Miles 1780.7 | A solo climb up Mount Smarts led to an unexpected reunion with Turbo, one of the last February northbounders still on trail. Strong climbs, fire tower views, and a powerful sense of independence defined the day, followed by a glowing sunset ascent of Mount Cube and a confident finish at camp before dark.
Our second day in New Hampshire I ran into an old friend. Do you all remember Turbo? From my first couple of weeks on trail? I hiked with him up to Franklin, North Carolina along with Hott Dogg and Pioneer. Well, he found me in New Hampshire!
On my way up to the Mt. Smarts fire tower Miles and I had split up. I wanted to take my time and he wanted to go fast. So we agreed on a place where we might camp if I could make it that far and he went on ahead. Anyway, Turbo let me pass him on an uphill, and he looked very familiar. I said, "Turbo!? Is that you?" "Life Aler?!" He responded. I nodded. We stopped.
"Holy Smokes!" He said, "I thought you'd gone home! I'm so glad you're still out here!" Turbo and I had started on the same day, we realized, and we were some of the last February start northbound hikers still out on the trail. We compared our plans for Katahdin and, at the time, our summit date was the same. How crazy would it be if we finished on the same day!?
On top of Smarts I saw some incredible views. I took them in by myself and meditated in the fire tower. After that, I made myself lunch. For once, I wasn't concerned about whether or not I would catch up to Miles. I wasn't worried about camping alone. I was proud of myself and I felt strong. I didn't stop once climbing up Smarts and I had proved everyone wrong. I stayed out here, I got stronger, I shook my depression, I'd made it so much farther than 1700 miles. I'd made it somewhere mentally and that was what really mattered.
We marveled at our encounter. On the uphill I kept his pace, we talked about all the things that had happened since we'd last seen each other. The people that got off trail, the friends we made, the crazy weather. Eventually, he needed to stop for a break but I kept going. I promised I'd see him again and we took one last photo together.
At the time, I was listening to a story read by Levar Burton on his podcast called The Flyers of Gy. A fantastical story with vivid descriptions of winged creatures and beautiful landscapes. The almost fantastical landscape that appeared before me as I climbed up the open ledges were only enhanced by the beautiful sci fi story.
I did make it to where Miles had camped that night. I was a few hours behind him, but I didn't care. I had the best day that day and I made it to that campsite before dark. I thought I could never make it there before dark and that maybe I'd need to stop and camp early because I was so tired but I had made it. I felt stronger than ever.
I climbed Mt. Cube after Mt. Smarts. Cube was one of the coolest climbs. In the sunset light, the golden hour, the pink and white quartzite glowed. The biggest pink chunks of rock I'd ever seen.
Miles and I caught up on our days. He told me about this amazing woman who was running a long stretch of the AT that day who had started at 2 in the morning! He had kept up with her all the way up Smarts!
I spoke to my parents the next day and made arrangements with them to meet me near Mt. Moosilauke to pick me up and take me home for a night! They even offered to slack pack us! They'd first proposed the idea when we were in Massachusetts. We told them we'd think about it.