McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 9/05/2024 | AT Mile 441.7 | Day Total: 18.9 miles | Gain: 4305 ft

Officially one month in. I sleep pretty good last night. I’m hoping to get to Hanover today and maybe get dinner in town. Rumor has it there are campsites behind the Dartmouth’s fields as I enter Hanover.

Today’s hike doesn’t look too bad. Two mountains I have to climb but they are no where near as large as ones I’ve done before. Then it appears relatively flat for the miles leading up to Hanover.

The first mountain is unnamed but there are ledges near the top called Holt’s Ledges. The climb up is fairly easy but still gets your breath going. On the way up there was a mile marker, it’s slightly off because the mileage changes every year.

There were multiple spots in a quarter mile range where you could get views.

Coming down wasn’t too bad. I’m starting to notice that the rocks and roots are going away. The leaves are also starting to change colors and fall to the ground on the trail.

In between the two mountains was goose Pond Road. At this road there was trail magic, a cooler filled of Coke in ice. It was freshly restocked. I’ve ever had a Coke before other than a sip. I’ve tried it a few times, but I’ve never drank an entire can. I decided to try one and ended up drinking the whole thing, but probably wouldn’t drink one outside of hiking.

After a little break, I climbed up Moose mountain. Once again, the terrain in the grade was not bad. The views were nonexistent at the north Peak, but there was one at the south peak.

I made a little descent off moose Mountain to Mink Brook. I eat lunch here and a group of freshmen orientation students from Dartmouth walked by. They asked the usual questions about my hike. Dartmouth is a college in Hanover that seems to maintain sections of the trail in this area.

After lunch, the trail was relatively flat. There were lots of grassy sections and road crossings throughout the afternoon as I approached Hanover.

I arrived at the campsites behind the fields at Dartmouth around 5pm. I looked around to get my bearings of the area. There were already a decent amount of hikers set up but there were a few okay spots down the trail a bit.

I decided to head into town with all my stuff just because I didn’t want to risk leaving my tent pitched without supervision this close to town. I quickly researched some options and found that a pizza restaurant gives hikers a free slice of pizza. Knowing that it would be hiker friendly I went there and ordered a 14” hawaiian pizza. When I went to pay he gave me a $5 hiker discount!

I went outside to where they had some seating and he brought out a slice of pepperoni pizza (the hiker free slice). I chowed that down and soon after came my Hawaiian pizza. They ended up making me a large! They take good care of the hikers! Thanks Ramunto’s Brick n Brew Pizzeria!

I was able to charge my phone while I ate in an outlet outside in the landscaping. I’ll probably be able to in the morning as well when I get food for the next few days.

I grabbed a small box so I could put my leftover pizza in it for later. I was able to stomach 3/4 of the pizza so I have 3 slices to eat once I get settled into camp.

I walked back to the sites which are about .6 miles away. It’s getting darker and darker everyday and it’s even more dark when I enter the woods.

I set up my tent and made myself home for the night. I also finished off the rest of the pizza, I’m stuffed and all the pizza has made me super thirsty. A I’m journaling there’s hard rock music blasting on a hikers big Bluetooth speaker at 9pm- not very pleasant.