Day 83: Nauman Tentsite

Start:US 302 (AT mi 1847.7). Stop: Nauman Tentsite (AT mi 1854.1). Today’s miles: 6.4 miles. Total AT mileage: 829.4 miles

Alrighty then, back to regularly scheduled blogging. Lol

Andrea and I had a wonderful time in Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine.. coming back to the trail after perfect red wines, oysters, beautiful Oceanside sunsets, and spending time with one of my most favorite people on earth was a bit sad for me. But overall, today was a good and successful day-even if I am writing that while listening to none other than RAIN on my tent. LMAO. Gotta love the trials of the trail, they humble you quite quickly.

I’ll start from the beginning though. I got up around 6:45am to a showered and mostly packed Andrea. She had gotten up earlier to get a workout in at the gym of the very nice waterfront hotel we stayed in while in Portland for the night. (For the record, I hiked one-less than 2 mile hike-and no other “workout” was had by me the whole 8 days I was “off” and I have no regrets. Hahaha). I got ready and we left the hotel by 7:15-maybe even a little earlier. Andrea was ok with me dropping her off early to I could attempt an earlier start to my day. I was (and am) so grateful to her for that.

I dropped her off to begin her almost 20 hours of travel time back to Reno, and then headed north to Littleton, New Hampshire. The almost 3 hour drive was another long drive of backroads and 2 lane highways. I thought for sure leaving Portland I’d be on interstate. I was wrong. Instead I was met with round-a-bout after round-a-bout for awhile, then slow small town roads with tractor trailers in front of me. I took it as a sign to slow down and enjoy the drive-so I started back listening to “The Book of Joy” by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond TuTu, and Douglas Abrams. I had started in during our trip, and quickly became entranced by it.

I stopped at the Littleton post office and sent my mom the dress I bought while in Bar Harbor, and then headed to the grocery store to get fresh bread for my lunches and new water bottles. When I got to the rental car return, my ride was waiting for me. I was early, but Jerry with Ali’s Taxi Rides was earlier. Jerry chatted with me the whole 40 minutes to the trailhead. He’s from Ireland and was such a joy to listen to. I don’t know if it was from the book or just because Jerry is that great all the time, but I was sad when he pulled into the parking lot and it was time to get my day officially started. I could listen to him talk all day long.

After he pulled out of the parking lot, I sat on the ground and put my socks and shoes on. There’s something about not wanting to wear those things a second longer than necessary, and I was not about to either drive while wearing them or take the 40 minute ride wearing them either. With shoes on and pack packed, I had no real choice but to get a move on. It was just after 12, sunny, and in the late 70s. The trail started off nice enough, with slow rolling hills pretending to be switchbacks up to the start of what we’d expect in the White Mountains. After maybe a mile of that pleasant terrain, the trail turned back into the rock scramble I had been expecting.

It was 3 miles to Mount Webster and I had the most stunning views all around me. I was simply mesmerized. THESE are the views that the White Mountains promise! And I FINALLY got to appreciate them! The wind was whipping around and then, in the distance, I could see Mount Washington. The second highest peak on the trail, the highest I’ll have reached so far once I summit it tomorrow. All around it were clouds-and then came some sprinkles. Lovely. Who doesn’t just adore sliding down rock faces in the rain?

The sprinkles only threatened to become disastrous for about 2 hours-but then it actually started to rain. Luckily it was after I had gotten over the rest of the little summits and was walking through boggy areas before reaching the hut and campsite area. I took my time (as always), I stopped for pictures and videos and rest breaks. I didn’t make it to camp until almost 6pm. Lol-6 hours for 6.4 miles.. yikes! But, to be fair-it was my first day back to lugging a pack-full of food-and every muscle in my body was reminding me of the time off I had gotten used to. My knees were a bit unforgiving as well. I did end up finishing my audiobook, and I have to say, even with the struggles of the day and being sore on day one legs-I was happy and smiling through it all. I’m meant to be out here.

I set my tent up in the rain. And it’s already got some water in one of the corners. I’m pretty annoyed with my set up and I think I may need to consider splurging on a different-Dynema-aka waterproof-tent. And then just use this one until that one comes in. It’s becoming so increasingly frustrating that this tent won’t stay dry inside-now even minutes after setting it up. Ok-rant over-I never pretended I was enlightened or monk like-I just enjoyed the book.

I went to the hut and filled my water bottle, then ate my dinner on a log under a tarp by the bear box. Two young women came up and sat under there with me, chatting. I really love it when I meet people that are fun and interesting. LifeGuard and ShowMan are hiking from Maine to Georgia, so SOBO, and were full of useful and entertaining information. For instance, besides giggling about their commentary of a weird SOBO cult currently hiking and sharing money, they told me about the 21 mile slack pack over the wildcats. I had originally planned to do this. Then, with the increasing difficulty of the White’s, I decided not to.. Towelie had told us of some people that didn’t get back until 11pm! AT NIGHT.
But-all that said-these two made me think it might be a real contender again. That with the lighter pack it’ll be easier than splitting it into 2 days. I’m just so scared I’d be the one that doesn’t show up until 11pm. I’m going to see how tomorrow goes and then decide the following day if it’ll be a short hike to the road to go to the hostel that will slack pack me, or if I’ll just keep hiking on and camp 6 miles into the Wildcats, which is what Lizard ended up doing.

So, now I’m laying in my tent listening to the people around me talking to each other about the trail and what to expect coming up. Tomorrow I’ll be going over Mount Washington and Mount Madison-and I’ll be able to gauge my timing and if I think I’m able to do the slack pack or if it’s not worth the stress. I’m happy to be back at it.. hopefully I’ll feel the same way come morning time.. haha. Goodnight, y’all.