Date: 2004-05-25
From: Crawford Notch

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: fog

Log Entry: 115Start hike: 1100End hike: 1400Morning weather: Rain and clouds but warmAfternoon weather: Clouds and thick fog but no rainEvening weather: Rain and quite coldBreakfast: Pancakes, sausage, and toastLunch: Sunbelt granola barsDinner: Annies Mac and cheese. It should be noted that in my 21 and 3/4 years of being this was my first taste of "mac and cheese". That is the honest truth and everyone in the Family can vouch for that. And it was good. I just may slide it into the rotation when I get back home. It should fit nicely between pizza rolls and microwave pizza.Trail description: All "up" up to Mizpah. Long, arduous and New Hampshire average.People: The Johnsons and their friend I ate breakfast with, Ron the trail maintainer, Spencer the Hutmaster, Alex and Kate, and 25 sixth graders, another couple from Colorado.Animals: The kiddos saw a Pine Marten but I saw nary a squirrelMoney spent: NoneComplaints: It's all goodThoughts: AJ and Andy had a "business" breakfast meeting with an area youth Pastor to discuss plans for upcoming functions. I had to tag along and eat. (Yippee!!) On he way to the breakfast we took a "round-about way" in which I got a nice tour of rural New Hampshire. (I have decided that all of New Hampshire is rural, very nice)After breakfast Andy dropped me of at Crawford Notch. We had a great talk overthe hour plus drive to the trailhead. Andy is a great guy, I can see why theyouth he works with look up to him.I took my sweet time with the climb out of the Notch. Basically the AT leavesUS302 (Crawford Notch) at an elevation of 1280 feet and climbs Mt Washington at6288 over the course of 12.6 miles. So I was in no hurry.On the climb I met Ron who is a trailmaintainer. I thanked him for his hardwork (it was cold and rainy) and we exchanged conversation. Ron and his wife thru'd a few years back, "Mr and Mrs Walkin' Home" since they lived at the time in Maine.Moving on, I heard the cackle of young voices. Sure enough, on top of Mt Webster were about 16 sixth graders out on a dayhike from Mizpah Hut. I was greeted by a friendly "Hey Ben" which took a full 10 seconds to isolate the voice. It was Kate whom I met at Lonesome Lake hut Saturday afternoon. She is a Mountain Classrom leader and AMC employee. Mountain Classroom is where schools come to various locations in the Whites and then a leader teaches or leads the group on a hike or some other learning experience. I moved on, still at this point intending on pushing to Lake of the Clouds hut.On my way I also passed the rest of the 6th graders who were led by Alex,another mountain classroom instructor.I got to Mizpah around 1400 and the place was quiet. It turns out Spence thecaretaker was taking a nap. I would find out why in about half an hour when the munchkins waltzed in.That got Spence to stir and when he noticed me I asked him what the currentstatus of "The Dungeon" was in the Lakes hut. Lakes hut is still not open forthe season but "The Dungeon" is an emergency basement below the hut left openyear round. Spence advised that the last he heard it was still a block of ice.So I "stamped" it and decided to call it a day here. Plus Spence was a cool dude and Alex and Kate where there too.Spencer showed me to my attic loft where I quickly changed and set about my task assigned to me by Spence. I had to twist his arm to come up with a task for me to earn my stay. I put the shelter logs in chronological order while listening to an alternative rock station on Spence's radio. I could have accomplished the task in about 10 minutes but I stretched it to about 20 as I read some old logs.Specifically the Fall 1982 where I read the September 16 entries(my birthday).I also spent some time on the September 2001 where it took until September 13thbefore someone mentioned the terrorists attacks.After my hard task Spence treated me to a box of Annies brand maccaroni andcheese. It was mint.After dinner I retreated to the library loft where I journaled while the kiddosdid a "urban planning" exercise under the direction of Kate and Alex. I was soon joined by another couple from Colorado. The lady was orignially from Farmington Hills, near Detroit,MI. After the task those that were interested gathered around for a couple ghoststories. They even gave me the creeps. Because they were true...Anyways after the kids went to bed my devious mind went to work. One of hestories which happened at this very hut, involved Betsy the 18 year-old who"drowned" in the Dry River back in 1971. Her body was recovered and thescary-true part of the story involves a body bag. So I immediately thought of my black bivy sack.My peers agreed with the plan and we stuffed my bivy with blankets and pillowsthen situated it near the stairs. All that was left was to do was wait...