"One pound off your feet..."

"...equals five pounds off your back."
-common hiker wisdom supported by US Army research

July 14, 2001

We stayed at Hiker's Paradise.

There were two hostels in Gorham, NH that were vying for Appalachian Trail hikers.  I think the other one was the White Mountain Hotel.

This was great, I tell you.

Because of the competition, each bent over backwards trying to accommodate thru-hikers!  The guy at Hiker's Paradise drove us wherever we wanted, and kept bikes in the back of the van in case some of us wanted to go different directions.  He drove us to get resupply food, and some went to watch a movie, while others of us took bikes to go shopping.

I went to the outfitter and bought a pair of low-cut approach shoes (Lowes) and mailed home my boots.  Also got smaller cord.  

The boots would be a great relief.  More on that later.

I was carrying thick rope for tying food up in trees away from bears.  The rope was pretty weighty, so it was nice to getter a lighter-weight yet still strong enough cord.  I mailed the heavy rope home and still use it today to tie up our paddle boat.

I left at 10:30 AM after calling home and hiked 8 miles to Imp Campsite.  It's really full of section hikers.  The weather is really cold and rainy.  I'm using my thermal underwear already (not for hiking yet...but maybe tomorrow).

Gorham, NH from Imp Campsite's bench

I really love my new shoes.  I feel so much better w/out those clunkers on my feet.  I can get my feet into smaller rock holes and get those feet a little higher.  It really helps with jumping...especially down for some reason.

Oh, more Trail Angels.  first, four day hikers from Massachusetts gave me some dried-fruit gorp.  Second, a group from Portland, ME at Imp Shelter gave us lots of food.  So far turkey and potatoes, cookies, and promise of Pop-tarts.