It’s a good thing no one else showed up and took the other half of the platform last night; we had a short, intense rain in the middle of the night. Because we were able to move Bear and Sassy’s tent enough to spread out our vestibules (but not out of snoring or farting range), none of our stuff got wet. Fortunately for me, the rain happened between my third and fourth perimeter checks so I didn’t have to pee in the rain. I did, however, forget that it rained until I put my stocking feet in my wet crocs.
Nature helped us in a better way. It was fairly brisk last night and still cloudy this morning. Bear ducked down into his sleeping bag so he didn’t wake up with the sun. It was Sassy who betrayed us when she stumbled out to break morning wind and water a little after 7. We decided to just have a leisurely cup of coffee before heading up to the hut to see if we could score some food. Not a chance with this crew. I did find out the hut master has been sick and is returning today. We settled for buying some coffee cake and coffee.
On the way back to the tent, I talked to some of the hikers that were doing work for stay. They told us they had asked for breakfast (after we had come in) and they let them do work. Once again, because we actually bathe weekly and shave, no one in the AMC believes we are thru-hikers. We get the honor of being treated like lower class citizens without any of the welfare benefits we are eligible for. My opinion of the AMC is on a daily pendulum and I’m back to hating them again.
Bunny and I were packed and ready to leave before Bear and Sassy, so we went back to the hut one more time to get water and add to the AMC poop load which they so fondly remind us of their excellent handling at every opportunity. The temporary “nazi in charge” was not around so staff people were a bit nicer. They offered us fresh soup and brownie bombs. The soup was really good. I had two bowls of tomato basil vegetable soup with couscous (no discount for refills which we are supposed to get). I have to steal food to break even or not pay for burnt crap. Yes, my constant hanging with Bunny has gained me entry into the criminal underworld.
Finally, just before 11, we hit the trail. We started climbing from the hut up to Mount Pierce/Clinton (multiple personality disorder is no longer just for people, this mountain cannot decide who it is named for). After 0.02 miles, Sassy realized they had not gotten any water (which was their reason for going back to the hut). They turned around to fetch water and we kept going. It was now that Bunny realized that, once again (for the 192nd time), she did not perform her only required morning task which is to turn on the tracker. Random people hiking down the trail know this is her only task and often ask if she has turned on the tracker to which she always replies “I forgot.”
A hiker in front of us heard us stop and asked if Bunny had forgotten again. This turned out to be Gina from Rhode Island. She hadn’t heard of us, per say, but she was aware of thru-hikers and the women who forget their only task. Our group expanded to 5 for the climb over Pierce/Clinton and Ike. Gina is “red lining” the Whites which mean she is in the process of hiking ALL of the trails in the region. Today, she was catching the back side of Mount Eisenhower followed by the Edmonds Trail back to her car. Last year, she hiked all 48 4K mountains in NH.
We all dropped our packs at the junction of the Edmonds Trail and the AT. I had faced a moral crisis earlier and considered hiking over Mount Eisenhower on the blue blaze trail. It’s actually .2 miles longer than the AT. Up to this point, I have not missed any white blazes and have tagged up on the trail whenever we get off for any reason (town, shelter, hut, etc.). The price required for me to do this was too high. I wanted everyone to agree to not mention that I had “blue blazed” until their death beds. Bear was already shaking with anticipation. I could see that he would break within 30 seconds of us stepping off the trail. Instead, I got everyone to agree to walk up the backside (how tough can that be when one of our mascots is “Ass”).
Coming back down Mount Ike, we had to say goodbye to Gina. She was heading back to her car and we were headed to Lake of the Clouds Hut. We stopped for some lunch before tackling Mount Franklin and bypassing Mount Monroe on the way to the hut. We were trying to not get in too early or too late, but just right so we could get a “work for stay” which entitles us to sleep for free on the dining room floor and eat any leftovers from the masters’ dinner. Worst case, we hoped for a spot in the dungeon.
After a bit of confusion where we thought we had gotten work for stay AND banishment to the dungeon, we got some soup and bread to take the edge off of our hunger. I had three bowls (but wanted more until I got Bunny shamed). Even though I’ve lost 35#, I still overeat. In the end, we just got $10 bunks in the dungeon which gives us the freedom to leave at whatever time we want in the morning (if we can pick the lock). The down side means no table scraps. Four other thru-hikers came in after us and get to assume the roles of table wenches and pissboys to get the lords’ scraps. I love living “trickle down” to the fullest.
When everyone got kicked out of the dining room in order for the tables to be set for dinner, we assumed our rightful positions in the subterranean realm under the dining room. I found out that we could have saved the $10 if only we would agree to be tortured by the rich children romping above us. Money is tight but I couldn’t get Bunny to agree to take one for us. I tried to sell Bear and Sassy into bondage, but they had already paid. At least that meant we would have plenty of time to turn on and off our headlights to kill the vermin trying to eat us.
The dungeon wasn’t all that bad except for being directly under the dining room. After supper, they had mingling games which required everyone to move around endlessly above us. The kicker was the elephants that stampeded through the dining hall. I wanted to bang the ceiling with a broom, but the other inmates were afraid to draw attention to us less the lords above renew their lust for torture. We just lay awake listening to the merriment above whilst we poor peasants wallowed in filth and darkness. I’m so sorry I’ve brought Bunny to this level. At least she still has “dungeon status”—she’s in the top bunk and doesn’t have to get up to pee.
EFG