Category: Long Distance Trails

Start: Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center (AT mi 1873.7). Stop: Imp Shelter (AT mi 1886.8) Today’s miles: 13.1 miles. Total AT mileage: 862.1 miles

We both woke up earlier than we technically had to. I slept so good that when I heard a crick and rolled over to see what it was and realized Poptart was already awake-I happily went ahead and got up, too. Holy crap, there is a first for everything. Poptart said I didn’t even move last night, and I believe it. I fell asleep listening to the rain.. I briefly woke around 5am and had the fleeting thought of feeling chilly (I forgot the blanket Uncle Eddie got me downstairs and was so comfortable I didn’t think about it), but I was back to sleep before I knew it. It was the best night of sleep I’ve had in a while.

We packed up and headed downstairs with all of our stuff. I had a chocolate chip muffin and a monster energy drink: breakfast of champions. Uncle Eddie told us about a ski slope trail that also takes you up to the top of Wildcat D Mountain, which is what we had to go up today anyway. We thought on it and decided to “ski blaze” (Poptart’s term) our way up the mountain and not go up the AT, which is known to be difficult hand over hand climbing for 3 miles.

He dropped us off and we followed his directions to the far ski lift area and started looking for our way up. We were pretty sure we spotted the gravel ish looking “road” but to be sure, since this wouldn’t be on our app at all and neither of us had service, we asked the woman at the ski patrol hut to verify our plan.

We headed up PoleCat ski slope. Parts were very gradual and other parts were stair master steep, but the whole way I was just thrilled I wasn’t climbing up the way the AT intended me to. This insider information felt like a sweet gift during all the difficulty this section of trail has given me. Poptart spotted raspberries on the way up and we stopped to eat a few that were ripe, which only added to my delight.

When we got to the top of the mountain, we immediately saw two hikers coming out of the woods. They carried on and we stopped to put on our rain jackets because it was drizzling a little but already super cold and extremely windy. Our views were stunning and I was thrilled to find out the ski slope we came up was the same mileage (3 miles) as the part of the AT we skipped. And clearly the elevation was the same or very close. So, I don’t really feel like I cheated myself out of anything-besides a lot of irritation.

From there we had a bit more of a climb, which was rocky and ridiculous like the stuff we’re sadly starting to expect of this area. However, before we knew it, we reached the top of Wildcat Mountain. Then it was downhill to get to the Carter Hut, where we ended up eating lunch.
The Chick-fil-A sauce is a total game changer. It makes me actually excited for lunch time! I smothered my salmon with the sauce and ate every bite-happily. Normally I’m forcing myself to eat it. We sat and enjoyed the warmth of the hut and even got to have a free piece of cornbread, which was actually pretty good too.

The climb up to Carter Dome from the hut was long but the rocks were stepping rocks instead of climbing rocks, so I enjoyed it a lot. We also got some views before the clouds rolled in. The trail from Carter Dome all the way up and down the other peaks to North Carter Mountain was enjoyable. I stopped to take tons of pictures and just took in my surroundings. Poptart kept me laughing all day long. It was a great time.

And then we started going down North Carter Mountain. It just never seemed to end. We weren’t hiking quick to begin with, but it definitely got so much slower on that descent. We were once again sitting on the rocks to scooch down safely. Then the rain started coming down, so it became a slip and slide mixed with wet rocks and thick mud. Originally we were thinking of finding a stealth spot close-ish to to the shelter, to avoid both people and paying the $5 to stay. However, with the wind howling and attempting to blow us off the mountain and the fact that we were getting more and more drenched by the second-the shelter started sounding real nice.

It was just after 7:30pm when we made it to the shelter. To our surprise, no one else was in it! The caretaker came down to show us around and take our money.. while there were other hikers tenting there, the shelter was all ours for now! Holy cow! Could we have gotten any more lucky? We never actually saw anyone’s tent. One guy with a cute pup running around was in the cooking area, but that was the only other person we saw.

We unpacked and quickly got on our dry clothes. I was shivering so hard and the wind was chilling me to my bones. My hands felt numb, but they’ve been super sensitive ever since getting burnt on Mount Washington. We ate our dinner and chatted with the guy and his dog. He was just out for a weekend hike and was very nice. His stove wasn’t working with the wind, so I let him boil his water with mine. Hot food was the only thing keeping me semi warm, so I knew he had to have been cold. He was out there trying to get his stove to work since before we showed up at the shelter. Yikes.

