Summary: hike 5.5 mi in 7.5 hours to above 3000′
07:01 wake up completely calm and relaxed. The night was warm, but by 5am it becomes a bit cold. During the night I woke up three times (20:30, 23:40 and 05:25). I saw the moon through thick layer of branches. I think that in the hammock I need support under my knees to sleep more comfortably. Otherwise, my knee muscles must hold legs from going overly straight, negatively straight without a support. I am thinking of running a rope outside the hammock so that legs can relax and remain slightly bent in my sleep.
My first target for the day is a junction with Kenduskeag Trail in 2.4 mi. The forest is dry. The clothes hanging outside are dry – there is no morning dew.
07:27 the sun has come out from the slopes. Everything is light and airy.
08:16 – 08:33 ready to start. I finished the porridge yesterday and a few pinches of nuts. Everything is very tasty. As soon as I start hiking, I see four young SOBO hiker runners hoping from boulder to boulder with admirable speed.
09:26 – 09:40 – hiked 1.26 mi – first break after crossing the Rattle River for the last time. I am sitting on a stone step on the river slope facing the river and facing the young sun.
We are very lonely on earth. There is no escape from anxiety even here in the wild. I need to search for the source of anxiety inside me. What do I want? What is the source of anxiety? All the things around me are calm and indifferent. So, why am I so anxious? The next step and the next breath are much closer than any other object or feeling. I simply need to focus on what is right in front of me. Slowly, very slowly I will continue the journey. I do not have any goals.
There is no signal. iPhone battery is at 65% without additional charge. I am slowly climbing the trail, gaining the elevation. Right now I will be switching to a sunny side of the slope and continue to climb up without seeing the tiny (at this point) river.
10:54 – 11:12 – hiked 2.22 mi, my elev. 3337′. Finally I have reached Kenduskeag Trail junction. I now deserve to eat an orange. Every orange eaten – is one less orange to carry. I climbed on a side slope to warm up on a sunny spot. So far, I have encountered twelve hikers. There is a 4000′ mountain in front of me – Mt Moriah and then about 1000′ down to Imp Shelter. There are no mosquitos here. Tree branches are toning down the sun, and it is pleasant to sit on dry ground. I need to find cell signal before 12 noon.
11:32 – 12:31 – elev. 3693′ – The trail goes on top of the ridge, and on one occasion I found a clearing onto the other side of the slope – just a few yards walk through the thick of the brush. I take pictures of the valley below and even some side views of Mount Washington. There is a periodically vanishing cell signal here, but I stay here to do my Duolingo. The place is unique. Originally someone cut an obscure path to see what is on the other side of the ridge. Then, people continue to explorer and look, leaving a visible clearing between the trees. However, the whole passage is very narrow, and you could not even make a turn without scratching yourself with sharp dry branches. Forget about making any moves with your backpack on. But I must walk from side to side to catch the signal and I was trying to make the passage a bit wider and the broken branches a bit less sharp and damaging. In the end, it turned out to be excellent, secluded, and memorable hideout just a fer short step away from the trail. Mind that it was cold, windy, and I was cold even in a yellow jacket. But every sunny spot that I tried to land on did not have a strong enough signal. A whirlwind of an adventure!
13:13 – 13:57 Ok. Without any further happenings I have reached Mt. Moriah (4049′). To reach the summit you need to climb a short 0.1 side trail. Over 13 years ago – on July 5, 2013, I visited this summit while hiking from Gorham to Wild River Campground. There is a blog post about that trip here:
2013 July 03-07 – Hiking from Gorham to Wild River Trail – Biking back
13:20 – Hiked 3,54 mi / total 5.48 mi. Remains 2.1 mi. The goal for today is Imp Shelter. Next shelter Carter Dome Hut is 9.3 mi away. It is the goal for tomorrow. Total remaining – 15.2 mi to the end. Evel 4041′ – I am on top of the mountain. I took several pictures taking advantage of almost 360° view. Mt. Washington and the entire Presidential Range are clearly visible. Also, there were two ladies – teachers, who helped me to take the pictures towards Mount Washington, but it was against the light. Total encounters so far today – 18 hikers. The sun is currently the brightest visible star in the sky. The temperature will be 12-21°C for all three days. The rain might materialize after 11am tomorrow and it will gather strength between 6 and 9 pm (35%). It means dry night tonight. I feel no hunger or fatigue yet.
14:30 the trail smoothly does down with an incredible view all the time. At one moment I lost the trail and had to retrace my steps as there are bare slopes everywhere, and it is unclear where to go next.
15:09 Wild River Trail departs down to the left. Here is where I made a turn 13 years ago. Almost immediately Stony Brook Trail departs to the right. Only 0.7 mi to the shelter.
