Date: 2006-08-15
From: Lakes of the Clouds

To: Madison Spring Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning the weather was completely nasty. Around midnight last night a front moved in and decreased the visibility to around 50'. This was a big change from the 100+ miles that we could see yesterday. The temperature was only in the 50's but with the wind-chill decreased it to the lower 30's. The wind was gusting anywhere from 35 to 55mph. Since we had to stay and complete our task for staying last night we helped finish off breakfast and then got started sweeping. For breakfast the hut staff made pumpkin chocolate chip bread that was delicious and we topped it off with some warm coffee. When everyone checked out we got started folding all the blankets and sweeping out the bunkhouse before setting out for the summit of Washington. From the hut up to the summit of Mount Washington was really rough because the wind was gusting and all I could see was about 50' in from of me. On the summit the wind was horrible and the clouds so thick nothing could be seen. Baro and I took shelter in the Tip Top Hut as soon as we reached the summit. This hut was built in the 1850's as a hotel and now operates as a museum. During the first years of operation the cost for one night¢s stay was equivalent to about $1,700. Only the most affluent people stayed during its time of operation. When the girls showed up we headed over to the snack bar and warming hut to warm up. The warming hut or observatory also contains a post office, museum, and acts as the station for the cog railway. It runs from the bottom of the mountain up to the summit at 6288'. It is the oldest railroad system of its type in the world. A round trip ticket cost $45 and looks like it would be a lot of fun. One of the thru hikers traditions is to moon the cog as it ascends and descends the summit but it just didn't happen this time. Before leaving the summit we posed for a picture in front of the summit sign and headed down. The rest of today¢s hike down to Madison Spring Hut continued above the tree line and remained very windy. When we got down to the hut Eliza greeted us. We met her early on in our trip just after the Smokies at the Standing Bear Hostel. She was out hiking with her boyfriend for a few days and is now back in the Whites working for the AMC. It was good seeing her again. She worked it out where the five of us could do work for stay and stay the night at the hut. Shortly after getting word that we could stay Donkey and Hot Springs showed up and started down the mountain toward the hut. It was good that Donkey got to see her again as well because she is the one that started his mohawk. Since the hut was running low on food this evening we cooked our normal meals outside while the croo served he paying guest inside. We all gathered around the back of the hut out of the weather, but it was still freezing. I have a great picture of the sisters Shasta and Jane huddling together trying to stay warm while attempting to cook. Shortly after everyone had eaten inside there was enough mushroom soup left over for us to have several good bowls full so we moved inside the hut. With everything cleaned up we settled in the dinning room with everyone, played games, and caught up on a little journaling. I ended up meeting two girls that now live in Hanover, NH and chatted with them for a while about the trail. They are basically south bounding a section of the AT and only plan to be out for a couple of nights. They hooked me up with a little extra food that they had so many thanks go out to them. At 9:30 the croo turned out the lights in the dinning room and in return everyone went off to bed. The thru hikers took over the room and we spread out all over the place for the night. Just after lights out Grey Fox commented to the croo that they needed to quiten down because they were still in the kitchen talking and he was trying to sleep. Thankfully I wasn't on the croo because I would have told him where else he could have slept for the rest of the night if you know what I mean!Tonight at Madison Spring Hut: Jane, Shasta, H-Bomb, Baro, Hot Springs, Donkey, Tortoise, Grey Fox, and I