We put up our food (bear box) and settled in for the night in the loft part of the shelter. It seemed clean and the caretaker said there haven’t been rodents.. so that put me at ease. It was so cold that it took awhile to get warm enough to fall asleep. I couldn’t type again because of it, so I didn’t get to type this blog post out until the following day-it feels safe to say that once I did fall asleep, I slept well. I did wake up when I’d roll over because of the quilt shifting and the coldness sneaking in. But it was still good sleep!

Anyway, another day down and another day closer to Katahdin, before the flip down to hike south. Thanks for reading along!

Start: Imp Shelter (AT mi 1886.8) Stop: Rattle River Hostel (AT mi 1895). Today’s miles: 8.2 miles. Total AT mileage: 870.3 miles

I woke up at 6 and decided it was too cold to attempt to get out of my mostly warm quilt.. so I slept in until 7:30. Eventually my bladder won the war, because if it weren’t for that, I’d probably still be sleeping now.. haha

I got up and got going just after 8am. It was cold enough that I hiked in my sleeping leggings, long sleeve shirt, and all my rain gear. The forecast didn’t call for any rain, but it was misty enough up in the clouds to threaten it anyway. I was slow going for a good 4 miles. The same stuff, up and over, climb and slide. I passed Mount Moriah and then started my way down, a descent I knew would end at a hostel. Hard to be in a bad mood when you know whatever happens-a hot shower and a bed are waiting for you.

I found a downed log by a creek crossing and ate my lunch around 11:45. I was too hungry to wait a second longer! And-I was looking forward to that Chick-fil-A sauce. Not long after packing back up, I started seeing more south bound folks. I chatted with Doolittle for a bit, she really gave me hope for the terrain getting better after my next 3-4 days.

Suddenly, without warning, the trail changed into a delightful, smooth, downward sloping ACTUAL footpath! I kept waiting for it to return to the mountaineering, but happily-it didn’t! I turned on some music and jammed out the whole way down to the hostel. I’d come up on people, briefly, and chit chat a little.. but man my mood was as good as it’s been in a long time! I was practically dancing down the trail and loving every second.

I got to the hostel and checked in. They’re pretty strict on their rules, so it was shoes and poles outside, pack on the pack hook, grab a towel and loaner clothes and then shower. After you shower, you’re allowed in the house and to your bunk. The pack, sleeping bag and that type gear wasn’t allowed inside, so I just took my toiletries and electronics-they washed all my clothes for me and returned them (actually very quickly).

I hung out outside in the sunshine with some other hikers, Flamingo and Lost&Found. We ordered some pizza and when it arrived we scarfed it down before going to dollar general for a resupply. The system here works out great. Everyone hung out around a fire talking, laughing, and shooting the shit. I hung out pretty late, not wanting to go climb up to my top bunk bed until I had to.. they aren’t the easiest to get in and out of as an adult with sore legs. Haha

Anyway, it’s bedtime now, and already there are folks snoring up a storm. Such is life in a hostel I guess. I think I’ll sleep well regardless! Goodnight, y’all!

Start: Rattle River Hostel (AT mi 1895). Stop: Gentian Pond Shelter (AT mi 1906.6). Today’s miles: 11.6 miles. Total AT mileage: 881.9 miles

I got super hot in that upper bunk, but I made the best of it-ignored the snorers and early risers, and slept in until 6:45. Every single person in that bunk room had an alarm that went off between 5am and 6:30am. None of them were quiet like my nice little watch vibrating alarm..

I went downstairs and got some breakfast prepared by one of the hostel employees. She made monkeybread that was damn good. Plus I had some hash browns and fresh watermelon and blueberries. I could have had the all you can eat pancakes, but honestly I was too lazy to make them.. haha! I spotted a scale after I ate my big breakfast, but got on it anyway.. I’m down 30 pounds! And that’s with a full stomach! Whoa, thanks trail gods! It’s nice to see some reflection of the hard work I’ve been putting in.

