[at-l] new england hike - days 14 & 15

["richard mann" <hike-usa@email.msn.com>]

new england hike - day 14 - gentian pond campsite to gorham new hampshire

timmy, shamrock, and eye hiked up a side trail by the name of austin brook.
this brought us to the gentian pond campsite.  we chose to do a southbound
hike today because it provided for more descents than ascents.  we had a
lengthy break at the shelter, talking with 6 or 7 thru-hikers...

the trail was the complete opposite of what we had become used to.  we were
wondering what the spongy stuff was that we were hiking on, and realized it
was dirt.  there were a few rock scrambles, though, just to remind us of the
past couple of weeks.  the weather was grand.  we stayed together and were
in good spirits all day and were showing little signs of fatigue at the end
of the hike...

day 15 - mahoosic notch (west end) to carlo col

well, let me tell you, what a difference a day makes.  we hiked in the
mahoosic notch side trail to the west end of the notch, and had the
intention of hiking southbound to gentian pond campsite, then out the austin
brook trail.  first off was a steep climb, though this is not so bad in the
morning.  but the climbs and descents became nothing but the scaling of rock
slabs.  the trip up and over and down the goose eyes was ridiculous.  the
trail through there is unnecessarily difficult.  the trail dictated our
pace, and we made no time at all.  by the time we were climbing up and over
and down mount carlo we were exhausted and disgusted, but were determined to
finish.  then the rains came...

the rain to the last of our desire and washed it away.  we took the carlo
col side trail off of the mountain.  it put on a gravel road with little
traffic, but we didn't care, we were off of the trail.  we needed an angel,
and we got one in the form of a very generous local.  he took us to gorham.
he was familiar with the mountains and the trails and hikers, and was happy
to lend a hand...

our croo had already headed off to pick us up at the austin brook trail, so
we got in my van and headed to meet them.  they were somewhat surprised to
see us pull up at the trailhead.  a lady named NTO, who had hiked with me in
'97, had come for a visit, and she was hiking the side trail to meet us as
we came out.  well, obviously she was on a futile mission, so peter pan
(timmys hubby) hiked in to retrieve her.  what a comedy of errors this day
had become...

we had a great supper and a great visit with NTO...

pittsburgh



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