Journey Day 302 | AT Day 125

Between huts, White Mountains, New Hampshire.

7/31/86

Up from Eliza Brook Shelter. Long hike to the outhouse. Leave Jack in the sack, last sighting for three days. Also leave Karl, the doctor-nuclear engineer.  Killer climbs up and down along the Kinsmans. No view. Talk with the caretaker at Kinsman Pond, quickly look for Sir Bobalot and Lady Guin. Then push on down steeply, passing Leonard who’s been in North Woodstock at the lodge and is day-hiking the Kinsmans with a shuttle.

Down to the Lonesome Lake Hut, madness in my eyes. I drink water furiously, timid in first hut. Overhear of all you can eat soup. Eat six bowls, cornbread, cake. Talk with campers from Philly. Reluctantly leave, resolved to make it to Liberty Springs.

Hut staffers packed in provisions.

Down to Franconia Notch where I think of George Hayduke and the Moneywrench Gang as a new, bigger bridge’s construction obliterates the trail. Walk along Whitehorse Brook. Cross bridge, talk with Royal Rangers from Washington D.C., then up another big climb, passing downhill hikers before reaching Liberty Springs. Smiling Sally the caretaker and I immediately meet minds. She lets me camp for free on promise of later talk of Pacific Crest Trail hike in 1985. Pitch, eat, down to her tent, where two Ottawa trail crew volunteers are also staying. Talk, crash. It’s nice to be liked by someone so beautiful.