8/16/99 The Lookout   Miles Today : 14.9 Miles to Katahdin : 469.2

Sometimes you eat the mountain and sometimes the mountain eats you. Today I got eaten, BIGTIME. I woke up at 5am with my wonderful girlfriend, and I walked her out to her car as she was on her way to work. At that point, around 6, I was up, so I went back inside the Inn and watched Sportscenter. Breakfast was served around 7:30, and I drank my fill of coffee and chowed on a veggie omlette. Unfortunately, I puttered around for awhile and didn't get out of town until 10am. No big deal I thought, I only have 15 miles to do today.

First sight of the day was a state park with camping area and a beautiful lake surrounded by ridgelines of the Green Mountains. Then the Hell came. We had to climb up the ridge covering 1200 feet in less than a mile. No view, no outlook , just a 2 mile ridge and then right back down. Guess we are back on the AT.

The rest of the day was pretty much more of the same - up and down - no views. Then after a long lunch break, my knee started to hurt. Yes, it's the same knee I had problems with in April, yes, it was the same pain and yes, I am concerned. Hopefully a few Motrin and an easy 7 mile start tomorrow will fix that. Then, finally, I got to the Lookout. Basically, it's a privately owned cabin up on a ridge with a porch, tons of windows, and an observation platform on the roof. As long as no one from the Lookout farm down below is using the place, thru-hikers are free to stay. Let me say that this place is really nice. The building is several years old, but in excellent shape, and an observation deck is a nice touch. From there, we could see Mouslauke, Franconia Ridge and most of the Whites. I can't WAIT!

Also here with DB and I is Thru-Hiker Mike and a couple of section hikers. We have a nice fire going in the fireplace and I am ready to curl up in my fleece bag and read my book. Tomorrow, I eat mountain.

-Chomp

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