Date: 2018-08-03
From: Garfield ridge campsite 

To: Crawford notch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So woke up to a bunch of people screaming and yelling way off in the distance early in the morning.Have no idea who they were.It went on for quite a while. Really steep and wet climb down Garfield first thing.Wasnt really awake yet so it was kind of scary.Passed Thumper on the way down .She thought it was scary too.Climbed steeply back up to Galehead hut to take a break.Greenland was there .We went inside to fill our water and the staff said there were leftovers from breakfast we could have. Greenland,Numb And I just devoured a huge bowl of eggs and another of oatmeal like animals.Didnt even feel hungry,but this is what the trail does to you.Cant ever eat enough!Next was another steep climb up South Twin mtn..Was really lucky because it was very cloudy but when I got on top the clouds lifted and gave a really great view in all directions.Clouds below and above.Could see Mt Washington way out in the distance and all the others that will be climbed before it.Pretty intimidating,but looking forward to it all.ET was up there enjoying it all with us.Zeacliff ridge was the next cool spot.Looks straight down into a valley with huge mountains as a background.Wind rushed up from below at me felt so nice  Long descent from Twin down to Zealand falls hut.Hut was mobbed but was a good place for a break.ET ,Numb and I were answering all the usual questions people were asking us about the trail.After leaving the hut the trail takes you by a massive rock slide .You can see where a huge section of the mountain just broke off and fell into a deep valley below.Really liked this section.Makes you feel so small next to massive boulders the size of cars that are strewn everywhere.Met the Good Yogi here and we had a nice smoke break together.He is a southbounder and I wish he was going north.Just a really cool guy to talk to.  It started raining pretty hard so we headed to Ethan Pond campsite.Greenland,ET,The other Comfortably Numb,and a nice Canadian girl were all there.We were going to stay but my Bethie was coming to visit tomorrow and I had no way of calling her to see when she would be getting here.No cell service.So we decided to go down to Crawford notch and hitch to the Highland center to give her a call.Thats the nearest place to get service,about a 3 mile hike and a 3 mile hitch.Was all downhill so wasn¢t so bad and the rain let up.Got to the parking lot and a nice couple (1 from China,the other Ukrainian)offered us a ride immediately.They had been picking mushrooms and showed us what¢s good to eat.Really nice people who were amazed that we were hiking the whole trail.Dropped us at the Highland center and I got in touch with my Bethie.It started pouring again while we were there so we decided to just get a hotel somewhere.Found one but it was a ways away so had to wait for a shuttle ride.Drank a few beers and talked with Sincerity for a while.She is a southbound hiker who was staying there .Really nice young girl who gave us lots of info on what lays ahead.We did the same for her  Finally got to the hotel and my Bethie calls and said she wants to come tonight instead of tomorrow morning.I tried to talk her out of it because it¢s 4 1/2 hours away and late and raining.She insisted on coming and I am really happy she is.Just need someone to talk to and be with.Love you so much Bethie for doing this!She will probably be here around 2:30am.I am definitely going to make it worth her trouble when she arrives!