Don't leave any valuables in your car and make sure it's clear that you aren't hiding things in the glove compartment or behind the seats. Yes, the road was repaired in 1999 and is open for car traffic to the trailhead and Sawyer Pond Campground. A Presie Traverse is a dayhike, hitting all the peaks in the Presidential Range. Keep in mind, Jackson was named after the NH State Geologist, not the President. It's a long hard day, and many people who start don't finish.
Most people do it north to south, but it can be done both ways.
A Hut Traverse is an even longer dayhike, hitting all eight AMC Huts in a 24 hour period. It usually starts at Carter Notch at midnight, heading out 19 Mile Brook, then up to Madison and on south. Huts are the objective, not summits, so most hearty souls avoid all the summits along the way if they can. It's close to 50 miles of difficult hiking, so only the best hikers with the best weather make it. Questions yet to be answered I'll be getting to these in the future.