8/06/01
The back side of Holt's ledge was a fairly steep descent this morning as I got an early start ahead of the gang. It was already hot by the time I left the shelter and it was obvious this was going to be a tough hiking day. The first two miles were fairly level on the map profile, but the profile didn't show all the rocks and dense vegetation along the way. A 2000' climb followed up Lambert's Ridge to Smarts Mountain. The climb took all of my energy and strength in the blazing heat. New Hampshire's mountain trails are virtually always either up or down with a steep grade and no switchbacks. All of the guys passed me on the four mile climb to the top of Smarts, but it didn't matter to me that I couldn't maintain their pace. It was all I could do to get up the mountain as I fought heat exhaustion with several breaks. The view from the top was outstanding with the first real opportunity to see Mt. Moosilauke and the imposing Whites behind it. Mt. Washington, though 70 miles away, was distinctly visible with its 6,288' summit. All of us (Green Light, Bad Moon, Priceless, Phantom, Redneck, Finn and I ) relaxed most of the afternoon at the summit. I even took a nap on the firetower about 40' above the ground to enjoy the breeze just above treeline. There was no water at the top (the spring had run dry), so at 4:30 we all started the descent in search of water. We reached Jacob's Brook 1,800' down the mountain where we all resupplied before hiking on to the Hexacuba shelter for the night. The shelter was on the side of the mountain in rugged terrain with no good tentsite. All of us piled into the six sided shelter to cook dinner and settle in for the night (except Green Light who found one semi decent tentsite). The shelter occupants included Phantom, Finn, Priceless, Redneck, Mick, Swagman, Bad Moon and me. I tried journaling as nightfall came, but there was too much conversation to really focus. Soon everyone was settling down and I journaled for a few minutes before the mosquitoes found me (for the first time in a while). I got inside my tent (used it as a sleeping bag) and listened to the radio until 11:30 as I couldn't sleep due to the heat. Finally it cooled enough to sleep for the night. Before going to sleep I was thinking about the irony of picking up all the winter gear just in time to endure the hottest condition we've faced since Pennsylvania. I also wondered with some trepidation about my ability to make it through the Whites in the heat with such difficult terrain. I decided that I have to remember the philosophy to take it one step at a time without concern for a deadline to finish the journey. Today's stats: low 70, high 88. Sunny and hot. Today's mileage: 12.0 hot miles; cumulative miles: 1754.9.
