Start: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
I felt spoiled today! We woke up to the hut croo playing guitar music and to a breakfast of oatmeal, quiche, bacon, and warm coffee cake. The plan for the day was 14.8 miles back up to the summit of Mt. Washington and then over past Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, over Mt. Madison and down to Pinkham Notch. The weather report given to us by the croo at breakfast though called for even higher winds than yesterday (over 80 mph) and thunderstorms. Almost our entire day today was along exposed summits and ridges. We decided that we would climb to the summit of Washington and make a decision then. We packed up, left the hut, and I made the 1.5 mile climb up 1200 feet in 45 minutes. It was a difficult climb because the wind was whipping us around like we were rag dolls. I was sniffling the entire way because my nose wouldn't stop running and the wind was blowing the snot across my face... In the words of Brian, "Snot very pretty." Haha. Walking across the summit, I was swaying back and forth, my movements in full control of the wind. I finally blew into the summit building and met Brian (why is he so fast?!??). We sat for a while and kept an eye on the weather. We watched as the thick, dark clouds descended on the top of the mountain. The wind had reached speeds of over 84 mph. We already hiked the 14.8 miles we had planned to do today when we did a section hike in 2010. After taking that thought and the weather into account, we asked ourselves if we really wanted to take the risk and do the hike... The answer... NOPE! We left the summit building and walked the 20 feet up a rock pile to the actual summit sign (which we already have at least 7 or 8 pictures together at, but needed this one because it was the climax of our journey). The wind was brutal. We had to crouch down as we climbed the rocks and then we each had to sit as we took pictures of each other. Coming down, the wind literally took control of my leg and smashed it into one of the rocks. I instantly had a swollen, bruised lump on my leg. We blew over to the hiker shuttle building and purchased tickets for the shuttle that takes hikers down the Mt. Washington Auto Road to Pinkham Notch. It turned out that we were not the only hikers with this idea. A full shuttle went down just as we arrived and our shuttle sold out too! Just as our shuttle pulled out of the parking spot, the rain started, then the thunder and lightening started. I think we made the right choice! We arrived at Pinkham Notch and spent some time in the visitor center. As I looked at the model of the Presidentials with the white blazed AT traversing over and around their high peaks, my eyes filled with tears. Our journey was over for now. Brian and I hugged... Although, we didn't make it to our intended destination of Mt. Katahdin, we made it to Pinkham Notch. We walked over 600 miles this summer and spent 70 amazing days together surrounded by the beauty of nature. I've laughed, I've cried, I sang, I yelled, I've been awed, I've been scared, I've been proud, I've been sad, but most importantly, we have both ended our journey happy and healthy. What more could I possibly ask for?
End: Pinkham Notch - stayed at Top Notch Inn in Gorham, NH
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
I will be writing a reflection of our trip after I gather my thoughts and emotions a bit more. I will also write about the gear I used and what I loved and hated about the gear.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
August 30, 2012
Start: Nauman Tentsite
We woke up to a COLD morning! It had been in the 30s overnight and windy. At 7 am, we were awake, but we didn't emerge from the warmth of our sleeping bags until 9! Once we finally braved the cold (it was somewhere in the low 40s now), we broke down camp and used the hut to get dressed and eat our breakfast in. The weather report at the hut from Mount Washington Weather Observatory called for clear skies and 50-70 mph winds!!! We put on our cold weather hiking gear and headed out. Right out of Mizpah, we had a 500 foot steep climb to Mt Pierce (4,312 feet). The trail then skirted past the summit of Mt Eisenhower on the way to the peak of Mt. Franklin (5,004 feet). Just after Eisenhower, we passed the spot where I broke my leg 4 years ago. We've been on Crawford Path once since then, but it's still amazes me to think I hopped that last mile before Lakes of the Clouds Hut (not as much as I am amazed by the fact that Brian carried me up the last 1.5 miles to the Mt. Washington summit though) especially since its rocky terrain with precipitous drop offs on two feet! Just before Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the trail skirted the summit of Mt. Monroe. Since the AT ALWAYS seems to go up, it surprises me that the trail hasn't been re-routed over all the summits. I assume the history of Crawford Path being the oldest maintained trail in America is the reason the AT remains the way it is. We reached Lakes and dropped some of our things off since we were spending the night there. We then began the 1.5 mile, 1200 foot climb to the summit of Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). It was cold and windy!!! My legs and poles were being controlled by the wind. Each time I picked them up to move, it seemed that I had no say in where they would land. At the summit, I learned that we had climbed in 50+ mph sustained winds with gusts up to 73 mph!!! Once we reached the summit, I was overcome with so many emotions. I was relieved to be out of the wind and eating pizza from the tourist-filled summit snack bar. I felt proud and accomplished that we were standing in the place we have been looking forward to since we took those first steps on the bridge crossing the Potomac River. I felt sad that the journey was coming to an end. I was happy and excited to return home to my family, friends, cats, and luxuries, but worried about the transition to "real life." I have been changed out here. I feel more alive, more inspired, more introspective, and more appreciative of the little things. These feelings have made me a better person and I don't want to lose them when surrounded with faucets to drink from rather than rivers to pump from, and buildings to look at rather than mountains, and a gym to go to for an hour a day rather than a walk to go on for 10 hours a day. The 6.1 mile trek today was a cold, windy one, but it was one filled with happiness, pride, and excitement. It felt good to be "home!"
