June 16, 2007
I've been waiting for this day for eight months. Last October I was trying to finish the New Hampshire section of the Appalachian Trail. I fell just one hike short before winter set in. Then this Spring, I had so much else going on, I didn't get back to it until now. This is it! The 'missing link' that will not only finish New Hampshire, but will link together everything that I have done in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
After a long three hour drive to the trailhead, Lynn dropped me off at Dorchester Road. The A.T. crosses Dorchester Road again about 2 miles up. Lynn drove to the other end and hiked toward me. This worked out well. It meant that I didn't have to carry a pack for the first 2 miles. This was my first time back on the Appalachian Trail in a little over a month. It was good to see those white blazes again.
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I went by this scenic pond.
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As expected Madison and I met Lynn coming from the other direction. We went by this marker.
I thought the location of the marker was a little odd. Based on where I was on the AT, this had to mean it was 412 miles to Katahdin (the northern terminus of the AT). But what a strange place to put it. It was in the middle of nowhere. I would understand if it was a round number like 500 miles, but why a marker here at mile 412???
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A few minutes later, we reached Dorchester Road where Lynn took my picture.
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This is where Lynn and I parted for the day. Before she picked me up at the end of the day, she drove just over the state line into Vermont to visit her uncle and aunt who she has always called Uncle 'Frog' and 'Ant' Jill. Madison and I continued on the AT. Next stop, the summit on Smarts Mountain.
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After a steep climb, the trail levelled off on Lambert Ridge.
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There was a great view from here.
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Looking ahead to Smarts Mountain
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Up a stone staircase
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You can't miss these bright orange signs from the Dartmouth Outing Club.
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I reached the summit, but still had more climbing to do.
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I tied Madison's leash to a tree and began the climb. Up, up, up. I was looking down at my feet, concentrating on each step, and then BAM! Ouch that hurt. The top level had a trap door that I tried to unsuccessfully open with my head. After holding my head for a few seconds. I pushed the door open and walked up the last few steps. The top level of the tower had glass windows so I walked back down one level to where I could get a clearer view. There was a great 360 ° view.
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I climbed back down, untied Madison, and continued.
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Just a few yards later I came to a short side trail to an old ranger cabin which I checked out.
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The trail coming down Smarts Mountain was very rough to say the least.
I was constantly stepping over rocks, roots, and branches.
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Madison cools off in Jacobs Brook on this warm June day.
She had the right idea. I took my shirt off, soaked it in the brook, and put it back on. That sure felt good. Just after the brook I crossed a dirt road where there was a bench. I had just taken a short break at the creek so I didn't bother sitting down.
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Next stop: Mount Cube
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View from Eastman Ledges
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Next I reached the side trail for Hexacube Shelter. I had kind of wanted to stop, but I was already behind schedule for meeting Lynn.
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I did find a picture of it on the Internet though.
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Who dumped all these rocks on the trail?
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The trail was a 'little' rocky. Note the double blaze on the boulder.
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Looking back to Smarts Mountain
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There were lots of cool patterns in the rocks like in the 2 pictures below.
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There were lots of these little white flowers today.
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Closing in on the summit of Mount Cube
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Cool white stripe embedded in the rock.
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The summit of Mount Cube at last.
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The clouds were closing in fast, but I still got a great view.
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Smarts Mountain was a long way away now.
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I gave Lynn a quick call to let her know I was about an hour behind schedule. In all the days she has crewed for me, I think this was the first time I had to let her know I was running late. I underestimated this fairly rugged section a little. Plus I had a rough night's sleep last night and tired out quicker than usual today. Madison and I began the descent. There was a side trail to the north summit. It would have been an additonal .6 miles roundtrip. I was pretty well beat so I passed. This is a great mountain and being only one state away from Maine maybe I'll come back another time and check it out. The first mile heading down was very steep, but I had several rock staircases to assist.
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Madison found another stream where she could cool off.
I was glad she found a stream close to the finish. She will lay down in any puddle she comes across. Earlier, she had layed down in one puddle that was more mud than puddle. I'm always grateful for a stream close to the finish so she can clean up.
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I met Lynn faithfully coming from the other direction. We walked the remaining 10 minutes together until we reached the car. Finally, the New Hampshire section of the Appalachian Trail is finished. I've now finished 6 of the 14 Appalachian Trail states. Of course looking at it that way is a little misleading. Mileage wise, I'm well over halfway.
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