Day 89: Cold Eggs, Hot Soup, and a Trail Legend

Summary
Aug 14th

Kinsman Pond Shelter to RT 93

NOBO mile# 1816.5

Daily mileage 4.6

Total Mileage 792.8

Kinsman Pond
It was very noisy last night. Two very intense snorers, and lots of sleeping pad noise. There are sleeping pads that are especially known for the amount of noise they make when people move around on them (they sound like bubble wrap being popped); these are also some of the most popular pads on the trail because they are comfortable and weigh the least. I would not be able to use one of them because I’d feel incredibly self-conscious. One of the SOBOers apologized in advance for the noise, but somehow that made it even more annoying. 

The shelter design also added to the mix because it had a loft-like sleeping platform, providing twice the sleeping space. When you get a platform like that, it acts even more like a sound-board, and the box it makes acts like an amplifier. 

There were some folks on the upper platform who seemed oblivious to the noise they were making, thumping and bumping, and what sounded like opening of food packages and eating in the middle of the night (violating the bear protocol; this was a shelter that provided a bear box). In the morning I heard one of the SOBOers say, “this is the noisiest shelter ever!”, as if it was the shelter’s fault, which set me off even more since it was the SOBO tramily making most of the noise. 

Anyway, enough whining from me…

I had to get up to do my business during the night, and had a chance to see the stars through the trees; the night sky was stunning!! I went back to bed, but seriously considered walking down to the pond to get a more unobstructed view of the sky.

I had considered sleeping in and taking my time in the morning, but everyone else was up and about, so I retrieved my food bag from the bear box and ate some dry granola and a brownie Cliff bar. I was hopeful that I might score some breakfast 2 miles on at the Lonesome Lake AMC Hut.

Half of the SOBOers were off on trail, when I packed up and started north. Bumbles said she would see me at the hut. The trail almost immediately continued its steep descent, still providing opportunities for adrenaline rushes, and I took it fairly slowly. I had felt the beginnings of shin splints in my left leg during the night, and hoped that treating the leg kindly would work them out. At first it didn’t seem to be working very well, because it was difficult not to pound on the leg coming down some of the sections. But eventually it eased up; I hope I won’t have to deal with the shin splints again! 

Bumbles caught me up on when I lost the trail along a washed out area around a stream. We came into the Lonesome Lake hut at roughly the same time. I’ve been in a hut or two before, but this was the first time I sat down and availed myself of their services. I got some coffee, and they offered me left-over eggs and oatmeal, then I got a piece of cake, some lemonade, and then a bowl of soup. It was homey fair and welcome after my dry granola. 

They also had a couple of guitars on the wall, so I sat and played for a few minutes. The couple heading towards 93 showed up, and another hiker. Bumbles talked about how this section of trail was beating her up, and that she was reconsidering her section attempt to get to Pinkham Notch. Originally she was planning on climbing up to Liberty Springs campsite today, but she thought she might hitch into town, and then try to get to her car on the southern trail head of Moosilauke. She left ahead of me.

Then it was time to head down myself. At the shelter, I had archived a bunch of books I had on my Kindle app on my phone, to see if I could free up space for more photos. So I was able to snap a few shots off.

Lonesome Lake

Franconia Ridge over Lonesome Lake

The trail moderated from the hut down to the highway, but it was still 3+ miles to go. I got down to 93, then took the 1 mile bike path over to the Flume Visitor’s Center to see if I could hitch into Lincoln. The shuttle from the hostel wasn’t due to pick me up until 5:30 and it was just after noon. After using the rest room at the vistor’s center, and cleaning up a little bit, I grabbed a couple of sodas from the food court, and went out to try to get a ride. 

Cascade Brook under RT 93
The first car that passed me picked me up; it was a thru-hiker with his mom! They were headed into Lincoln themselves, so I completely lucked out!! They dropped me at the Price Chopper, and right after they left, up drives Miss Janet in her van, and Bumbles is there in the back seat, so they stopped for a moment to talk.Miss Janet is a legend, a Trail angel who follows the bubble up from Springer, providing help in any way she can, rides, etc. I had been hoping I might meet her at some point, so I was grateful for the chance meeting. 

I spent the afternoon in Lincoln, got a sandwich, saw “The Dark Tower” at the local movie theater, then got a ride back to the hostel with the evening resupply shuttle. 

Because tomorrow is supposed to rain, and I am going to get up on Franconia ridge next, I’m going to zero at the hostel, then hit the ridge in better weather on Thursday.