After we spent some time at the summit, we hiked back down to the hut. We descended in just over a half hour. Dinner at Lakes was pumpkin ginger soup, homemade bread, beef tips, rice, and broccoli with oatmeal cookies for dessert. Delicious! Just after dinner, the sun went down and what a gorgeous sunset it was from 5,048 feet. The pink sun set behind mountains that appeared blue in the distance, but the beauty didn't stop there. The full moon (blue moon) came out and illuminated the lenticular clouds around it! Brian captured some gorgeous pictures of both!
End: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
We woke up to a COLD morning! It had been in the 30s overnight and windy. At 7 am, we were awake, but we didn't emerge from the warmth of our sleeping bags until 9! Once we finally braved the cold (it was somewhere in the low 40s now), we broke down camp and used the hut to get dressed and eat our breakfast in. The weather report at the hut from Mount Washington Weather Observatory called for clear skies and 50-70 mph winds!!! We put on our cold weather hiking gear and headed out. Right out of Mizpah, we had a 500 foot steep climb to Mt Pierce (4,312 feet). The trail then skirted past the summit of Mt Eisenhower on the way to the peak of Mt. Franklin (5,004 feet). Just after Eisenhower, we passed the spot where I broke my leg 4 years ago. We've been on Crawford Path once since then, but it's still amazes me to think I hopped that last mile before Lakes of the Clouds Hut (not as much as I am amazed by the fact that Brian carried me up the last 1.5 miles to the Mt. Washington summit though) especially since its rocky terrain with precipitous drop offs on two feet! Just before Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the trail skirted the summit of Mt. Monroe. Since the AT ALWAYS seems to go up, it surprises me that the trail hasn't been re-routed over all the summits. I assume the history of Crawford Path being the oldest maintained trail in America is the reason the AT remains the way it is. We reached Lakes and dropped some of our things off since we were spending the night there. We then began the 1.5 mile, 1200 foot climb to the summit of Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). It was cold and windy!!! My legs and poles were being controlled by the wind. Each time I picked them up to move, it seemed that I had no say in where they would land. At the summit, I learned that we had climbed in 50+ mph sustained winds with gusts up to 73 mph!!! Once we reached the summit, I was overcome with so many emotions. I was relieved to be out of the wind and eating pizza from the tourist-filled summit snack bar. I felt proud and accomplished that we were standing in the place we have been looking forward to since we took those first steps on the bridge crossing the Potomac River. I felt sad that the journey was coming to an end. I was happy and excited to return home to my family, friends, cats, and luxuries, but worried about the transition to "real life." I have been changed out here. I feel more alive, more inspired, more introspective, and more appreciative of the little things. These feelings have made me a better person and I don't want to lose them when surrounded with faucets to drink from rather than rivers to pump from, and buildings to look at rather than mountains, and a gym to go to for an hour a day rather than a walk to go on for 10 hours a day. The 6.1 mile trek today was a cold, windy one, but it was one filled with happiness, pride, and excitement. It felt good to be "home!"
After we spent some time at the summit, we hiked back down to the hut. We descended in just over a half hour. Dinner at Lakes was pumpkin ginger soup, homemade bread, beef tips, rice, and broccoli with oatmeal cookies for dessert. Delicious! Just after dinner, the sun went down and what a gorgeous sunset it was from 5,048 feet. The pink sun set behind mountains that appeared blue in the distance, but the beauty didn't stop there. The full moon (blue moon) came out and illuminated the lenticular clouds around it! Brian captured some gorgeous pictures of both!
End: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
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