Footsteps from a 2000 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. Mark and I stayed in Gorham for two nights getting ready for Maine. We did some shopping, cleaning and repairing at the local hiker lodging. Mark and I decided to hitch back to Pinkham Notch and slackpack back to Gorham. Instead, we hung around the Pinkham Notch AMC Center and then hitched back to town. When we got back there was quite a collection of thru-hikers at the Gorham House Inn. The Tortiose Trekkers, Peter and Judy, Night Prowler, Sunshine Daydream, Figgy Newton and Cookie Monster all wandered in while we were there. Everyone was excited about Maine. We finally got out of Gorham on September 4th and the northwoods were already showing some fall color.
Our backpacks were swollen with food and the 12 miles from Gorham left us weary. Even though there was a bunch of "short hikers" at the shelter, we were glad to spend the night at such a great place. It was located on a secluded beaver pond with excellent views to the east. We were closing in on Maine and would be there tomorrow. The forest seemed to know this and exuded its own aura of wildness. We woke to a spectacular day. Mist rose out of the lowlands as the skies brightened with the sun. The air had lost that paper mill scent and was crisp with autumn. Mark and I had a spring in our step as we walked the last miles of New Hampshire. At last the sign proclaimed the inevitable. We were now in Maine, the last state on our northbound trip of the Appalachian Trail. |
Copyright 1999 Tim Novak and Half Ass Expeditions