Background
Sox and I have been itching to get into the Whites and knock off some of the tougher sections of the remaining portions of the AT. Our original plan was to head north from NH Route 25A but Sox's youngest son wanted to join us and do an overnight. Completing a notch-to-notch hike seemed like more of a challenge than day-hiking Moosilauke. So I jumped in the car, drove 8 hours north, and met up with Sox and his son Adam on a Thursday afternoon.
Day 1: Friday July 22nd
We drove over to Franconia Notch and left a car in The Basin parking area about 0,5 miles north of the AT crossing. Sox's wife was kind enough to follow us over and shuttle us down to the parking area in Kinsman Notch. We crossed the Kancamagus Highway at 08:30 and started the steep ascent out of the notch.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-NWHrbxT/0/M/P1030205-M.jpg]
As far as 7.5-mile short hikes go, this one was a bitch. The initial 800 feet of ascent left me soaked in sweat. One thing was for sure - we were going to get very familiar with rock steps in this section.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-2SkXSJW/0/M/RIMG0444-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-XjqxChP/0/M/RIMG0449-M.jpg]
There weren't many views today from the green tunnel. This one let me know that I only had 0.5 miles remaining to the Eliza Brook Shelter.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-ptW2XF3/0/M/RIMG0450-M.jpg]
We only ran into a few hikers during the day. SOBO thru Snacks shared a lunch spot with us and NOBO thru Braveheart blew past me like I was standing still. Actually, I probably was stopped to catch my breath. As usual, Sox and Adam arrived well before me at the shelter and chose to set up their tent above the shelter. I dropped my pack in the shelter and decided to share it with Braveheart.
Sox & Adam in the Eliza Brook Shelter
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-qSWP5dz/0/M/RIMG0451-M.jpg]
It was a quiet evening in camp. Once water was filtered and dinner prepared & consumed, we pretty much turned in for the evening. Two more NOBO thrus eventually joined us in the shelter and another pair tented nearby. I was very happy with my decision to sleep in the shelter as a strong thunderstorm swept through after midnight and gave Sox a soggy night's sleep.
Sox and I have been itching to get into the Whites and knock off some of the tougher sections of the remaining portions of the AT. Our original plan was to head north from NH Route 25A but Sox's youngest son wanted to join us and do an overnight. Completing a notch-to-notch hike seemed like more of a challenge than day-hiking Moosilauke. So I jumped in the car, drove 8 hours north, and met up with Sox and his son Adam on a Thursday afternoon.
Day 1: Friday July 22nd
We drove over to Franconia Notch and left a car in The Basin parking area about 0,5 miles north of the AT crossing. Sox's wife was kind enough to follow us over and shuttle us down to the parking area in Kinsman Notch. We crossed the Kancamagus Highway at 08:30 and started the steep ascent out of the notch.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-NWHrbxT/0/M/P1030205-M.jpg]
As far as 7.5-mile short hikes go, this one was a bitch. The initial 800 feet of ascent left me soaked in sweat. One thing was for sure - we were going to get very familiar with rock steps in this section.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-2SkXSJW/0/M/RIMG0444-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-XjqxChP/0/M/RIMG0449-M.jpg]
There weren't many views today from the green tunnel. This one let me know that I only had 0.5 miles remaining to the Eliza Brook Shelter.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-ptW2XF3/0/M/RIMG0450-M.jpg]
We only ran into a few hikers during the day. SOBO thru Snacks shared a lunch spot with us and NOBO thru Braveheart blew past me like I was standing still. Actually, I probably was stopped to catch my breath. As usual, Sox and Adam arrived well before me at the shelter and chose to set up their tent above the shelter. I dropped my pack in the shelter and decided to share it with Braveheart.
Sox & Adam in the Eliza Brook Shelter
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Hiking/AT-Section-Hike-30/i-qSWP5dz/0/M/RIMG0451-M.jpg]
It was a quiet evening in camp. Once water was filtered and dinner prepared & consumed, we pretty much turned in for the evening. Two more NOBO thrus eventually joined us in the shelter and another pair tented nearby. I was very happy with my decision to sleep in the shelter as a strong thunderstorm swept through after midnight and gave Sox a soggy night's sleep.
Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
The post was edited 1 time, last by StalkingTortoise ().