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
Date: August 20 2000
Trail Day: 81
Miles Today:
Location: Near Cooper Lodge
Section Mile: AT 471
ECT Mile: 1164
Last night's dinner was good. It was noodles that was hot and spicy.
I got it at the Co-op grocery store in Hanover. Its the best store I have
seen so far. I was also able to buy Indian food - Palak Paneer, Vegetable
Korma and Bombay Potatoes. All of them are somewhat heavy but delicious.
Started around 10:30 AM as I did not have many miles to cover. Nature Boy
stopped by the shelter. He said he has not had much sleep in the past 2 days.
The north bounders were loud, he said. I left a little after he did.
I passed him about an hour or two later. He said he was going to go
into Rutland and take a O day to recover and clear his head. We all need this
once in a while.
Today's section also overlaps with the Long Trail. The climb up Killington
seemed to go on forever. It was also towards the end. That always makes
it look longer. Several day hikers headed to US 4 asked me how far US 4 was.
US 4 is a very busy road and can be heard for miles. They were frustrated
because they could hear the road traffic but the road would never appear.
Also met Belcher and Swamp Eagle. Swamp Eagle is hiking from Key West
to Cap Gaspe and is suported by his wife driving their motor home.
Also met the most beautiful woman on my hike so far. She was model beautiful
and talked freely. She was a day hiker and was out with 2 others. For
some reason she kept fidgeting with her wedding ring.
I had planned on staying at the Cooper lodge, which is a shelter on top
of Mt. Killington but Belcher told me all the windows had the glass missing
and it was very windy and cold up there. So I set up my tarp about
a mile earlier. Set it up as a lean-to. Middle of the night I realized that
if the wind blew into my tarp it swelled up like a sail and offered
no over head protection from the rain. I would have been in a pickle
had it rained last night. Talking about pickles, I would like to have
Indian buttermilk rice and mango pickles - Ahh !
Well 13 miles tomorrow and another 5 the day after and I meet Suriyan. Most
probably take 2 O day's off and do the usual eat like a pig, drink like a
fish and sleep like a log routine.
Date: August 21 2000
Trail Day: 82
Miles Today: 13
Location: Near Vt 103
Section Mile: AT 484
ECT Mile: 1177
Last night was cold. I was in my full thermal underwear. I have completely
missed summer this year. When I was in Florida and Vivek was helping me move
we were sweating like pigs. But once I got to Canada it was cold. This
summer in New England and Canada has been cold and wet. Talking of wet it
has not rained in the past 3 days. I was afraid I would have moss grow
over me and slugs run all over me - its been raining so much. Today I actually saw dry ground. I think
I have forgotten how to walk on it.
I had a short climb further to Killington peak where there is a
shelter. My hands were so numb I could barely write. The climb down
was easy. I am always amazed that a climb that can take 4 hours can be
descended in 45 minutes - under the right conditions of course.
I got to Rt 103. I had been told of a Whistle Stop Restaurant about 0.5
miles west of the trail. Went there and had lunch there - 16 $. Canada
is starting to look cheap about now. Called Karen and confirmed that
I will meet Suriyan at Vt 140. Walked a little further west and got a 6
pack of Miller High Life beer. The champagne of beers - the can says. Nothing
but the best for me :)
Walked another half a mile on the trail and set up my tarp. This is my
best tarp set-up so far. I had to take a
photograph.
The place where I
tented was beautiful. Usually I end up tenting in God awful places.
This one was different. I couldn't have designed it better. Large trees
and soft level ground.
I had picked up a novel called Greenwich Killing Time mainly because it said
Raunchy, Violent and Funny. I thumbed through the whole book but found
no titillating parts. I decided to read it anyway. Its turning out to be
quite a good book.
Saw wild life after a long time. Saw one moose on the trail. Also when I
was reading in my tarp a deer walked by.