15:28 – Imp Shelter – hiked 5.37 / 7.26 mi. Remains 7.6 / 13.4 mi. I have reached the goal for today – Imp Shelter. I am glad that I found a shortcut to tent planforms way before the actual sign to the shelter. For the moment, I occupy platform number one and continue wandering around the camp. I discovered a water source (nice half pipe made from hollowed out tree trunk) and a cooking area with a view and with some wooden contraptions imitating chairs. The shelter itself is nice, large, and it has two levels, but it is a bit dark and gloomy.
16:36 I brought water in a bladder and tried to find a spot to hang it. Almost immediately it drops out of my hands and falls flat on the ground. From the impact the bladder burst on a seam, but I was able to quickly repair it with a small strip of duct tape. Next, the lady caretaker appears and tells me that I cannot occupy a platform with my hammock. Platforms are for tenting only, and I need to move to a ground spot. I pay $15 cash and move all my stuff and unpacked equipment to a nice spot nearby. It is better because it is less open and there is less wind here. I pile all the food and cooking things into backpack and proceed to cooking area. Ironically, at this remote spot there are rules, rules, and more rules about everything.
Cooking area is a large rectangle with wooden plank benches and a low-profile plywood table. Tilted tarp covers the whole square nicely.
16:50 – strong chilly wind almost convinced me to move to the shelter, but as soon as I changed into dry warm clothes, I decided to stay in a hammock.
18:08 I am in a common cooking area. People are coming and going quickly as seating is limited. The low table can accommodate up to eight people – 2 on each side. My alcohol cooking is slower than gas cooking, plus I need to go through three rounds of boiling water – one for the meal – Pad Thai and two for the tea. I brew tea in two Starbucks plastic mugs of tea – one concentrated black tea and two sugars and the other with Rooibos tea. I pour boiling water into a packet, and my meal finishes cooking in its own package – so no dirty dishes afterwards.
18:59 Finally, I am dropping my voluminous food bag into bear box and returning from cooking area to my hammock. At this point, each platform hosts at least two tents. It is a tight setting – nose-to-nose.
19:13 – 19:22 I am taking last pictures of the evening orange sun. This time I ran a rope under the hammock to support the knee joints and prevent hyperextension. By doing that I now have one extra line of support that makes sleeping posture straighter and prevents excessive swaying in the wind. I climb up the stealth shortcut trail fifty yards to reach AT again and go even a bit further to do my Duolingo. To keep quiet I am wearing Air pods. While doing that I brush my teeth and more. Surprisingly, there is a steady cell signal everywhere here.
19:45 It is a busy Saturday night at the shelter. Overnight day hikers mixed with through hikers. Everyone is extremely focused on today’s accomplishments and getting ready for tomorrow’s quests. The darkness is quickly descending on the camp, but tiny headlamps and other latest convenient inventions like stars or fireflies are turning on between the tree trunks everywhere.
I am glad that I did not overload my trip with the miles. For tomorrow, I am planning 6.7 mi over Carters, Mount Hight (4665′) and Carter Dome (4832′) – that will be the highest point of the trip. They promised a chilly night, but right now I am taking the yellow jacket off. Everything else is on. My body is already getting acquainted with the rhythm or hiking, with a heavy load. All my blues from yesterday dissipated and I feel much better, more like a part of this hiking, exploring world. The sky turns red on the west. All my special warm items like thick woolen socks and neck buff are on. Everything piece of clothing is either under my head or on me. Nothing wasted. Even two plastic clothespins used to secure items to dry overnight.
20:12 I am climbing into the warmth of my sleeping bag. Everything timed perfectly. On Monday I would be able to reach the car only by one or two PM. Then drive to pick the bike and then drive back home using route 2 and 93.
Navigate through the List
- 01 2026-08 First August trip to Vermont (2026/08/17)
- 02 2026-08-18 TU First day so full of driving, biking and hiking (2026/08/18)
- 03 2026-08-19 WE - second hiking day - jump over Glastenbury Mountain (2026/08/19)
- 04 2026-08-20 TH - 15 mi day over Stratton Mountain (2026/08/20)
- 05 2026-08-21 FR last 10 mi to the car (2026/08/21)
- 06 2026-08 AT VT trip lessons and overall summary (2026/08/22)
- 01 2026-08 AT NH trip to Carter Notch (2026/08/27)
- 02 2026-08-28 FR - start the hike from US Route 2 in Shelburne, NH (2026/08/28)
- 03 2026-08-29 SA - climb up from Rattle to Imp Shelter over Mt. Moriah (2026/08/29)
- 04 2026-08-30 SU from Imp Shelter to the top Wildcat Mountain (2026/08/30)
- 05 2026-08-31 MO - Down, down, and down for 5 hours (2026/08/31)
- 06 2026-08 - all seven wild nature trips this year (2026/09/01)
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