Day 32 - Thursday, July 14

Linda

We were up and gone by 7:00, before anyone else. Met a Northbounder from New Jersey in a few minutes. Talked a while, then kept on. Two brothers who were at the shelter the night before caught up with us, and we hiked together. The fog was pretty bad and by the time we started up the beautiful Franconia Ridge, it was socked in and we had 50+ mile per hour winds. So much for fabulous views. We put on all our warm clothes and walked in close order. Walking was difficult due to the high wind, but the trail had recently been worked on, and was in good condition, so that helped. Mike caught up with us at the top of Mt. Lafayette, and we took a break near a sheltered rock bank. Of course, as soon as we crossed the 5 miles above treeline and started down to Franconia Notch, it cleared up. It figures. Stopped and made soup to warm up, then did an easy 4 miles to the road. Mike had conned the guys into giving him a ride to Glencliff to pick up his package. He really has a talent for things like that (it's called gall)

Just before the road we were stopped by a lady with a clipboard, taking an AMC survey. Here we come all this way to get out in the wilderness, and we get hit with a man-on-the-street interview. She was very nice, though, so we politely answered her questions. At Route 3 we stopped at a big picnic ground, and sat at our bare picnic table eating our meager lunch, and salivating over the sight and smells of all the picnickers stashing away all the goodies. I could have killed for a hot dog and potato salad, but we had to push on to Kinsman Shelter.

Back at the road we ran into Brian and Rick trying to hitch into North Woodstock for supplies. It was mid afternoon, and the day had turned sunny and hot. Started up the trail, which follows a brook and was steep in places. We took a side trail to the shelter which went right up a stream bed most of the way. Climbed over 2,000 feet in less than 5 miles. The shelter was deserted when we got there and we hoped it would stay that way for a change. A guy with a big dog came in, then Mike and Ray. We fixed dinner then went to bed. Ray is laying over a day there to work on his feet which are in terrible shape. He's been fighting one problem or another with them almost since the beginning. Hope that doesn't prove to be his downfall. If they don't get better, he may have to quit, or slow way down. Either way, we may not see him again, but he's surprised us before.

Ron

Our long day today started at 7:00 this morning. The climb up Mt. Garfield in the cold morning wind was not bad. Regretfully the thick clouds eliminated all views. As we proceed up the ridge the wind grew stronger. Before making the final climb to timberline we put on all of our extra clothes. The cold wind blew right through the minimal protection we had. For awhile we weren't sure if we could hike the five miles above timberline without incident. At the top of Mt. Layfatte we rested in a rock depression just below the summit. I was sad to be in such a beautiful place and have no views. The rest of the hike along the ridge was over good graded trails.

Most of the morning we hiked with a couple of guys we met at Garfield Ridge Lean-to. We banded together for the walk across the ridge for safety. We stopped below timberline for awhile and fixed some hot soup to warm up. The rest of the hike down to Franconia Notch was on a fairly easy downgrade. At the highway we sat around the picnic ground for a half hour watching people eating lunch. That did little more than make us hungry.

At 3:00 we packed up and headed the five miles to Kinsman Pond Shelter. We arrived here around 5:30 after a long hard day. Ray pulled in after almost quitting the trail back at the highway. Ray has an ingrown tow nail that has been causing him problems for the last few days. We hope he'll rest here for a day or two to allow his foot to heal. Mike finally showed up later after getting his package from Glencliff.

(14.7 Miles - 373.4 Total)