We've made it to New Hampshire.
Twelve States Down...and only 2 left.
Seems hard to believe we started this virtual adventure in June...and it will soon be October!
New Hampshire makes up 161 miles of the AT...and 25% of the state is mountains. This is where we will encounter the often discussed (and not in a good way) The Whites (White Mountains).
(...breathe...this is virtual...we will make it...)
Going to cut this State into thirds as well. Real Time hiking the trail across New Hampshire takes nearly 20 days...
We will complete it in 3.
So, we had better get started.
I was warned this morning that we WILL encounter snow by the top of Mount Washington (6288 feet) so we have THAT to look forward to, I guess.
Also warned about the moose along this part of the trail.
Give them wide berth...especially if it it a cow with her calf.
No problem.
Cameled up and well stocked.
Let's do this!
Crossing NH 10 and passing Dartmouth College
Velvet Rocks Shelter Trail
The View at Velvet Rocks
Nestled amidst Hemlocks and Firs the place has a deceptively GREEN appearance for the 45 degree temperature we are climbing in...though they say maybe 55 later today.
The air smells like Christmas.
Past Springs, Roads and Brooks until we reach Moose Mountain Trail
About the moose.
Like Getting Run Over By a BUICK- Big.
During rutting season the males are hormone-charged, and basically a train with antlers & an attitude. The rest of the time they are fairly bumbly and if you leave them alone they don't pay a lot of attention to you.
The females tend to be on permanent PMS...and if they have a calf trailing...even a yearling...they will trample you...turn around and run over your ass again.
Repeatedly.
Best to avoid at all costs.
Moose Mountain View.
Moose Mountain Shelter
Past Goose Pond
Via the Goose Pond Loop Trail
To Trapper John's Shelter
And we have started our climb into The Whites.
Suddenly I realize how pathetic I must have sounded to Caribou and several other SOBO back in Pennsylvania when I was grousing about the rocks there.
I really hadn't seen anything yet!
OMG.
And this was just Smarts Mountain...the very edge of The Whites.
Hike to Smarts Mountain and the Fire Tower.
https://youtu.be/I0PE9VR8l0I
Where they have converted the old Ranger Station into an AT hikers shelter!
On to South Jacob's Brook
Between the sunshine, heavily loaded pack and rocky climbing...feeling warmed up...even though according to White Blaze Weather App we have actually lost several degrees.
Past Hexacube Shelter
Up the side of Mount Cube
I can understand now why hikers only make about 8 miles progress a day through these mountains.
The Summit of Mount Cube
And back down a bit
(...don't get used to it...)
and Ore Hill
Back up Mount Mist
With the remainder of The Whites looming in the background.
No...I don't think, from this vantage point, that the word looming is hyperbole.
Past Jeffers Brook Shelter
If Jeffers Brook Shelter sounds somewhat familiar...it is because it was in the news only a few short months back, that a 54 year old thru-hiker was found dead of an apparent heart attack, here.
Article from NPR
A 54-year-old North Carolina man was found dead on the Appalachian Trail near Warren Monday morning.
Lt. James Kneeland of New Hampshire Fish and Game says two hikers found the man’s body.
“Early this morning we received a report of a hiker that was not responsive in his tent up here on the Appalachian Trail in Glencliff.”
Kneeland said the hikers were apparently worried when they didn’t see any activity and looked inside the tent.
Officials from the state police, U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Game responded.
There was no evidence of foul play although the cause of death has not been determined.
The body was found in the Jeffers Brook Shelter several hundred feet off the Appalachian Trail, which remained open.
onward we continue
Up Mount Moosilauke
More rungs...
(...not to be disrespectful here but perhaps these mark the graves of those who never quite made it up the Whites...just a thought...)
I totally get the cairn stacks by the way...after making it up here I would want to build something, too. Maybe a house so I wouldn't have to face the rest of The Whites...
Past the Beaver Brook Shelter
"This is how it will look in three or four weeks." she said.
OMG!
Must hike faster!
Though Kinsman Notch
And there is no way to adequately show you the sheer enormity of these compact car sized boulders....
Ringo's hike from Kinsman Notch to Eliza Brooks Shelter
https://youtu.be/PCcznaa3k9c
Kinsman Pond
And at long last Eliza Brooks Shelter
(rebuilt in 2010)
Starting a fire and dinner soon...then putting on thermals under my clothes to sleep in...
But first a mug of hot tea because brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....
Love,
(...frozen...)
"Beans"
