Magic

5.02. I left Tyringham at 6:30 AM amid overcast skies, but a warm temperature; wearing shorts and SS tee. Misty rain started a couple of hours later..rain...stop...rain...stop. I held off donning rain gear for about three hours, because of the heat, but when the tempo picked up, I had to suit up. Temperature started to drop about the same time. I walked into Upper Goose Pond Cabin at 12:30 PM, looking forward to building a roaring fire in the famous fireplace, but the cabin was closed and the caretaker was not around. I wimped out and decided it was too far to the next shelter; I did not want to camp out in the rain, and I stayed at the cabin, because it has a big porch that I could sleep on out of the weather. Later I discovered the front door was unlocked and I knew I could sleep inside if it got too wet or too cold.

At 6:35 PM, I heard a noise and looked up to see another hiker walking toward the cabin. It was Magic Dinsmore, the lead dog on the 2004 Appalachian Trail. Magic left Springer Mountain, GA on February 16th and he is leading the pack; he estimated the closest hiker to him is about 100 miles behind. 1,532 miles in 2-1/2 months! I was awestruck; this is Rock Star quality, my friends. I told him I was honored to be in his presence. Then I peppered him with endless questions about everything I could think of. He very patiently answered everything I threw at him. Here's the topper; he did the same thing last year! Yep, back-to-back thru hikes. I said, "Are your nuts?"

Magic left the next morning at 7:00 AM and left a half-hour later. He was bound for Dalton, MA, 21 miles away. I was bound for the next shelter, nine miles away.