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Aug
27 , 1983 Saturday (308.8 mtg) From
Gonzo!s Appalachian Trail journal
Maildrop
today in Gorham, NH seven or eight miles up the trail to the road
crossing, and then a few miles into town via Route 2. From Imp Shelter,
I climbed steeply to the summit of Mt. Moriah while bits of the
song kept entering my consciousness. No matter how hard I tried,
I could not get the song out of my head as I hiked along…."And
they call the wind Moriah." Dipping down and then back up to
Middle Moriah Mountain, I began the descent to the road along the
Rattle River Trail beside Rattle Brook. The miles flew by quickly
as it was mostly gradual downhill and easy hiking. I flew by Rattle
River Shelter and waved to its' occupants as I went by. At Route
2, the road to Gorham, I found another hiker hitching to Gorham.
Now there were two attempting to hitch. That makes life more difficult.
We eventually resorted to waving down a van using a pleading "why
not?" gesture and were loaded up for the trip to Gorham. The
lady was quite interested in Appalachian Trail hikes and was on
her way to Wisconsin to spend a few days on a remote island.
Gorham is 3.6 miles off the trail, one of the longest hitches I
have made to reach a post office. But there was more in this town
than just a post office, but the Post office was the first stop.
Once the mailing was accomplished, I set out to find the home with
the garage loft set up to provide hikers a place to stay. The garage
was located right along the main drag. I claimed a spot on the floor
and took inventory before heading to the store for supplies. I treated
myself to a chocolate shake and more at the local MacDonalds. Gorham
was full of restaurants catering to the throngs of tourists that
pass through to visit the White Mountains. A good reason for hikers
to stop as well.
There were many thru-hikers congregated at the town, resting a few
days before going for the last push out of New Hampshire and into
the last remaining state: Maine. I found Cathy and Ron again, Nick,
"the Mill Hunkey", Harry Train (ex-admiral of the Pacific
or Atlantic fleet), and Pauline. Later Roger Brickner came in looking
for Mike Patch. Ray and Lysle, and James the taxi driver were there
too. A BIG crowd! Maximus and "Lan A.T. Hiker" had gone
on before I arrived.
Late that afternoon I had a nice Italian lasagna meal at a nice
restaurant before buying some ice cream to take back and share with
everyone else. I found giving the ice cream away to be unusually
difficult, I guess everyone had been there too long and ate too
much. I eventually got rid of it, but felt badly about having had
so much trouble giving something away that usually people feel lucky
to get. Civilization can soften a person. Later I discovered 50¢
hamburgers and ate once more.
Gonzo!
Appalachian Trail Journals ©1983
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