Date: 2014-07-13
From: Galehead Hut

To: Neumann Tent Site
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

There is a cloud of profanities hovering over Mt Jackson today. More on that later Not sure I'd do the work for stay again. Everyone is extraordinarily nice and the food a feast, but the reality hit that some of the patrons wanted to stay up until eleven or so - in the room were supposed to be sleeping in, and others wanted to get up at 4:30 to prepare for their hike I guess. You do the math. Doesn't leave many hours for sleep. I'm about half a day behind right now and would like to catch up. The forecast is rain again. Means I need to work quick. We all got up and just ate our own food, not waiting for breakfast, and left. First up is a steep climb to South Twin Mountain. I don't like climbs in the morning - Inflammable does. He likes the warm up. It was a struggle but well worth the incredible view. It's cloudy on the very highest mountains but come and go here. The spruce trees are all stunted but thick and the barren mountain tops soar up away from you. After this, if you can believe it, it's all downhill for 13 miles. A few bumps of course and not without the massive boulder scrambles. Caught up to Inflammable right before Zealand Hut. They didn't seem to have any leftovers but it's got a sunny porch to have lunch. This is one of the smaller huts and really liked it. Downhill from it is another impossibly steep boulder pile. Downhill these guys are tough! Takes a lot of care and mindful footsteps. It's kind of funny to see day hikers below you come up to the base and look up with that expression of WTF?!! Shortly after the base is something I haven't seen in a long long while - a flat section! And this was no 100 footer, it went on for miles. I think I finally made up some time. This leads to the next notch (Crawford) and across the road is the way up to the famed Presidentials and Mt. Washington. We had decided to go to the notch and see what the weather might be like and how we felt before deciding to move on. Moving on is way uphill and would get me back on schedule. When I got there I couldn't find Inflammable and assumed he decided to go ahead so I got some water, took a deep breath, readjusted my pack and started up. Then stopped to pee. Then stopped to eat. Then stopped to filter water. I'm just delaying the inevitable at this point but did finally start in earnest. It's about 1:30 and about five miles to the Hut so figured I could get there by five and hopefully beat any weather. The clouds have definitely thickened but I really want to do this and get it over with. Note to all hikers behind me reading my blog: no matter what this looks like on paper - without a doubt this climb then trail to Mizpah is the hardest thing I've done on the trail. I mean BRUTAL. The climb itself is unbearably steep but it's the hand over foot stuff and having to put away your poles then get them back out. And the cliffs! The cliffs at one point were insane. I got to one thin ledge with no blazes and several choices all looking like certain death or at least bodily injury. I randomly chose one and slid on loose rock. My heart went rapid fire but I escaped unscathed. Looks like all the choices end up at the same spot but this is the beginning of the profanities. And it didn't end here. Every turn a new challenge. Every rock slick. You know when they take you places they don't need too? This is one. A perfectly safe and easy trail is practically in sight. Why?! FYI there are some pretty sweet stealth sites around here if you want to just call it a day. But it doesn't end here. This became the most randomly up and down trail full of leaps of faith and swearing I've seen yet. Now guess what happens. Yep, rain. Nothing heavy (yet) just a good drizzle but fear not it'll downpour eventually - the moment I take my first step onto the next slick rock climb. It all really climaxes on Mt Jackson. I almost couldn't figure out how to get down it was so steep. Glad for stumpy trees to hold on to. Saw a sign that it's 1.2 miles to the hut. Longest 1.2 miles in existence. Showed up sopping wet and I'm not doing work for stay. I need to sleep! Must have missed Inflammable in the notch as he's not here. Sad to lose my friend. He's a funny guy but I need to get to Gorham in a few days. I got a tent platform for $8 and have just eaten and plan to go right to sleep after this. Everything is wet and it smells like a wet dog in here, but my sleeping bag is dry and I can barely keep my eyes open so let's hope for no rain in the tent. Tomorrow is the push over Mt Washington, weather permitting.