Franconia Range
Franconia Range
August 23, 2006 - Camp to camp sight 1 mile north from Mt. Lafayette
I was up at 6.a.m. and left quick after breakfast. It was a moderate day of hiking until the climb up Garfield Mountain.
It was very steep as usual in the Whites. I am in the middle of Garfield and Lafayette Mountain tonight. I found a
small good water source here and will get by fine here tonight. I found a big stealth camp sight with a lot of wood 200
feet off of the trail. I have a good fire going here for it is cold and I also have all on that I am carrying. It felt good to
be lazy today and rest this sore knee. The hiking should be easier in a few days after I get out of the Whites and
Glencliff area. This area is beautiful with the lush growth I the deep woods and the big mossy rocks.
August 24, 2006 - Camp near Lafayette to .8 south of Liberty Springs Camp
I was up and on the trail early. My pack is light today with enough food but will get some in town soon. The climb up
to Lafayette was steady but beautiful. It was very cold going up and I had to wear my long pants and rain parka most
of the day. This was a first on this trip for me. I almost always hike in shorts. I was above tree line most of the day
and this range was most beautiful. This was better than the Presidential range. The Franconia Range is about 5-6
miles above tree line. This weather is cooperating with me too. I took many breaks and took many pictures on this 10
day. I could see the next Hut location on the mountain on the other side. {Lonesome Lake Hut} I got a picture of the
little speck on the mountain and got a picture of this place from there later. I am meeting 10-15 thru-hikers each day
lately. The hoards will be passing me for the next 10 days or so if it is like last year. After that it will be a lot quieter.
The walk down off of mountain was steep with out any water all day until I got to Liberty Springs Camp Site. There
was good water here. I drank a lot and then continued off the mountain until I got to the next water source where I
camped up on the hill overlooking the creek. I washed up and got a nice little fire going and enjoyed my nice camp
spot. My feet felt so much better after I soaked them in the cold water.
August 25, 2006 - .8 south of Liberty Springs camp to .6 south of Lonesome Lake Hut
I slept well in my hammock. I left camp by 7 a.m. and by 7:40 a.m. I had reached I-83 to off ramp and after hiking ¼
mile to get to off ramp I got a quick ride into the town of North Woodstock where I got groceries at Wayne’s
groceries. There was a liquor store next to the food store but it didn’t open till 11 a.m. I did not wait. After calling
Virginia I started to hitch out of town. I got a ride by another hiker, Rock Dancer. He was headed to Maine where he
was going to do some trail magic up there. I had a nice ride and we are both glad to meet one another. Rock Dancer
is about to finish the trail in both directions too in a few months. I got his email address and will write him later. The
hike back up to Lonesome Lake Hut was rocky but not real steep. I got some soup here too. I got tomatoes today
and it was good. This is the last Hut in the Whites for me. I am glad to have the tougher area behind me although I
did enjoy it. I found water in between two trees here and decided to stay. It was a nice camp site. After leaving the
Hut I passed the water source. It is very interesting how they did it. They had drilled a well here. I can’t begin to
imagine how they got the drilling equipment in here. To get the water out of the ground they used water power from
the creek to turn a hand pump. It was ingenious! I only wish I had taken a picture of it. You can hear it for a while. It
clangs, bang. bang. I met two fellows after I got to this camp. One was internet equipped on the trail. I also got some
coffee at the store today. He gave me some out of what they brew each morning. I thanked him a lot! I hate to buy a
whole can and then leave the rest. It will tide me over till Hanover. I saw some fresh beaver chewing at the hut today.
They can really chip off some big pieces too. Some were the size of fifty cents pieces. I have a nice fire going
tonight. I just ate pieces of toast, 2/3 lb. of bacon and a big cup of Joe, and the camp site is free! I will hike up over
the Kinsman Range tomorrow. It is always nice to have a big climb in the early part of the day. I try to plan it that
way. I will finally be in a free shelter area tomorrow night. It may rain tomorrow and now the shelters are spaced out
one days hike for a long time to come. My hammock proved itself in the Whites. Anyone hiking the whole trail should
consider one for the whole trail. I ran out of Ibuprofen today and the store only had aspirin. I got 100 for $3.00 They
will get me to Hanover. I finally feel that I will make it to Dalton, but for a change I don’t want it to end. I do miss home
and Virginia. This is the second hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The first thing was my 1981 hike. I am a
sucker for punishment I guess! If I had to do the second trip over again I would only change one thing. I would carry
a digital camera for the whole trip. I only carried a digital for this northern 622 miles and a regular 35 mm camera for
another 500 miles. I have a 1000 mile gap with no pictures on my second trip. I will never forget the trip though. I
over all have no regrets! I may have had a different trail name too. Death Wish II. I may get a tattoo in Dalton. I may
chicken out too. I am at a new camp site tonight, it is always nice to be at a new one. The firewood is very plentiful.
No one snores and you can pee anywhere you want! It is a lot sunnier than usual and the weather is warmer tonight.
It is very quiet here tonight. There is nothing like this in the outside world. This is why I hike the Appalachian Trail.
