Danger sign in the Whites
August 9, 1981 - Hostel at road to .2 miles passed Garfield Ridge Shelter-
I did ten of the hardest miles since leaving Georgia four months ago. Very steep and constant climbing. I started it
off on the wrong foot by leaving late. (9:30) I tried to get a ride for an hour and finally got a ride by the owners of the
lodge I had stayed at the night before. I finally hit the first hill at 10:00 a.m. Stopped by Liberty Springs Campsite
and was given tea to drink by the hut keeper. I walked to Garfield Ridge Shelter and found out that it was full! I went
¼ mile farther and camped. Dan came in after dark and we set up his tarp. I was going to sleep out in the open and
chance the rain until he came by. I’m glad he came by. It rained like hell! We still got very wet but we survived.
August 10, 1981 - Near Garfield Ridge Shelter to Ethan Pond Shelter-
Left campsite at 7:00 a.m. and everything was wet. Walked nine miles to Ethan Pond Shelter. Ran into Pete and his
dad again. Too many people on the trail today. I took a side route which ran back into the A.T. today to get relief
from all of the people. For three miles I saw no people at all. The side trail cut off one mile on the trail but it was very
hard hiking. It had a decent like a drop off. (3000 feet in 1½ miles.) There is no caretaker here so it will not cost us
any money here tonight. I got some very good pictures of a sunset over the lake.
I did ten of the hardest miles since leaving Georgia four months ago. Very steep and constant climbing. I started it
off on the wrong foot by leaving late. (9:30) I tried to get a ride for an hour and finally got a ride by the owners of the
lodge I had stayed at the night before. I finally hit the first hill at 10:00 a.m. Stopped by Liberty Springs Campsite
and was given tea to drink by the hut keeper. I walked to Garfield Ridge Shelter and found out that it was full! I went
¼ mile farther and camped. Dan came in after dark and we set up his tarp. I was going to sleep out in the open and
chance the rain until he came by. I’m glad he came by. It rained like hell! We still got very wet but we survived.
August 10, 1981 - Near Garfield Ridge Shelter to Ethan Pond Shelter-
Left campsite at 7:00 a.m. and everything was wet. Walked nine miles to Ethan Pond Shelter. Ran into Pete and his
dad again. Too many people on the trail today. I took a side route which ran back into the A.T. today to get relief
from all of the people. For three miles I saw no people at all. The side trail cut off one mile on the trail but it was very
hard hiking. It had a decent like a drop off. (3000 feet in 1½ miles.) There is no caretaker here so it will not cost us
any money here tonight. I got some very good pictures of a sunset over the lake.
Sludge Barrels Full of Poop
August 11, 1981 - Ethan Pond Shelter to Camped near Mount Webster-
Dan and I left Ethan Pond Shelter at 7:00 a.m. Made it to U.S. 302 and hitched a ride into North Conway and got
replacement hip belt and shoulder straps at a backpacking store. I bought some groceries and ate well. I bought a
big hoagie, one pint of ice cream, one quart of coke, etc. Got a ride back to trail and started to hike at around 3:00
p.m. We got a ride back to the trail by some workers of the Mount Washington Motel. By the way we got a ride into
town by a show girl boss.
Dan and I left Ethan Pond Shelter at 7:00 a.m. Made it to U.S. 302 and hitched a ride into North Conway and got
replacement hip belt and shoulder straps at a backpacking store. I bought some groceries and ate well. I bought a
big hoagie, one pint of ice cream, one quart of coke, etc. Got a ride back to trail and started to hike at around 3:00
p.m. We got a ride back to the trail by some workers of the Mount Washington Motel. By the way we got a ride into
town by a show girl boss.
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