in all
a good O day - my best so far.
Date: August 17 2000
Trail Day: 78
Miles Today: 15
Location: Thistle Hill Shelter
Section Mile: AT 457
ECT Mile: 1150
The next 10 days should be fairly easy. I have to average 15 a day till
I meet Churi and then take some O days.
Had breakfast at Everything but Anchovies. Saw Cannonball there. He
is also at Tabert hall. He is having nail problems and is not sure if he
wants to complete his New York - Katahdin section.
Also there is a couple from Switzerland, another from New Zealand,
Dagan an Israeli whom I have been seeing off and on since Gorham. I took
a photo
of the Switzerland couple. They are Swiss Miss and Swiss Cheese.
Last night they had a party at Tabert house and we could not sleep till
about 2 AM. They were loud.
Today's hike was fairly easy. Started late and finished early but got the
15 miles. The north bound wave is starting to come in. I met about 20 today.
At this shelter I am the only south bounder, the rest 6 are headed north.
Hanover was a nice town. Fast Internet connection at the library, good places
to eat and a college atmosphere. Most hikers are having a hard time leaving
this town. Most of them have been here 3-4 days.
Date: August 18 2000
Trail Day: 79
Miles Today: 0
Location: Thistle Hill Shelter
Section Mile: AT 457
ECT Mile: 1150
As I have enough time to cover the miles to meet Suriyan I decided to take a
O day today. My first O at a shelter. It was very relaxed. Town O's are
hectic as you have to run errands.
I slept till 10 AM and then read a book. Dagan showed up at noon and we
talked. I took a
photo
of him. He has another 2 weeks on the trail after
which he goes to California and then to Israel. I may not see him again.
Around 1 PM, 3 north bounders showed up - Urban Camper, Godfather and another
gentleman. Godfather was hilarious. North bounders, because there are so
many of them and have seen each other for a while now have a more social
element in their hike. They talked about trail stuff, other north bounders
and women. Godfather was very entertaining. He then left to do some more
miles. We were then joined by 3 teenagers doing a 4 day hike. Nature Boy
also dropped by and moved on. I thought he was ahead of me - apparently not.
Towards evening Solid and a girl arrived and then came Tuba man. Tuba
man carries a 30 lb Tuba and is quite a sensation.
Date: August 19 2000
Trail Day: 80
Miles Today: 22
Location: Stony Brook Shelter
Section Mile: AT 479
ECT Mile: 1172
A long mile day today. I was itching to get out. Started early and got done
by about 6 PM. The north bound wave is just coming in. I am seeing about 20
north bounders a day. About a month ago it was barely 2 or 3. Saw at least
10 female thru hikers. I think I am starting to see the weaker hikers
come through. Most do low miles. Many have seriously considered dropping
out. Some have actually done so and returned. I personally dont see the
point of doing the AT if you dont enjoy it. It is just too much time and
effort to spend on something you dont like. That's what a job is for. At
least there you get paid. Here you just waste 6 months of your life
- better do something else.
Also a note on the thru hiker caste system. Thru hikers rank above section
hikers, who rank above weekend hikers, who rank above day hikers. At the
bottom you have the scouts. No one will admit to this but that's the way
it is. Superiority among thru-hikers is determined by number of miles
covered. Near the 100 mile wilderness the north bounders have completed
about 2000 miles while the south bounder, only about 100. At this stage it
is common for many north bounders to not even talk to south bounders.
My case is slightly different. When I first tell them I am a south bounder -
I am scum. If I then tell them that I started at Cap Gaspe then I can almost hear
myself being re-evaluated and placed in a higher category.
At this stage the south bounders have covered about 475 miles but most
importantly they have crossed the hardest 200 mile section, so they get
treated better by the north bounders. Its funny to see the ego
dance when a north bounder meets a south bounder. On the positive side
this crap occurs only at the first meeting. By the second or third
meeting the mileages become immaterial.
The terrain now has become rolling hills, so I think I will be averaging
20 again. Mt Mousalake is certainly where things change. Now the climbs
are short and gentle.
A magnificent View
