Date: 2014-07-17
From: Pinkham Notch, NH

To: Carter Notch Hut, NH
Miles today: 5.9

We arrived at our destination mid afternoon and spent time before dinner going through gear, seeing what was in the Visitor's Center store, and looking up at the Wildcats which were right across the street from the Lodge. They looked wild and crazy, leaving me feeling like I didn't really know what I had bitten off. Dinner was delicious and bountiful. We met lots of nice people from all over that shared our huge picnic-style table with us. That's my favorite part of eating at the Lodge; you eat with people from all over the world, hear their stories, and they enjoy hearing mine.After restful night at Joe Dodge Lodge next door, we were up at 5;45 AM and drinking coffee in the lounge by 6. I decided to forgo a shower as I'd be taking one in 3 days anyway when we got to Gorham, NH.Breakfast is served at 6:30. From experience, I know I don't hike well on a full stomach....especially straight uphill, so I went easy on the buffet of eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, coffee and orange juice. I could have also had fruit, oatmeal with all the fixins, and baked beans (?).By 7:15 we were out front where we cajoled the Lowa rep into taking our picture in front of the Pinkham Notch sign. By 7:30 we were off!Side bar: yesterday, while in the process of doing some trail magic for a northbound thru-hiker, I accidently locked my Mini Cooper keys in the back of the car. No worries as we weren't going to need them for at least 3 weeks....and it was already parked in a good spot to be left for a long time. I was in shorts with a sleeveless top. Slightly chilled at first, I knew as soon as we started up, I'd warm up quickly. At first the trail is easy and flat for a short time. We then began our ascent from 2050 feet up to 4422 feet. It felt good to be back on the trail. It always feels good to be back on the trail.Our first break was taken on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Presidentials with NH 16 and the Lodge down below. Mt. Washington, Madison, etc were amazingly beautiful on this sunny, clear day; a gift from the trail Gods early in our hike. While sitting and eating, I sent a pic to Facebook, then checked my iPhone messages. Jack had sent a text for me to call him. My heart came up in my throat. I don't think he's ever sent me a call request while hiking. I quickly called and was given the news that a friend had died in his sleep 2 nights before. I was so sad and carried it with me all day. I would be missing his funeral on Saturday. I knew Bill would have been upset with me had I cut my just-started hike short because of him. Once when in Maine, he had stepped onto the AT and had his picture taken to show me he had also "walked the AT". Bill, I will miss your support, sense of humor and dedication to the downtown. I then dedicated my hike to Bill and his memory.Back on the trail, the climbs were tough. Knees, hips, elbows and ankles all cooperated in getting me up the mountain. Three miles into our 5.9 mile day, we reached the top of Wildcat Mountain Peak D, and broke to eat lunch at a picnic table that was at the gondola. We could have taken the gondola down and eaten at a restaurant, but it was much too early in the hike for those kind of shenanigans. Maybe tomorrow. Lunch was supposed to be pepperoni and sharp cheddar on tortillas, but I had left my cheddar back in the car, along with my keys, so lunch for the next 4 days would be cheese-less. While eating, we met Chris, the gondola man who proceeded to expound on his employment and medical history. We took the chance to escape when he got the call that someone was on their way up. Scooping things back into our packs, we rushed to be off before he returned. No matter, as there were some new people that hadn't yet heard his stories. At some point, my worst nightmare happened. My knee (not the one that had taken me off the trail last August, that I had been treating with acupuncture for the last month, but the other one!) suddenly felt like I was being stabbed. Oh no, just like last summer. I had said that if I had to crawl the last 132 miles of this hike, I'd do it....but damn, I didn't want to do it so soon!! Every step forward was painful, every step down excruciating. What to do, what to do. After a butt slide from 4420 feet to 3308 feet, we reached Carter Notch Hut at 4:50 PM. The last 1/2 mile of the day erased the day's difficult hike, and my aching knee from my mind. A lily filled pond in the late afternoon sun was breath taking and made us smile at its sight.Carter is the smallest hut with all sleeping (except for the Croo) in one of 3 separate buildings. We chose our bunks, sharing the space with a 30ish couple and a father and son hiking duo. Dinner, back at the hut was delicious and plentiful. We sat with the father and son, and a family from New York. I was happy to be inside and warm with a full stomach; something that I didn't have to prepare myself. After putting a generous donation into the box for the Croo that works so hard to give us a good experience, I hit my bunk. Bunks come with a pillow and 3 Army-style blankets, but I always sleep in my sleeping bag in the huts. I folded the 3 blankets, stacked them, and slept with my knee up on it for the night.