The fire warden's cabin is exactly what it sounds like
Let the record reflect that NH is hard, and let there be no amendments to this resolution. Let the resolution also note that the ups are straight up and then downs are straight down. I'm home.
I was up at 5:00AM and walking with Cookie and 6:15AM, I believe. It felt great to have some much needed rest yesterday, and Hanover was a great town for it.
After an initial climb out of the shelter we had it easy for a little while. I should note that this initial small climb was straight up and steep. There was one spot where the DOC placed a rope attached to a tree to give hikers a hand.
I spent most of the morning trading old trail stories from Georgia with Cookie. It was nice to be able to look back knowing the end is so near.
Once we crossed three mile road play time was over. The climb up Moose Mountain was steep and quite slick. On the summit there was a small view and this is where we found WD 40 hanging out while he aired some of his stuff out.
Amendment, 8/10/08: This was the last time I saw WD 40.
After the never ending descent to Goose Pond Road, it was time to ascend to the summit of Holl's Ledges. These were the longest two miles I think I've ever hiked in my life, they just never seemed to end. This climb was steep and there were numerous false summits. After lunch and another descent we rolled into dorchester road.
Just north of here I took a side trail for water, and was given an ice cream sandwich as well. The owners track thru hikers as the come thru, trying to keep some sort of record each year.
This is also where the trail essentially parallels a dirt road for two miles. After consulting Cookie and confirming that the trail would once again cross the road, we decided to walk the road. That's right, we blue blazed again, and I have no regrets about it.
Along the road we passed a house with some interesting metal structures outside, these structures had interesting faces on then and made me chuckle. Cookie found a stream he wanted to swim in, so I took a break while he took a swim. It was an ideal situation.
The climb up Smart Mountain was very steep with slick rock faces that one needed to navigate. This type of climb consumes a lot of time due to the time it takes to safely navigate these rock faces.
However, the summit fire tower afforded and outstanding view of the White Mountains, where I shall be in a couple of days.
The fire warden's cabin is exactly what it sounds like, an old fire warden's cabin that has been changed to a shelter.
Good night, and good luck.
Kirby
Ga>ME 2008.
