Date: 2005-08-19
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: USFS Osgood Tent Sites
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hopeful:   Five more days until my birthday! That's what I told Red Wing as I wrote down the date on this journal entry. This year is a big one for 2 reasons... I'm turning 30 and I'll be celebrating on the Trail.   This morning turned out to be INCREDIBLE! Being at Lakes of the Clouds Hut inherently infers that we are high in the sky. I was asleep on a table next to the huge windows and I woke up a perfectly clear and pre-sunrise tinted sky. I didn't even have to get out of my sleeping bag to see it, or to continue watching as the day progressed. Red Wing didn't sleep quite as well as I did, I guess I misssed hearing the snorer across the room somehow. We had to clear ourselves off the tables early for the "croo" to serve breakfast at 7. We helped clean up and ate ourselves and headed out to hike above treeline for almost the entire day. The views were "only" 80 miles today vs. 100 the day prior.    First was Mt. Washington, 6,288 feet. The sign as we approached warned, "If the weather looks bad, turn back NOW!". There's a weather station there that has clocked the highest official wind speed ever recorded on earth (231 mph). In the summit house, they list people who have died on or near the summit, to reinforce the call to take caution. Thankfully, it appeared very non-threatening today. We took pictures at the top with Song Line, who pulled out the tie he was carrying for the occasion of hiking the presidential range. There's a COG railway system that goes to the top, as well as an auto road. Thus, there were people of all types enjoying the views with us.    The rest of the hike circles Wahington and Tuckerman's Ravine as we skirted Mr. Clay, Mt. Adams and Mt. Madison. Unfortunately, we got pretty sunburned for the first time since spring. Clouds didn't roll in until we were descending below treeline into Pinkham Notch. Most of the day was between Lakes Hut and Madison, 6.8 miles. We made it in record SLOW time, as teh trail is all rock and it felt like we were barely able to limp along. It's also hard to keep track of where the trail actually goes. Our four and a half months of training was to no avail. Despite the gorgeous setting, we got to Madison Hut for our late lunch break feeling pretty weary, and even cranky with one another. The climb down, down, down to the notch continued to be stressful, and we decided to cut the day shorter than expected and stay at Osgood tent site, almost 5 miles short of where the trail hits the road. Ah, a place and time to sleep! It's 7 PM and we're through eating, in our tent, and my eyelids are drooping.   I will read once more though, a prayer/poem that I found in a book at the Lakes Hut. I love the allusion to the natural beauty I see here in the mountains. I also love the way that that beauty causes my heart to rejoice and praise my Creator even more!   The Mountaineer's PrayerGird me with the strength of Thy steadfast hills   The speed of Thy streams give me!In the spirit that calms, with the life that thrills,   I would stand or run for Thee.Let me by Thy voice, or Thy silent power,   As the cataract, or the peak--An eternal thought, in my earthly hour,   Of the living God to speak!Clothe me in the rose tints of Thy skies,   Upon morning summits laid!Robe me in the purple and gold that flies   Through Thy shuttles of light and shade!Let me rise and rejoice in Thy smile aright,   As mountains and forest do!Let me welcome Thy twilight and Thy night,   And wait for the dawn anew!Give me the brook's faith, joyously sung   Under clank of its icy chain!Give me of the patience that hides among   The hill-tops in mist and rain!Lift me up from the cold, let me breathe Thy breath,   Thy beauty and strength give me!Let me lose both the name and the meaning of death,   In the life that I share with Thee!