August 29, 2009 Hike #1
I spotted my truck on a dirt road off Route 116 at the Reel Brook Trailhead. I then road my bike for 4 miles to the Mount Kinsman Trailhead. I got there and found the trail had been relocated.
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I backed up a couple tenths of a mile, hid my bike in the bushes, and started the hike about 8:55.
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I estimate the relo to be about a half a mile long.
I'm not sure if it added any mileage to the total mileage of the trail.
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I came out to the original trail and continued. It was flat for a while, but sure enough, I started going up.
I passed a small waterfall.
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Just a little before Bald Peak there is a sign on a tree that read "Flume". Since it rained last night, I figured this was as good a time as any to check it out. I followed the herd path for a couple minutes. For a video clip of the flume click here.
I lucked out with the weather today. Although it was far from a nice day, the forecast called for a 100% chance of rain and other than a couple sprinkles and some mist it didn't rain today. With the weather not so good, I saw no reason to take the side trail to Bald Peak. I had already been there on a nice day. Next I reached the junction with the Kinsman Ridge Trail.
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Up I headed to the top of North Kinsman. This was Grid peak #288, the halfway mark!!
Summit of North Kinsman
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As I headed over to South Kinsman, I met an Appalachian Trail thru hiker named "Patches".
"How did you get your trailname?" I asked.
"My beard doesn't come in all the way," he replied.
"Did you give yourself that name?" I asked.
"Oh no. I wouldn't do that to myself."
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Bog bridging near the summit of South Kinsman
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For a video clip of me approaching South Kinsman click here.
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Next I had the steep, tricky descent of South Kinsman. The trail finally levelled out a little as I passed Harrington Pond.
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Rocky section of trail
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I met an A.T. thru hiker who I had met before. I had met a lot of thru hikers who were just starting when I finished the trail back in April. I had met "Hatchet" way back in North Carolina about 1500 miles south of here.
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I would say his beard filled in a little since April 8.
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Another nasty section of trail.
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I stopped at Eliza Brook Shelter where a section hiker took my picture.
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Section hikers in Eliza Brook Shelter
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I took my only break of the day. I had a coconut water and finished off my last small batch of banana chips. After about 15 minutes of gabbing with the hikers, I headed off.
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All right, time for a new trail. Since I had parked on a dirt road off Route 116, I figured it was more like 3 miles I had left not 3.5.
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The trail started off a little rough, but got easier and easier. I ran most of the last mile.
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I finished about 2:35. I drove up the street, picked up my bike, and headed off for hike #2
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