August 23, 2004

I could taste the cotton candy-like skies this morning as I hiked out of Kinsman Notch by 6:00 a.m.  Yummy!  It didn't take long, though, before the sugar rush wore off.  I was naive in my planning today.  The 17 miles from Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch are noted to be part of the toughest 25 mile section on the trail.  It took me 13 hours to hike 17 miles!  I literally had to body-slam my way up steep, slippery boulders.  I grasped for anything to maintain some balance.  The downhill slopes were steep and slippery.  I slid down on my butt, boulder after boulder.  The hand over hand climb on the uphill slopes were exhausting!

At day's end, the woods and skies were getting dark and I was becoming concerned that I would not have enough time to finish before dark.  Then it rained.  Fear and panic set in as I hiked teary-eyed, through rushing water not once but twice!  I was soaked.  My gear was soaked.  Each step hurt.  My boots were heavy and I could feel the blisters.  Later, Bear and I laughed at ourselves for being so naive in our planning.  But we did feel proud to have accomplished the tough section in one day.  Never again will I attempt to hike 17 miles in The Whites!

"I have learned that love does not end, not even with death;

it continues to express itself in ways ever new." -James E. Miller