"The pastureland unfailingly assumes the guise..."

"...of a more vibrant hue when in existence on the yonder aspect of any delimiting barrier."
-bombastic proverb by Chuck

July 23, 2001

I climbed Moosilauke this morning.  It was my last Alpine Goodness above treeline.  It was hazy yet I enjoyed the cool breezes.  

Me on Moosilauke...random stranger napping on the right

There was a random gentleman napping on top of Moosilauke.  I arrived, snapped a timer-run-into-the-shot picture, breathed the goodness of above-treeline air, wolfed down a Snickers bar, and continued on down the mountain without the man every waking up.  I suppose I should have checked his pulse.

I believe, however, that he was a Nobo, or North-bounder.  This man had walked from Georgia to come nap on top of this New Hampshire peak.  Although he had traversed the demanding Smokey Mountain National Park, the Trail had spoiled him over the pasturelands of New Jersey and New York.

This man was not accustomed to climbing the demanding peaks of the Northeast.

Oh, would he have fun.

At the base on the south side I hit my first pastureland.  It was Wildflower Goodness.

Then I walked across our first real "flat" land for a total of 17 miles today to Ore Hill Shelter.  It's sorta nice to be back to the shelter and smelly privy routine.

We (Noble Savage and I) caught up to GI Jane and passed Bones and the New Yorkers.  The "P's",  Peanut and Panama Red, are about six miles ahead (I think).  I'm planning on a 19 mile day tomorrow.  Better get some sleep...