August 24 (Day 116)

There was a decent amount of rain last night that came and went. It didn't rain hard continuously, but it just never seemed to want to stop.

Clouds were rolling past quickly this morning, and it was very foggy. Just like the last time I hiked in the Whites, the day I went past Mount Washington, it was extremely foggy, and so we didn't feel the need to take the side trail to the summit. It was the same for me today. I saw no reason to take the side trail just to see more fog.

The descent off the ridge was almost as bad as I remember, and it was a little treacherous because of the rain.

I passed the Osgood Campsite, where Amelia and I stayed last time (it's the only free campsite in the White Mountains). I continued on to Pinkham Notch. Everything was familiar, and I got a nice turkey sandwich from the cafeteria. But it's ridiculously expensive, more so than I remember.

Not wanting to pay to stay anywhere tonight, I've pitched my tent back in the woods a little ways up the trail from Pinkham Notch. It's going to rain again, but I'll just hope it doesn't rain too hard. I should be fine since I'm not up on the ridgelines now.

August 25 (Day 117)

Even though I recently treated the rainfly to my tent with some waterproofing spray, it still performed badly last night. It rained, and I still had a lot of water coming through down by my feet. I managed to keep most of my stuff pretty dry. It just wasn't a very comfortable night's sleep.

I got up earlier than usual this morning because there was no point in lying around any longer in a wet tent. Then it was up and over the last ridgeline in the White Mountains.

I didn't really take any breaks while walking today, and there really wasn't much to see because of the clouds. Also, I wanted to get to Gorham in time to get a few errands done.

After coming down to the road, I was lucky enough to get a ride into town right away. I went first to the post office (where, amazingly enough, they stay open until 5 p.m. even on Saturday) and picked up my maildrop.

I also went to a hardware/camping store and bought a cheap new tent. Hopefully it will do better at keeping rain out, and hopefully, it will be good enough to last for the next three weeks or however long it takes.

I have a hotel room for the night, and I've also been able to do my laundry. I'm glad to have a room, because it got really humid today with all the moisture in the air and the thunderstorms are starting now. The power has already gone out twice in this hotel because of them.

If I get an early start tomorrow, I should be able to get into Maine.

August 26 (Day 118) 

I'd eaten so much yesterday that I really wasn't very hungry this morning. All I did was buy an apple and a milk from the convenience store on the way out of town. I wasn't expecting to get a ride back out to the trail since it was so early on a Sunday morning, and I did have to walk the 4 miles back to the trail.

It was not as hot as yesterday, but it was still extremely humid, and I was soaked as soon as I started climbing.

I didn't see many people initially, but it wasn't long before I passed two large groups of college kids, and then at the second shelter, I ran into another northbound thru-hiker.

Most of the miles I walked today were much harder earned than most other miles I've walked on the AT. Lost of steep rocks, and everything was pretty slippery because of all the rain last night. I still got 17 miles done (plus 4 on the road out of town), but it certainly took longer.

There a bit of a crowd here at this shelter. I know none of them came from town, so they can't have hiked very far. But, all that matters is that I'm a little over a mile inside of Maine finally.