NH AT section hike #2, day 4

Start: Lake of the Clouds hut
End: Pinkham Notch/Joe Dodge Lodge
Mileage: 14.9

Last night I went to sleep fairly early; I was in bed by 9pm and asleep by 9:30pm. I slept until 6am and I got up and put my pack together so I could leave right after breakfast. After breakfast, I said goodbye to my new acquaintances and hit the trail by 7:30am. It was a sunny, lightly breezy day with high visibility; you couldn't ask for nicer weather.

Early morning at Lake of the Clouds

View of Lake of the Clouds hut from partway up Mt Washington

After starting at Lake of the Clouds hut (5012'), I was at the peak of Mt Washington (6288') by 8:30am. At the peak, it was around 40 degrees with another 10-20 additional degrees of wind chill.  I spent half an hour relaxing, taking pictures, and changing into less warm clothes since the sun had started to warm things up.

From there, I headed down to Edmunds Col (4938'), the intersection with the Israel Ridge path (4313'), Thunderstorm junction (5500'), and then Madison Spring hut (4800'). 

The Cog railway tracks

Cog railway

Cog railway

View of Mt Clay, Mt Jefferson, Mt Adams, and Mt Madison

View of Mt Clay, Mt Jefferson, Mt Adams, and Mt Madison

View from Gulfside & Airline trail intersection

View of Monroe, Ammonoosuc Ravine, & Boott Spur

I stopped at the hut for some lunch; they thoughtfully had tomato lentil soup in addition to their turkey soup. I had a hot bowl of soup with some wheat bread and peach coffee cake. From the hut, I climbed Mt Madison (5366').

View from Madison

Another view from Madison, with Mt Washington in the background

After that, it was a long, long hike downward; it seemed to take forever. 

The trail follows the ridge. The trail markers are entirely made of cairns and the footing was very unstable.

View of Mt Washington and Mt Madison (right)

View of Mt Washington (left) and Mt Madison (center)

I passed by the Osgood tentsite (2540') and the West Branch of the Peabody river (2300'). 

Then I climbed to Low's Bald Spot (2860') and from there, decended to Pinkham notch and Joe Dodge Lodge (2050'). I arrived at 5pm.

I was sad to see the hike finish though my right elbow, knees, and feet were perfectly happy to be done. I had a shower, followed by a nice dinner and chats with fellow guests. Tomorrow, I'll have breakfast early and then catch the AMC shuttle back to Lincoln and my car. And from there, home!

NH AT section hike #2, day 3

Start: AMC’S Highland Center/Shapleigh Bunkhouse
End: Lake of the Clouds Hut
Mileage: 11.1 (+3 extra)

 

Morning view from the bunkhouse

Last night, I went to bed at 10:30pm. I slept fairly deeply until 4am; from then until 6am when I got up, my cold kept me from sleeping deeply again. I have daily cold meds and cough drops but I neglected to bring any nighttime cold meds. At 5am, someone's watch alarm went off for a full minute before turning itself off.

I grabbed breakfast as soon as it opened at 6:30am. I was out by the road at 7am. Unfortunately, almost no cars were going the direction I was and none stopped. In retrospect, I would have asked one of my dinner mates for a ride for the 3.6 miles since they were peak bagging and had a car. I ended up walking 3 miles before some NH park maintainers stopped and took me the remaining 0.6 miles to the trailhead.

I finally got started on the trail by Crawford Notch (1277') at 8:30am. From there, I hiked up Webster cliffs (3350'), Mt Webster (3910'), Mt Jackson (4052'), and then stopped at Mizpah Spring Hut (3800') for lunch. 

View from Webster Cliffs

Mt Webster

First view of Mt Washington, from Mt Jackson. You can see Mizpah hut as a white speck on the left hand side below the first ridge.

Unfortunately, they only had turkey soup but Jared, the croo's cook for the day, let me have the hut's leftover oatmeal for no charge. From there, it was up Mt Pierce/Mt Clinton (4312') and Mt Franklin (5004'). 

Mt Pierce/Mt Clinton

View of Mt Eisenhower 

View of Mt Washington

After that, it was a short hike to Lake of the Clouds Hut (5012').

Lake of the Clouds

Lake of the Clouds, the hut, and Mt Monroe

 I got here at 3pm. So far, I'm alone in my bunk room; it would be nice if it stayed that way. Perhaps my boots will help with that. :)

Afternoon sunlight seen from the hut

Sunset seen from Lake of the Clouds hut

Tomorrow, I'll be going up and over Mt Washington. From the hut, it's only 1.4 miles to the summit. I'll go by Madison Spring hut around lunch time and then end out my day and hike at Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch.

It has been an amazing hike. The elevation has been substantial but the views are so rewarding as to make the climbs almost negligible. It's also really interesting to find myself looking at a mountain and feeling afraid, of not knowing if I can do it, and then remembering that -pfft, I've gotten this far, I've done similar before, and it won't be that difficult.

NH AT section hike #2, day 2

Start: Galehead Hut
End: AMC’S Highland Center/Shapleigh Bunkhouse
Mileage: 14.7 (+2.6 extra)

I went to bed pretty early last night, falling asleep by 9pm. Someone had a nightmare around 4am and made enough noise to wake me up; in the morning, they said that they'd had a dream a bear broke into the cabin. I woke up at 6am and got my pack ready to go. The croo had tea, coffee, and hot cocoa out before breakfast started at 7am. I ate breakfast and headed out.

View of South Twin Mountain from the hut

I climbed up South Twin Mountain's North Spur (4902'). 

View from partway up South Twin

It was decently cold and windy so I quickly crossed the top and got under the tree line. 

View from South Twin's North Spur

Unfortunately, in my hast, I missed that the AT went to the right, not straight. I didn't realize this until I climbed up the South Spur; going there and back added 2.6 miles to today's hike. 

View of South Spur from North Spur

Once back on the trail, I went over Mt Guyot (4580'), Zeacliff (4084'), and then stopped by the Zealand Falls Hut (2630') for lunch.

View from Bondcliff trail

They had this delicious creamy tomato soup with quinoa and fresh rosemary as well as pumpkin chocolate chip bread that was amazing. From the hut, I passed by Ethan Pond Shelter (2860') and then ended the day at US-302/Crawford Notch (1277'), by Ripley Falls. 

Zeacliffs

View from Zeacliffs

I was able to hitch a ride fairly quickly the 3-4 miles to the AMC’S Highland Center/Shapleigh Bunkhouse where I'm staying tonight.

The bunkhouse has a shower and electricity so I'm happy. Though to get wifi and food, I have to be at the main building. But it's available! That's what counts. Granted, at dinner they gave me 6 pieces of silverware... that seemed very strange. I suppose it goes with the wine menu... :)