Date: 2014-07-28
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

We woke to rain. The croo read the day's weather forecast and I felt bad for Gonzo, the SOBO who was heading up and over Washington. And I was so glad we did it yesterday. Meanwhile, my knee had been painful all night. I was planning on getting down to Pinkham Notch and hitching into Gorham to rest up this old body. Our task, after a great breakfast, was to sweep the floors. What a deal. It took half an hour with six of us manning the brooms. And off we went, hiking into a dripping morning. The AT heads up and over Mt Madison, rock by rock. Thunder is rumbling. Lightning moves in. Clouds. Once again I'm thankful for the close placement of cairns. We're in a thunderstorm on the top of Madison. The other four NOBOs keep slowing up to make sure I'm OK. I tell them to get going. Their concern is making me rush, and I want to be very careful. My knee hurts but is manageable. Fortunately, the lightning is relatively short lived and the weather turns into a simple rainy day. So it was very good to finally make it down to the tree line. I start hiking with two women weekend hikers. They know me from last night's Q and A session at the hut. It's nice to have company on the rainy, slippery descent. They're slower than me but I'm enjoying the more leisurely pace and conversation. It's raining cats and dogs at times. Eventually the trail levels out and enters the Great Gulf Wilderness Area. The trail gets confusing. Blazes vanish. But we find our way. The AT through the Whites is overwritten by the local trail names. AWOL's guide addresses this. And Sooner or Later had given me a waterproof map of the area. Thank you Sooner or Later. Your generous gift has been a huge help. I eventually part ways with my two fellow hikers as they take a break. It continues to pour. As the trail traverses the Great Gulf lowlands it crosses stream after stream. The trail turns into a creek. Most of my steps seem to be into puddles. I'm now focused on just getting to the road so I can get someplace dry and give my knee a rest. I'm not miserable, but this is definitely not a hiking highlight sort of section. The trail comes out to Pinkham Notch at the AMC Pinkham Notch Lodge. First, I try hitch hiking into town at the road. I stand in the downpour as car after car passes. Even cars coming out of the lodge parking lot studiously ignore this soggy hiker trying to hitch a ride. Let me say right here that if I see a wet hiker hitching in the rain I will be certain to stop, wet car seat be damned. Eventually I return to the lodge to see if I can find alternative transportation. Suddenly a past thru hiker who works there is offering to drive me in. We do take care of our own! And soon enough I'm in a dry motel room, getting warm and washing away days of hiking crud. My pack has exploded its contents all over the room to dry the dampness and air out. I will stay here at least a couple nights. There are blisters on my feet soles from miles of rock stepping in wet shoes. My knee? I'm hoping a rest will help it recover. I don't want to think beyond that. But I recognize the symptoms of meniscus pain from the past. I never did do the surgical procedure. It was recommended by the surgeon. Right now I'll just take a break and try not to think about the 319.4 miles remaining. Things will become clearer over the next couple of days. I have options and plenty of time remains to get to Katahdin.