Date: 2008-08-09
From: Franconia Ridge

To: Galehead hut
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Yesturday was my two months on trail! Heading into this trip I didn't have much anxiety but at this point I gotta lotta anxiety (rain, lightening above treeline, lots of hard climbs and descents). Listening to southbounders stories about climbing above tree line in lightening, almost getting hypothermia (everything besides their death basically) was pretty intimidating. Their war stories had me convinced I was going to die, thrown off a cliff by the force a lightening bolt with frozen claws grasping my treking poles...so Im hoping for a little different experience through the White Mts. (beautiful views with angels singing as the skies open up, sun shining down on me as I glide effortlessly up and down the climbs) and actually I did have some of this greatness today. But the southbounders are warriors...what they have been through to this point it is pretty crazy with weeks of rain, some of the hardest climbs right at the begining of their trip. So thinking need to stick close to others as we climb and trust for safety and energy. Shawna and I are seperated tonight...made it to the next hut about 3 miles further. My usual pace has slowed down considerably...the miles in NH are long miles, it is hard mentally as you look at your watch thinking you've been walking a hour so gone about 2.5 miles but really only gone a little over one mile. The climbing in NH is a little bit better than vermont, I like it alot. you dont think about the climbing, you think about the next step where to put your feet so it seems a little easier than some of the long graded up hill climbs in vermont. We actually got a few views today it has been really rainy here with White sheets in the sky hiding the views but today the clouds were rolled back so many mountains out there so beautiful a little blue sky hole patch followed me the whole day. Sunshine and gorgeous views 360 degrees. makes the climb worth it. right as I reached above treeline the sun came out and the clouds cleared and right after I descended down from the ridge the clouds came back and hid the mountains once again (almost as if the view was just for me) oh random interjection but saw a rainbow yesturday. amazing to see the drama of the clouds as they create a mood blowing in and out in the valleys over part of the mountain making people in fromt of you look like ghosts, stand 5 minutes and watch the views change 4 or 5 times from clear to clouded. Tired tonight only 13 miles but LONG miles up the franconia ridge climbing about 4500ft today, knees takin a beating as steep descents. first work for stay at the huts in the white mountains tonight (hut is like this lodge sorta place where people hike up to spend a day or two in the mountains, they pay about 90 bucks or so for a bunk, bfast and dinner at times it seems sorta like a summer camp for adults)interest to see the thru hiker crowd mix with this crowd that stays at the huts. as a thru hiker seem to be "in the way" at times here. Asked to wait on the front porch as the paying guests eat dinner and then you get to come in later and eat what is left over. Sorta like a cinderella, but i think I paint a one sided picture. These people do pay good money to stay there and we are just doing work for stay, I dont know there are some thru hikers who have very definite opinions of these places (not a positive opinion mind you). Our work for stay is sweeping floors and folding blankets. So now I crawl under a table in the dining area and lay my head to sleep.