Monday, August 31 10:07 pm 8.4 mi
AT 1795.2 Jeffers Brook Shelter → AT 1803.6 Kinsman Notch/The Notch Hostel
Weather: Cool, windy, partly sunny partly cloudy
Trail Conditions: RUGGED! Long climb up, beautiful sweeping views and majestic cairns atop Mt Moosilauke, trail down was some of the most dangerous trail I’ve ever hiked on! Well maintained, just straight down, partly following an actual waterfall, with steps built right into the rock face
My Condition: Loving life! Relishing the challenge, and loving the rewards in this section
Today, I met trail legend ODIE, of the Hiker Yearbook! He drove us into town in his bus and we got to have dinner with him at a Chinese restaurant before resupplying at Price Chopper. I have some hard miles in front of me and we’re shooting for Pinkham Notch for our next resupply, about a 5 day food carry. I stuck to the classics – rice crispies, Reeses Outrageous bars which I’m currently obsessed with, cheese sticks, pepperoni, and oreos. The hostel is jam packed – tons of people, both the NOBO bubble we’ve caught up to and the SOBO hikers headed the other way. Odie taught me to always put a quarter (and leave it) in a gumball machine, candy machine, etc., because the kids who need that sort of kindness the most are the only ones who ever check. What an awesome way to spread kindness and cheer anonymously!
Post Trail Analysis
On the AT, nothing is given. Even 2100 miles into the journey, you can get hurt and not finish with only 93 miles to go. People quit 30 miles into the journey, and people quit 2000 miles into the journey. Here’s the reality – every mile we walked, every climb and descent, all the weather we endured, everything we did on trail taught us a lesson and helped us grow. Everything we had done up until this point had helped to prepare us for what lied ahead. The rocks, the mountain, the trail, the conditions might be different, but you’re still in the business of putting one foot in front of the other, hauling everything you need on your back. I remember receiving a LOT of unsolicited advice right around this point. Rather than walking up to a thru hiker and telling them how they don’t have a clue about what’s coming, that what they’re about to experience is above their abilities, that the shoes they’re wearing are wrong, talk about how beautiful these mountains are. Talk about what drew you to the Whites. That's good advice in general - most people don't like being told what to do, how to think, or how to experience life. This is part of the "Hike Your Own Hike" ethos - people might be doing things differently than you do, and that's ok! Let others experience the journey for themselves! In hindsight I’m not completely accurate in my description of the hostel being jam packed. In a normal year, I imagine every single bunk, as well as tenting spots in the yard, would be full. Puddles, Blue, Hummingbird, and I shared a room with 2 other people – still plenty of beds available.
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