Huts and the White Mointains

"The Whites" refer to the White Mountains in the state of New Hampshire. One of the trails there is the oldest continuously used trail on the USA. The mountains are high, above tree lime, the weather changes quickly and constantly, and the views are spectacular. If the weather is bad, white is the only view. The highest recorded wind on the top of the highest mountain, Mt. Washington, is 232 miles per hour!

Due to the area's popularity and weather conditions, places to spend the night are closely regulated. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) maintains the trails and has established a network of huts to provide sheltered accommodation. Bunk beds and meals are provided for guests on a generous budget.

This is Madison Hut...

Fortunately thru-hikers can ask for a "work-stay". This involves washing dishes, windows, floors, or something similar for the right to sleep on the dining room floor and eat with the crew (referred to as Croo).

Thanks to some especially friendly Croo - Matt at Carter Notch Hut and Maddie at Madison Hut.

Injury!!

The trail is a dangerous place where things can happen quickly.

While coming down huge slabs of slippery rock (common in Maine), one has to walk on the muddy sides and hold onto trees for support. The pine trees have the small limbs broken off, but not all the way. About 4 inches of hard wood stick out horizontally. Under the muddy sides
of the trail there are often roots and sometimes they cause even the well placed foot to slip out.

Toward the end of a long day of hiking carefully in these situations a supposedly well placed foot slipped. In order to not fall down a huge rock slab, I of course hung onto the tree. My body swung around the tree and I hung on. In a flash, the tree approached my face and one of
those broken limbs came within a fraction of an inch of poking out my right eye. Bleeding started. To say it shook me up is an understatement! That evening another hiker took a picture of the damage. There was a swollen black eye for days after.

Here is a picture of the damage.

My best day on the AT

18 July 2009

Today marks one month on trail and it turned out to be the best day so far.

Spent last night at the Osgood Tent site just down the trail from Franconia Notch. The morning started with a big climb in the clouds up the end of "The Presidential Range". The first big peak is Madison. There are many false peaks where it seems the top is just ahead, only to arrive
there to find another apparent peak yet to be climbed. During the long ascent the weather started to change and the occasional view flashed by. Streams of clouds whipped across the mountain tops.

Stopping at the Madison Hut for a break, several hikers ended up helping cook Maddie in return for some leftover baked goods. She gave us a note "these hikers are awesome" to use at the next hut.

Continuing onward, the skies cleared up and the views were spectacular - at least for a few minutes until the weather changed again!

The big climb of the day was to the top of Mt. Washington. It is a tourist attraction which can be reached by foot, car, or Cog Railway. The minority arrive by foot. Unusually, the summit was cloud-free and the views excellent!

From there, a short hike brings one to the "Lakes in the Clouds Hut", the largest and most popular of the huts. Four of us get a work-stay.

That evening as the sun set a large cloud descended first on the summit of Mt. Washington, then around the hut. Sunshine was reflecting off the valley below resulting in colored clouds outside the hut windows. Even the Croo were amazed. Soon those clouds moved away and the views
were excellent. There were 4 to 5 layers of clouds above, valley views below, and the setting sun reflecting everywhere. One of the Croo stood on a rock outside and played his fiddle as the sun descended. Many guests sat outside in the chilly wind to enjoy the experience.

And that, friends, was my best day on trail so far.

Huts and the White Mointains

"The Whites" refer to the White Mountains in the state of New Hampshire. One of the trails there is the oldest continuously used trail on the USA. The mountains are high, above tree lime, the weather changes quickly and constantly, and the views are spectacular. If the weather is bad, white is the only view. The highest recorded wind on the top of the highest mountain, Mt. Washington, is 232 miles per hour!

Due to the area's popularity and weather conditions, places to spend the night are closely regulated. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) maintains the trails and has established a network of huts to provide sheltered accommodation. Bunk beds and meals are provided for guests on a generous budget.

This is Madison Hut...

Fortunately thru-hikers can ask for a "work-stay". This involves washing dishes, windows, floors, or something similar for the right to sleep on the dining room floor and eat with the crew (referred to as Croo).

Thanks to some especially friendly Croo - Matt at Carter Notch Hut and Maddie at Madison Hut.

Injury!!

The trail is a dangerous place where things can happen quickly.

While coming down huge slabs of slippery rock (common in Maine), one has to walk on the muddy sides and hold onto trees for support. The pine trees have the small limbs broken off, but not all the way. About 4 inches of hard wood stick out horizontally. Under the muddy sides
of the trail there are often roots and sometimes they cause even the well placed foot to slip out.

Toward the end of a long day of hiking carefully in these situations a supposedly well placed foot slipped. In order to not fall down a huge rock slab, I of course hung onto the tree. My body swung around the tree and I hung on. In a flash, the tree approached my face and one of
those broken limbs came within a fraction of an inch of poking out my right eye. Bleeding started. To say it shook me up is an understatement! That evening another hiker took a picture of the damage. There was a swollen black eye for days after.

Here is a picture of the damage.

My best day on the AT

18 July 2009

Today marks one month on trail and it turned out to be the best day so far.

Spent last night at the Osgood Tent site just down the trail from Franconia Notch. The morning started with a big climb in the clouds up the end of "The Presidential Range". The first big peak is Madison. There are many false peaks where it seems the top is just ahead, only to arrive
there to find another apparent peak yet to be climbed. During the long ascent the weather started to change and the occasional view flashed by. Streams of clouds whipped across the mountain tops.

Stopping at the Madison Hut for a break, several hikers ended up helping cook Maddie in return for some leftover baked goods. She gave us a note "these hikers are awesome" to use at the next hut.

Continuing onward, the skies cleared up and the views were spectacular - at least for a few minutes until the weather changed again!

The big climb of the day was to the top of Mt. Washington. It is a tourist attraction which can be reached by foot, car, or Cog Railway. The minority arrive by foot. Unusually, the summit was cloud-free and the views excellent!

From there, a short hike brings one to the "Lakes in the Clouds Hut", the largest and most popular of the huts. Four of us get a work-stay.

That evening as the sun set a large cloud descended first on the summit of Mt. Washington, then around the hut. Sunshine was reflecting off the valley below resulting in colored clouds outside the hut windows. Even the Croo were amazed. Soon those clouds moved away and the views
were excellent. There were 4 to 5 layers of clouds above, valley views below, and the setting sun reflecting everywhere. One of the Croo stood on a rock outside and played his fiddle as the sun descended. Many guests sat outside in the chilly wind to enjoy the experience.

And that, friends, was my best day on trail so far.

Mahoosuc Notch

The Mahoosuc Notch has no road going through it. But the AT goes there. It is known as the most fun or difficult 1 mile on the Appalachian Trail. It is also likely one of the most dangerous.

The notch is narrow. On one side a cliff shoots straight up (southbound hikers climb to the top of the cliff via side trail after completing the notch). Huge house size boulders have broken off the cliff and fill the bottom of the notch. The trail is a series of puzzles where the hiker has to figure out how to climb up, under, or around the rocks.

It is a tiring but exhilarating mile of trail. In hindsight, lots of fun. Not sure that was what I was thinking going through!

Some pictures and videos can be found by Googling "Mahoosuc Notch". I was too focused on the trail to take pictures.



Here is one photo from the Internet...