August 31 - Carter Notch Hut (Day 165 – milepoint 1845.9)

Really enjoying the company of these folks I’ve been hiking with for the past couple of months. When they’re around I laugh a lot more and conversation is always interesting. I got ahead of these guys coming into the Whites and spent most of the past week hiking alone. Taking the day off at Lakes of the Clouds allowed folks like Cosmo, Achilles, Paka, Chewy, Huff and Puff,
and Landshark (to name a few) to catch up, and I was really excited to see them again.

A guest at Lakes of the Clouds Hut asked us if we had any “revelations” during our journey. I could not give him a specific answer two days ago, but now I think I would tell him this: Although I think it is important to spend time alone out here for reflection and solitude, we humans are social animals, and the best things in life should be shared, in some capacity, with others. The rewards come in ways you just cannot make up.

Aquaholic