15 July - Gorham, NH

High in the mid 80s.  There was alternating sun and cool breezes on the trail but it was sure hot in town. 

This morning at Imp Shelter the two older guys who were section hiking, had decided to give up and hike out.  One had fallen yesterday and hurt his shoulder.  It didn't improve overnight and the climbing necessary to follow the AT south would have been too difficult.

For us, it was another tough climb and steep downhill today but the last two miles were normal trail.   It gives me hope that the trail is improving as we leave the Whites.   It is just a line on a map and the next four days are still going to be very hard (Mahoosuc Notch, the hardest mile on the AT), but it will slowly get better.

It is now only 297.9 miles to Katahdin!  Katahdin is our only goal now. Thinking about the second part of the hike is too much.  Some days I am ready to quit.  After our break, we will know what to do.   Will we miss the trail?  Feel the need to exercise more?  That is what others have reported.   We will see.