Bubbles Days 103-107 (Friday, July 8th - Tuesday, July 12th)

We arrived at Hikers Welcome Hostel and I was beyond happy to be there.  The night before was a wet and miserable one with mosquitos galore but we made it out alive :)

Sprout enjoying TV at Hikers Welcome Hostel

Whiskers relaxing at Hikers Welcome Hostel

Happy to be out of the rain

We washed our clothes and dried out our tents and took hot, wonderful showers.  It was so lovely.  Smelling clean and enjoying the company of other cleanish hikers is refreshing.  The hostel is very accommodating to hikers.  They had a fully stocked fridge of pizzas, ice cream, and sodas.  There was a rack with every possible option of pop tarts known to mankind and chips. The nice thing was if you wanted any food you took it and marked it on your sign in sheet. Everything was honor based and that was great.  

Place to hang out and eat.  Notice the fence in the background with very little wood stacked

WARM water showers!!

Laundry time!

Flushing toilet makes me happy!!

They had just built a barn full with bunks this year.  It smelled of freshly cut wood and was heavenly.  Robby and I set up our stuff and tried to relax for the rest of the day.  

Bunks at Hikers Welcome Hostel

I wasn't that relaxed though. I was nervous about hiking Moosilauke.  Usually I am not an anxious person. I'm pretty carefree and confident, but having read about The White Mountains for so long, specifically about how challenging they are and how unpredictable the weather is, completely intimidated me.  I had been nervous since before we entered New Hampshire.  I really thought I might not be able to do it.  When you get negative thoughts into your head they can fester and boil over and infect all your moods.  My happiness was even tainted with fear.  I questioned countless Southbound hikers about the trail and how they felt about The Whites and if they were hard, ect., ect., ect.

I had a fitful night of sleep and when the morning came and it was raining I was so happy I could have cried.  The north side of Moosilauke is extremely steep and dangerous, especially when it rains.  I knew we wouldn't be hiking in bad weather!  I had another day to contemplate my success rate though The Whites.  I got to know Legion, the guy who runs the hostel and his girlfriend. Sweets. Sweets has a dog Bell, who is as cute as a button.  I loved spending time with her and she helped calm my nerves.  Sweets actually started her thru hike in Rockfish gap and right around the same time as me last year, with her parents! I really liked talking with Sweets and thought she was hilarious.  She always had a cup of cherries and she shared them with me.

On the third day we got all packed and ready to go and the weather report was bad again.  We decided we would wait another day and hope to enter the White Mountains in better weather. Another day was filled with anxiety and fear.  When a third day of rain came we knew we had to leave.  We couldn't afford to stay at a hostel for three nights!  Robby asked Legion if he could do work for stay and legion put Sprout, Whiskers, and me to work. I did laundry and the boys split wood. We were so happy to be staying warm and dry again.

Work for stay - splitting wood

Notice the progress!!

When we woke up in the morning we got all packed and ready to go and legion asked the boys if they wanted to help clean out the town reservoir.  They quickly said yes and went with a few Glencliff townsfolk to help.  Robby said it was a really cool experience and he was more than happy to help.  

First page of letter

Second page of letter

When they got back we were about to take off when we were asked if we wanted to slackpack Southbound over Moosilauke.  We talked about it and said, “Sure, why not?”  MadDog was helping out Legion and Sweets at the hostel when we got there four days ago.  He had the infamous green storm trooper shirt on, which meant he could answer any hostel questions we had.  He also educated me a lot about the Whites and recommended that we go over all of the presidential peaks instead of following the Appalachian Trail around them.  He took us on the 40 minute ride to the north side of Moosilauke.  We said our goodbyes to MadDog for good, his aunt was coming to get him so we wouldn’t see him when we got back to the hostel.

We began our trek over the first mountain which is considered part of the White Mountains. At first I was scared, but then I just got excited.  It was a tough climb, but it was so beautiful.  Words can't describe the way I felt when we summited!  I was so proud of myself.  I cried a little and hugged Sprout.  It was a surreal feeling to be looking out over the White Mountains on top of Moosilauke!!  

The bottom sign did NOTHING to ease my anxiety!

This natural heart in the rock made me feel better!

Going up the trail

Looking down what we just hiked!  Scary!!!!

Sprout near a spring

Me on the trail!

View of the mountains!

It's important to stick to the trial so vegetation is not trampled and killed

We are up so HIGH!!

Sprout on Mt. Moosilauke

Trail going up

View from trail

We made it to the summit!!! 4,802 feet!!

Sprout and I on the summit!

Sprout and I heading down the trail

Whiskers, Sprout, and I enjoying the view.  We earned it!

Whiskers

A spring running down the mountain through Moss.  Natures filter!!

When we got back to the hostel we celebrated and Legion handed me the green storm troopers shirt!  He told me to get the breakfast count for the morning and help out!  I was honored. I really like Legion and Sweets and could have jumped for joy to be helping and part of the team! Haha.  

Storm Trooper shirt!!!

We stayed one more day at the hostel and took a picture before we left the vortex that is Hikers Welcome Hostel!

Me with BigFoot!!  Dad is his #1 fan on youtube!!!

How to Poop in the Woods - Funny cartoon at Hikers Welcome Hostel

"Go Heavy" - Funny cartoon at Hikers Welcome Hostel

View from Mt. Moosilauke