.November 12, 2005
It was geating late in the year but I was determined to complete one last AT section, no matter how small. This section of trail 'only' reaches a height of about 2,800 feet so it was my best bet. I started off following the Austin Brook Trail. There was a couple of inches of snow and lots of fresh footprints. I came to a split in the trail and went left up the Dryad Falls Trail. The footprints continued on the Austin Brook Trail. I made my way up towards Dream Lake. Just before the lake the trail joined Peabody Brook Trail. Only .1 miles until I reach the AT. On the way I passed Dream Lake. It was frozen. This is my second time missing out on this lake. The first time I was here it was fogged in. It was still pretty and I could see Mount Madison in the background.
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I reached the Mahoosuc Trail (AT).
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The trail was beautiful with the fresh snow. I felt as if I was the first one to ever hike this section of trail.
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The covered trail along with a lack of white blazes in this area made it a little tricky to follow. I met several hikers coming from the other direction.
"We spent the night at the Gentian Shelter." one of them said.
"You must have gone up Austin Brook Trail," I said.
"How did you know?"
"I saw your footprints."
I now had footprints to guide me again but the feeling of being the only one on the trail was now gone. I went by Moss Pond. It was frozen and snow covered. If someone didn't know better, they may mistake it as a field and being this early in the winter, the ice definitely isn't safe.
I made my way to Gentian Pond which was mostly iced over.
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I rested in the shelter and enjoyed the view. The picture below was taken from the entrance to the shelter.
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It was tough but Snoopy and I had to leave. We begin down the Austin Brook Trail leaving the A.T. until next spring, even Snoopy looks a little sad about leaving.
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I followed the footprints of the other group all the way back to my truck. I hope to get a couple more White Mountain hikes in before too much snow, but they will be at very low elevations and not on the AT.
I will use the winter months to read AT journals, read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson, and plan for next year.
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