I packed up my gear and was sitting outside updating the blog. Once I got it all up and posted, I started putting my shoes on. That was when a man walked outside from the hostel and did a little double take. I didn’t recognize him, but he seemed to recognize me.. come to find out, it was Flicker, a hiker that started following my blog through a series of friend’s of friends.. small world! We had been hoping we’d cross paths, originally thinking I’d be ahead, but then realizing I was behind after my 8 zeros.. and yet-here we are. Same place, same time!

I got a quick hug in and he ran back inside, I thought he was coming to the same shelter I was hiking to, so I went ahead and started walking. It was already a little after 8am and the terrain in the Whites was so awful that I assumed it would continue today, too, even though I technically completed all of the Whites when I got to the hostel yesterday. The unknown was making me anxious, and I really didn’t want to be getting to a full shelter after 7pm when it was supposed to be raining all night. Been there, done that-hated it.

So, I started the road walk from the hostel, expecting Flicker to catch me. I got a text saying he had already done this part, so I was sad I headed out so fast and missed chatting with him. The road walk crossed a bridge with a beautiful river to the right and a dam to the left. Then the trail turned to a dirt road for a bit before turning into the woods.

I listened to some music for awhile, then switched to an audiobook. Today’s choice: “The Invisible Life of Addie Larue.” It was recommended to me by Cholula at the start of the trail, but my Libby app just made it available. For the record, it’s been incredible. Well, the book and the app, too.

The trail into the woods was beautiful. Wooded with pine needles padding the ground making it soft and spongy. I had a feeling it wouldn’t last, every curve had me looking for my obstacle course. To my much needed surprise, it maintained its calm terrain almost all day! There were climbs, there were descents, there were muddy bogs-but none of it felt like the mountaineering of the Whites. I was utterly shocked all day that my good fortune was lasting so long! Even when it started sprinkling in the afternoon, my mood stayed grateful and happy.

I got to a false summit after 11am and decided to go ahead and eat my lunch. I packed out my pizza (and ranch) I didn’t finish last night and had been thinking about it for at least an hour by this point. It was so peaceful sitting up on a rocky wannabe summit, staring off into the distance of beautiful mountains, with not a soul around to disturb it or me. I must have sat there for close to an hour. My breaks in the Whites were never longer than 30 minutes tops-and that was rare to even be that long-since I knew the terrain was going to take me all day to get anywhere anyway.

I got some water and sat a bit sometime mid afternoon, just listening to my book and watching the creek water flow. The relaxing parts of today has made it absolutely wonderful again. I’ve missed this. Being able to have the time to soak in my surroundings without feeling panicked and rushed.

I made it to the shelter just before 5pm. There was the NOBO hiker that had been leapfrogging me all day, plus 3 SOBO hikers, someone asleep in the shelter already so I have no idea who they are or which direction they’re headed, and a sweet man from Georgia out doing a section hike. He and I talked about me joining the Appalachian Trail Club for GA when I get finished, which sounds pretty interesting. He told me all about the great work they do while we sat around and eventually made dinner. Then, a NOBO flip flop couple I had also been leapfroging with today got to the shelter, too.

Now, it’s almost 7pm, and everyone is a little irritated it’s not pouring down rain like the forecast promised. It sounds funny to be mad about that, but there’s 8 of us in a shelter that would all have preferred to set up tents. Some had even planned to hike further, but the terror that is packing a wet tent was too real a threat and we all, in one way or another, decided to play it safe tonight.

I think I’m going to pop in my ear plugs and see if sleep will come early for me. Mainly because there is already someone snoring and it’s getting cold. There’s really nothing else to do but either sleep or stare around at each other since some are already asleep. Tomorrow I have less than 10 miles to get to the next planned shelter, and the best part is that I’ll be crossing the border into Maine! WAHOO!

I pray the terrain is much like today, because the day after tomorrow will be a difficult one.. it will be less than 10 miles to town, but it’s going to probably take me all day to do. It’s a big boulder field that requires climbing over, under, and through huge rocks-known to drop even the fastest people’s paces down to half a mile an hour. Hahaha I can’t even begin to imagine how slow that means it’ll be for me. Only one way to find out.. and thankfully I don’t have to find out tomorrow! Lol

Sweet dreams, y’all!