I was up at 6.a.m. and left quick after breakfast. It was a moderate day of hiking until the climb up Garfield Mountain.
It was very steep as usual in the Whites. I am in the middle of Garfield and Lafayette Mountain tonight. I found a
small good water source here and will get by fine here tonight. I found a big stealth camp sight with a lot of wood 200
feet off of the trail. I have a good fire going here for it is cold and I also have all on that I am carrying. It felt good to
be lazy today and rest this sore knee. The hiking should be easier in a few days after I get out of the Whites and
Glencliff area. This area is beautiful with the lush growth I the deep woods and the big mossy rocks.
August 24, 2006 - Camp near Lafayette to .8 south of Liberty Springs Camp
I was up and on the trail early. My pack is light today with enough food but will get some in town soon. The climb up
to Lafayette was steady but beautiful. It was very cold going up and I had to wear my long pants and rain parka most
of the day. This was a first on this trip for me. I almost always hike in shorts. I was above tree line most of the day
and this range was most beautiful. This was better than the Presidential range. The Franconia Range is about 5-6
miles above tree line. This weather is cooperating with me too. I took many breaks and took many pictures on this 10
day. I could see the next Hut location on the mountain on the other side. {Lonesome Lake Hut} I got a picture of the
little speck on the mountain and got a picture of this place from there later. I am meeting 10-15 thru-hikers each day
lately. The hoards will be passing me for the next 10 days or so if it is like last year. After that it will be a lot quieter.
The walk down off of mountain was steep with out any water all day until I got to Liberty Springs Camp Site. There
was good water here. I drank a lot and then continued off the mountain until I got to the next water source where I
camped up on the hill overlooking the creek. I washed up and got a nice little fire going and enjoyed my nice camp
spot. My feet felt so much better after I soaked them in the cold water.
August 25, 2006 - .8 south of Liberty Springs camp to .6 south of Lonesome Lake Hut
I slept well in my hammock. I left camp by 7 a.m. and by 7:40 a.m. I had reached I-83 to off ramp and after hiking ¼
mile to get to off ramp I got a quick ride into the town of North Woodstock where I got groceries at Wayne’s
groceries. There was a liquor store next to the food store but it didn’t open till 11 a.m. I did not wait. After calling
Virginia I started to hitch out of town. I got a ride by another hiker, Rock Dancer. He was headed to Maine where he
was going to do some trail magic up there. I had a nice ride and we are both glad to meet one another. Rock Dancer
is about to finish the trail in both directions too in a few months. I got his email address and will write him later. The
hike back up to Lonesome Lake Hut was rocky but not real steep. I got some soup here too. I got tomatoes today
and it was good. This is the last Hut in the Whites for me. I am glad to have the tougher area behind me although I
did enjoy it. I found water in between two trees here and decided to stay. It was a nice camp site. After leaving the
Hut I passed the water source. It is very interesting how they did it. They had drilled a well here. I can’t begin to
imagine how they got the drilling equipment in here. To get the water out of the ground they used water power from
the creek to turn a hand pump. It was ingenious! I only wish I had taken a picture of it. You can hear it for a while. It
clangs, bang. bang. I met two fellows after I got to this camp. One was internet equipped on the trail. I also got some
coffee at the store today. He gave me some out of what they brew each morning. I thanked him a lot! I hate to buy a
whole can and then leave the rest. It will tide me over till Hanover. I saw some fresh beaver chewing at the hut today.
They can really chip off some big pieces too. Some were the size of fifty cents pieces. I have a nice fire going
tonight. I just ate pieces of toast, 2/3 lb. of bacon and a big cup of Joe, and the camp site is free! I will hike up over
the Kinsman Range tomorrow. It is always nice to have a big climb in the early part of the day. I try to plan it that
way. I will finally be in a free shelter area tomorrow night. It may rain tomorrow and now the shelters are spaced out
one days hike for a long time to come. My hammock proved itself in the Whites. Anyone hiking the whole trail should
consider one for the whole trail. I ran out of Ibuprofen today and the store only had aspirin. I got 100 for $3.00 They
will get me to Hanover. I finally feel that I will make it to Dalton, but for a change I don’t want it to end. I do miss home
and Virginia. This is the second hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The first thing was my 1981 hike. I am a
sucker for punishment I guess! If I had to do the second trip over again I would only change one thing. I would carry
a digital camera for the whole trip. I only carried a digital for this northern 622 miles and a regular 35 mm camera for
another 500 miles. I have a 1000 mile gap with no pictures on my second trip. I will never forget the trip though. I
over all have no regrets! I may have had a different trail name too. Death Wish II. I may get a tattoo in Dalton. I may
chicken out too. I am at a new camp site tonight, it is always nice to be at a new one. The firewood is very plentiful.
No one snores and you can pee anywhere you want! It is a lot sunnier than usual and the weather is warmer tonight.
It is very quiet here tonight. There is nothing like this in the outside world. This is why I hike the Appalachian Trail.
Rowmin Goat
Lost Pond
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