Sore and drying out

We were heading toward Bangor a week ago and I decided it would be good to take an over nighter on the trail and check my pack and equipment. I randomly decided on the map, that the 22 miles between Pinkham Notch and Rattle River near Gorham would be a good spot since we were familiar with the Gorham area.We spent some time here during an injury recovery.

The decision was made because we had day hiked about 4 miles on the Rattle river end and it was a good trail. We had also walked about a mile on the Pinkham end.

So once I knew I had made a very bad judgment call on trail conditions and realized if I continued, this 22 miles could end up 3 nites and 4 days. I did have the food for that time, but not sure the endurance.

(Picture is a repeat: El Dog, headed South said, “Who ever said Maine was tougher than New Hampshire, hadn’t been here yet!”)

I had told Sherry I would turn on the phone on the even hours during the day, but realized I could not do that in the rain. I hoped she could know about the rain and understand why I did not text her.  She thought about it but still worried.

One funny thing. I hunched over to protect the  phone. I found that the wet finger does not slide well on the screen. I found some dry toilet paper in my chest pack. Touch screens are new to me. I attempted to dry the face, and inadvertently turned on the camera. I am sitting here like a knot on a log bent over trying to get the phone un-camera-ed. finally a younger hiker came by and restored it for me, Of course I got the look, ‘What in heck is an old guy doing with a phone he cannot use?’

(In one of the rain breaks I caught sight of the next MT and just a small glimpse of the one following)

I thanked her, and she patted me on the shoulder, a gesture I would use for a ten year old.LOL I smiled, thinking, the kid is right!

I found out that all text messages do not go thru, and now I know  the little red triangle at the end of the test means that.

So I picked a tough trail, yes, there were some REAL dangers there, I realized that soon and was very careful. As a matter of fact, one young hiker I passed pointed in the way I was headed and said, “That isn’t a joke.”  As I continued on, I knew he was right. If not respected, it could be very dangerous.

I only hiked half the distance, but accomplished all I wanted to know. There is a possible change in menu (breakfast), a new pack and relooking foot wear in the future.  I will also do more reading on the mountains at the south end of ‘The 100 mile Wilderness’.

I am not complaining. The guys I met going north and south have hiked 100’s of miles, with months on the trail, and I for only a night, this time!

Thanks for reading the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Carefully worded notices:

In a Cemetery:
PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS, FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES .

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I feel this old today!!!!