Day 142 – Moose Mountain Shelter to Jacob’s Brook

“And when he’d finished speaking,

He turned back toward the window,

Crushed out his cigarette,

Faded off to sleep,

And somewhere in the darkness,

The gambler he broke even,

But in his final words,

I found an ace that I could keep” – Kenny Roger’s

Up at 6:50. Hung with the Rascals a bit. On trail at 8:15. I may push an extra 3-5 miles today. There are two camping spots, one at +3 and one at +5. The Rascals are heading to the second one.

43 days left!

Sunny, 55 degrees going up to 65. Looks like a nice, cool day.

Got to the summit at 8:35. No view.

Met the trail angel who maintains the soda cache at Goose Pond Road at 9:45. He pulled out some chairs, and we talked a while. 23, Newt, and Glass showed up for a soda and talked a while too. He gave us some good insight into the Whites. Really nice 86-year-old guy who has been hiking the Whites all his life. Back on trail at 10:30.

The best advice we got was:

• Don’t be afraid of the Whites.
• Respect them. 
• Pay close attention to the weather.

Crossed a bog just after meeting the trail angel.

Ran into a hiker named Four Legs because of his walking canines. He gave us Pop-Tarts. Nice!

Up and over Holts Ledges at 11:45. First of 2 big climbs today. That thing was steep! Now to descend it and start climbing Smarts Mountain.

Took a snack break at Dorchester Road before tackling Smarts Mountain. Got a 2-mile road walk up Dorchester Road.

Just saw my second bear in 2 days . Youngster. Dropped out of a tree and bolted into the woods as I was walking up Dorchester Road to the base of Smarts Mountain. 

Got to the parking lot at Dorchester Road and the AT. 23 was resting here before ascending Smarts Mountain. Wished him a good hike. There is NO water on the mountain or at the shelter up top. I’ll load up 2.7 liters and lug them 3.5 miles up to my camp for tonight. Yay!

Summited Smarts Mountain at 3:55. That last 1.5 miles was brutal! 

Stopped by the fire tower on top of Smarts to check the view. The Rascals are all here as well.

YouTube video from Smarts Mountain fire tower

I planned to stay in the fully enclosed cabin up on Smarts, but it’s 4:30 and it’s COLD and very, very windy. I sucked it up and hiked 3 miles downhill to a small river. There are about 6 of us stealth camping by the river. Camping is not allowed, but I am not going 4 more miles uphill starting at 6:00 p.m. to get to a legal camp spot. It is very sheltered from the wind in this gap where I’m camping. I can hear the wind up in the trees, but it’s not reaching down here. Plus, there is water.

Got camp setup by 6:30 and cooked dinner. Tough hikes today, and I’m starving! Ate about 7:00. Got into bed at 7:45. Did some planning for tomorrow and read till 10:00.

I have a quandary. Since I hiked long today, I only have 7.5 miles tomorrow to where I  can get a pickup to Barn Door hostel where I  made a reservation for a private room. Then on Wednesday I only have a 9.7 mile hike to Hikers Welcome hostel. Part of me says eat the $90 for the room and just push on to the second hostel tomorrow. Part of me says since it’s non-refundable, just do a Nero! It was a good plan when I originally set it up 🙁

Technical Notes:

• Pop Tarts 370
• Oreos 200
• Coke 140
• Pop Tarts 370
• Skittles 175
• Snickers 250
• Snickers 250
• Cheese Crackers 250
• Pepperoni 280
• Ramen 740
• Dehydrated Chicken 170
• Oreo 160
• Water 2.4
• Miles 15
• Time 10
• Elevation Gain 4068
• Calories Consumed 3600
• Calories Burned 6500