Date: 2004-08-20
From: Mizpah springs Hut

To: Osgood Tenting Area
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: fog

Osgood Tenting Area14.8 miles, mile 1850.3 on ATI decided not to wait for breakfast in the morning. To have gotten to eat Iwould have had to stay around to clean up and I knew it was going to be a longday, besides I new there was a snack bar on Mt. Washington. One has to be a bit careful heading up Washington, not only is it one of the highest mountains on the trail, but it has a reputation for some of the worst recorded weatheranywhere. Luckily, there was a bit of sun as I headed out. As I hit the ridgeof the Presidential Range just above tree line I could see the top of Washington, but within a few minutes the clouds rolled back in. I was in good spirits and things moved quickly. I made Lakes of the Clouds Hut by around 10:00AM. When I stopped in they had leftover breakfast and for $1 you could eat all you wanted of what was left. So I ate a bunch of cold pancakes and coffee and head for the summit. The summit of Washington was shrouded in clouds and as you got closer to the top visability dropped further and further so that you could oly see a few feet in front of you. At the same timethe wind was howling. Now what is really strange is that there is a road and atrail that allow just about anyone to get to the top of the mountain. As youreach the summit there are suddenly cars and buildings and lots of people. They have a whole cafateria crowded with people. I sat there for an hour eating 4 hot dogs a bowel of chili and other snacks trying to take in the crowds of people. Well when you leave and step off the summit you are back into a barren rocky wilderness with clouds and wind and rain and it seems that the world you were in only moments before was just a dream. The rain started getting heavy and for awhile it was quite cold. It was hard sometimes to see where the trail was and to keep from falling on the slick rocks. At one point between two peaks I could just see below the clouds to the valley below and there to my suprize was sunshine. An hour later as I reached the ridge above Madison Hut the wind picked up and in minutes there was sunshine and spectacular views of the valley below. I pulled into the hut at 5:00 but they said they were filled for work for stay. I had heard that the next stretch of trail was tough and it was three more miles to the next camping area. The guys at the Hut asured me I could make it. So I left a quick note for Teatree, who would be starting work there next week and I headed on. The trail went streight up over Mt. Madison and as I reached the top there were fabulousviews of the whole range as well as the vallies and surrounding mountain ranges. But the wind was starting to gather fource. The trail down from Madison followed an exposed ridge. The wind was probably blowing at 50mph with higher gusts. Several times I was almost blown over and had to sit for a few minutes. At one point the wind blew a big gust and it felt like air was being sucked out of my lungs. It was a long was down and At times I felt was almost running. I got myself settled in. Rain was expected for tomorow and I was glad to have at least gotten a few nice views as well as being done with the tough terain before the rain arrived. early start beautiful views than clouds food at lakes cloudy summit more foodcold rain view down with clear Madisonhut clearig Mt Madison views wind osgoodridge