Cube, Moosilauke, and the beginning of the whites (Ect 187 day)

«It’s time to try to challenge gravity

I think I will try to challenge gravity

And you can’t knock me down «

– Elexaba

• I walked today: 22.6 miles

  • APPALACHIAN TRAIL (1,784.8 – 1,807.4)

• Total walking: 3,740.2 miles
• Total rowing: 99.5 miles

Climate: 60 – 75 ° F, sunny, clear and windy, wonderful!

Elevation: 903 – 4,802 feet

Hexacuba refuge to Beaver Brook Shelter

I woke up with the sound that many backpackers know well, that of a human body that moves on an inflated sleep pad. Last night, I hit my alarm an hour later feeling that I could use extra rest. It was 5:50 am when I woke up, slightly before that delayed alarm. I started packing as silently as I couldn’t want to wake up my neighbor.

Because I had changed things yesterday, walking a day longer than my «plan», now I planned to get up and on Mount Moosilauke today. This would be a day earlier than expected. I thought that if I didn’t feel it, I could still stop before the big climb, but the more I thought about my schemes for the next city and such, I wanted me to work.

First, it was Mount Cube. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have my tarnished lenses! He felt much cooler today and I loved it. With the wet fall branch more than occasional on the path, it was almost cold. It was an orderly climb with some rock slabs to throw too. I put some glimpse on the walk, but on the top I was quite ascending.

This is the Ole Cube Summit

The road down was a more pleasant path than the road. There were several sections of good rock work steps that the teams had built instead of eroded roots and gullyies. He started steep, but then became kind and gradual for a good way. I went on some currents and around 8:30 am, I stopped for breakfast.

Once you walk again, about 20 yards ahead, I saw this sign …

If I had only known, I could have been hanging there longer, but I still decided to sit and talk. I met Papa Rubi, who had an impressive configuration for hikers. I suppose his daughter, the name of the Rubicon path, walked in 2021. I enjoyed sitting and chatting and took two donuts and a soda even though it was still tomorrow and, although I had just had breakfast. It was a bit cold with the wind, so I finally said that I was going to keep it moving. Super pleasant experience with Rubi 🙂 Papa

Not to continue repeating my same reflections, but today I was thinking once more about the issue of pushing him to cover thousands in front of the flow and let things be. As the day continued, I ran into many people and conversations declared and this slowed me. However, it was worth it. The meetings and interactions with other hikers, angels of trails and all random people on the road are much of what makes these trips through trips so significant.

One of the other hikers I talked to during this section was anniversary. She made a walk of the Sender of the Apalaches in 1975, but did not finish all the miles. Well, here in 2025, she and her husband, the historian (I think), are completing those gaps and three days from now on, is pointing to Mount Katahdin to finish. I was very happy to have had the opportunity to walk and talk to the anniversary, for only time. I think she is also blogging on the walk, so see if you will find her.

Another hiker I met was post Man. He is gathering this beast from a path and hopes to end next year on his 75th birthday. Awesome!

Maybe it is difficult to obtain the scale, but this was the mother of all bold. I gave him a hug.

I had lunch in the majestic mountain. It may not be the dramatic summit like other peaks in the area, but there was a small light where I could sit and enjoy my snacks. Today’s lunch consisted of an tortilla with tuna and mayonnaise, with some vegetarian straws and sharp cheddar cheese.

Don’t miss Mt. Mist!

My next fun encounter of the day was with Shfl (Section Wiker for Life, also known as «Shuffle»). I think she was also doing a section working to connect the points of the previous walks. We both went to this extraction on the road and were acclaimed by Ice Cream Man (ICM). The third time I meet him, this time I got the incredible gift of obtaining a side ice cream from the path! A Klondike bar. What would you do for a Klondike bar, questions? Well, apparently, I would walk 4,000 my miles through swamps, torrential rain storms and super steep, rocky and poisonous land full of snakes 😁. Thanks ICM!

This was also about the moment I entered the White Mountain National Forest. Come on! He had developed the idea that Mount Moosilauke was the beginning of the whites and left the road here, was starting the climb to the top. Give it.

Silly trees that grow from rocks. I love it. I even saw trees growing from trees today. Bizzare.

A rare part of the Sun of the path. Most of the time things are in the shadow.

ICM said the walk through Moosilauke was not bad. «It’s not steep,» he said. It scares me what is ahead of this is not steep haha. But I think he is right. As intense as the climb was manageable. And then, things flattened a little and obtained a peak in the summit approach …

Seeing the mountain line on the tree throughout its glory made me pump in a way that has not happened in the AT in a long time. Some time ago, after walking some of the mountains near the border of Connecticut/Massachusetts, I played how the feeling of being relieved my soul. And, again, in Killington Peak, they gave me another glance of this astonishment. But Moosilauke … wow! This was friends. Going up this top of the mountain exposed on an absolutely impressive day, my spirit rose.

Thinking about the future

Looking back

Looking forward (a little higher)

It was quite windy on the top. After taking this little top of the summit, I grabbed my rain jacket from my backpack and found a rock to sit and soak.

This was a special moment. To celebrate, I opened and took a sip of a tasty New Hampshire local beer that had packed Trail Magic this morning. Yes, I took it from the lowest point of the day, about 15 miles back haha. Thanks Papa Rubi. And yes, it exploded smallerly when opening, but after drinking the foam, it went down soft. Health to whites to all!

Can you detect my shadow?

Smuttynose Brewing Company – Finest Kind IPA … «For the best times»

I thought about cooking dinner there and hanging more time, but it was becoming later and still had some miles as far as I could camp. Then, from now on. Some more photos before returning to the trees …

I think those are the mountains I will go, although I am not sure what exactly. However, each peak here seems to have a name.

I heard that the descent that went north from Moosilauke is steep and complicated, but the section I had tonight was not so bad. However, my legs were like Jell-O at the end of the day and maybe individual beer hurt a little because I was hitting a lot of rock with my feet.

I arrived at the Beaver Brook shelter and found another hiker. It would have been easier to establish in the shelter, but in my silly way I opted for the store. Water was picked up, the food cooked, ate and hung on a tree, and then I went to the store. Pretty day along the way, definitely in Top 187, I would say.

Day album:

«Where was your weekend?» (2016) – The Mowgli’s

Podcast of the Day:

«207. Halfway anywhere from the creator Tyler ‘Mac’ Fox in team, preparation and the only thing cooking along the way» (2025) -The podcast of up to the future.

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