Bunny accuses me of not having bladder control because I pee so much. I accuse her of not having bowel control because she can’t hold it in until we get to a privy. I learned bowel control from going to Boy Scout camp that had smelly latrines. I would hold it in until I got home on Saturday afternoon (from the previous Sunday). Yes, I was sluggish moving around (and that might be why I have such a crappy outlook having filled myself up to eye level). When Bunny has to go, she goes. A bit of a hippy as Sheldon Cooper might say. This morning was no exception for Bunny. She trudged deep into the woods for a bit of privacy. I walked back down the trail find her only a few feet to the side of the trail—with a narrow ridge there isn’t really a deep woods location.
After we packed up, we started our climb up to Smarts Mountain. We could see the fire tower on top of the mountain from where we camped last night. It was only 2 miles and another 1000’ up from where we were, but most of the climb was in the last half mile which meant for some steep trail. Dartmouth Outing Club maintains this trail and they are creative in making the trail accessible. Apparently, switchbacks are not an acceptable solution in VT, NH, or ME. DOC has installed rails, rebar, rough wooden ladders. They mix things up so each mountain has its own special feel.
Bear and I hold off on hole digging in the morning and Sassy is a double barrel shooter, so we all took turns at the privy before proceeding up the fire tower. Bunny used to question whether climbing up a tower is worth it for the views. Finally, she has climbed enough to know that 80 feet does make a difference. We were able to see Mt Moosilauke ahead of us and covered in clouds. This will be the first test of the Whites for us in a few days.
When we came down the tower, we were replaced by a father and son team at the top. This was his son’s first backpacking trip (and possibly last because it was a very difficult outing for an eight year old). At the bottom of the tower, we met another nobo, Achilles. We told him it was a great view on such a beautiful day but he said he didn’t have the time to climb the 80 feet up. We tried once more telling him he would have a great view of Moosilauke. He just said he’d see it in a few days. I just don’t understand why people hike the AT and don’t take the time to enjoy it. I know, “hike your own hike,” but it doesn’t hurt to try and see things you may never see again. If you don’t actually look at anything along the trail, why not just run on a track to get the miles?
It was a muddy trail coming down Smarts but NH is working on it. There are numerous new wood planks across mud pits. There are also lots of new materials laying along the trail to be put in place. I’m not bothered by the mud reminiscent of VT because I see evidence that the trail is being worked on. We even ran across a trail crew with blow torch and a roll of toilet paper. At least I’d like to think it was a trail crew rather than a heavily impacted hiker on the way to a privy.
At the bottom of Smarts Mountain, we stopped for a lunch break above a beautiful, rocky river. We had traversed one mud puddle that was so deep I couldn’t touch the bottom with my pole. Unfortunately for one Japanese Hiker, she found out first hand how deep the puddle was. She climbed down to the river below to rinse the mud off of her boots, legs, and shorts before she headed up our next climb—Mt Cube.
My Cube proved to be a long climb with some tough sections, but well worth the effort. We were rewarded with great views of the fire tower we had just climbed this morning. We did pass day hiker on the way down that was up for a week of choral camp located in a girls camp at the base of the mountain. He had been walking for an hour and didn’t know how far it was to the top of the mountain. When we showed him on Guthook how far it was, he gave up and turned around.
Bunny and Sassy were a bit behind Bear and I coming down. One sobo passed us but didn’t really talk to us. He did stop and talk to them and told them how miserable the trail was from here all the way to Katahdin. He had absolutely nothing good to say about any of it: tough trail, terrible bugs, endless swamps, etc. in the end, we figured he was from one of the native Americans tribes that doesn’t want people climbing Katahdin.
We found some great stealth sites near the road, but couldn’t find a good water source. There was a stream running out of a lake, but it smelled terrible and has lots of bugs in it. Bear and I decided to head into the girls camp to see if we could get some water from them. We walked all the way in (about 1/2 mile) without meeting anyone. We found a portable water source and filled up. By the time we returned, Bunny and Sassy had set up the tents and had the camp ready. All I had to do was hang a bear bag and cook. I think I’ll start taking my time getting water from now on.
EFG
Hi
We were down in your former neck of the woods yesterday as we returned from a short trip to New Madrid MO (earthquake museum), Dyess AK (Dyess Colony), Memphis (yellow fever monument and nice 18.5 mile ride bike ride on a paved and shady path) and Mayfield KY (the Woolridge Monuments). Went past the end of Rushing Road on our way to Gilead Church Road and thought about you. Dan mused if we had done the right thing in helping get it ready for you to sell since you are now married and homeless. I told him you seemed happy as you are eating and going to the bathroom regularly and Pam has not threatened you with death over a cliff recently at least according to your posts.
It is and has been pouring rain here since overnight – the remains of the tropical storm. We had been expecting 2 inches but they have bumped it up to 3-5 with flash flooding warnings posted.
Take care in the mountains.
Sue
Actually, Pam does threaten me almost daily but I’m growing immune to them. If something bad happens to me, start there. You guys did right by me. Thanks.