2/2
The trail was steep, but reasonable, and I was able to remain ahead of schedule.

Shortly after Mount Moriah, the AT turned off the Carter-Moriah Trail and left the open ledges behind. A mile or so later, the AT turned onto the Rattle River Trail and dropped precipitously off the side of the ridge. After another mile, the descent mellowed, and I had almost easy hiking down to US 2.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

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Pictured: L-R The Carters and Wildcat viewed from Mt Madison over Mt Washington's Chandler Ridge on 9/9. 40 years ago today: A long climb up Mount Moriah passed over a bunch of open ledges. Someday, I would like to hike this entire section in nice weather. Today, the clouds had lifted slightly, revealing some hazy views along the ridge crest.

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2/2
Within one-and-a-half hours on the AT, I had lost that entire half-hour cushion on a steep, rocky climb up North Carter Mountain and an even worse climb down the other side. No views today, either. Yesterday’s clouds were still around. In fact, they looked even more ominous.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

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Pictured: Carter and Wildcat viewed from Mount Madison over Mount Washington's Chandler Ridge on 9/9. 40 years ago today: I made my best time of the day on the Imp and North Carter trails despite the long climb, making it up in two-and-a-half hours, which put me almost a half-hour ahead of my required pace.

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3/3
The climb up to Peak D from there was nothing, but so were the views today from its wooden observation platform. Clouds and fog smothered the ridge.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

Note: I'm going to be away Sept. 8-9-10, so extra "40 years ago today" excerpts were dropped over the course of Thursday Sept. 7. It was long day for me today. See you Monday.

🧵 1/3
Pictured above: Wildcat Mountain from Cascade Mountain shot 9/12. 40 years ago Sunday: When it finished with the cliffs, the Appalachian Trail traversed about a zillion steep little knobs known as the Wild Kittens. That’s a really cute name, but I came I thought much more appropriate as I struggled over the little bastards.

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3/4
One brief burst of clearing that never came close to being repeated all day gave me a majestic birds-eye view of Mount Washington and its massive shoulder known as Chandler Ridge, along with the top two thirds of the auto road, which follows that rocky spine up from the notch. Beside them was the yawning massiveness of the Great Gulf.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

🧵 1/4
40 years ago Sunday: The AT joined the Lost Pond Trail for the first mile today, following the course of the Ellis River through Pinkham Notch and brushing the shore of a pretty lake.

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5/5
The next few miles of the AT descended sharply along the crest of Osgood Ridge, remaining above tree line for another mile or so.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

Note: I'm going to be away Sept. 8-9-10, So those extra "40 years ago today" excerpts will be dropping over the course of Thursday Sept. 7. I know it's a lot. Hope it's not too much.

7/8
The rest of the trail was across bare rock with patches of gold, grass-like plants about the height of a suburban lawn. I hung out for a while before descending into the col between Adams and Madison.
From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

6/7
A final surprise awaited when I broke out onto the flattish summit area at 7:00. It was a howling madhouse up there. The wind doubled. I was becoming seriously chilled, and walking became almost impossible as I was tossed about like an old newspaper.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

6/7
A final surprise awaited when I broke out onto the flattish summit area at 7:00. It was a howling madhouse up there. The wind doubled. I was becoming seriously chilled, and walking became almost impossible as I was tossed about like an old newspaper.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

🧵 1/7
40 years ago Friday: After Eisenhower, the trail descended into a col before another stiff climb up Mount Franklin, the first 5000-footer of the day. The sky had cleared very nicely by the time I reached this peak.

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9/10
When the trail turned smack into the wind just as I topped the crown of the mountain, I was almost blown over backwards. For a few minutes, things were rather intense. Fortunately, most of the ridge was partially sheltered from the full force of the blast, once I descended a bit from the very top.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

🧵 1/10⬇️
40 years ago Friday: It was mostly cloudy in Crawford Notch at 12:30 when I set out on the #AppalachianTrail. A nice, stiff breeze was blowing, the air was fresh and dry, and the day was much cooler than the last few had been. As usual, that 12:30 start was considerably later than I wanted it to be.

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6/7
as I was starting down the path to take a picture of the toilet as a memento of the place, Dave was getting the powder out of his backpack, saying, “Boy, is this going to feel good today!” A few moments later, I was frozen in my tracks by his bloodcurdling scream.

I shouted, “What’s wrong?”

“My f---in’ hands are cold!”

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

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40 years ago today: Took a day off the trail (my last). From 5/24/83: I awoke cold and clammy this morning and lay in my sleeping bag fascinated, watching tiny wisps of cloud swirl in through the gaping holes in the shelter’s wall above my head, drift leisurely across the ceiling, and slip out of the open side.

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6/6
While I was thus occupied, the sky shattered into a million liquid fragments which began cascading down upon me.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

Note: I'm going to be away Sept. 8-9-10, So those extra "40 years ago today" excerpts will be dropping over the course of Thursday Sept. 7. Hope it's not too much.

🧵 1/6
40 years ago today: Took a day off the trail (my last). From 5/23/83: The trail finally leveled out near the crest of Max Patch Mountain, soon coming out upon the gravel Max Patch Road, which it would follow for the next four miles.

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3/4
There were a couple of low knobs to cross, but nothing major. There was one nice vista, from a ledge overlooking a small mountain lake called Zeacliff Pond, and the pond was close enough to the ledge that the haze did not obliterate the view completely.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6