Date: 2018-08-05
From: Pinkam Notch visitors center

To: Madison hut
Miles today: 7.8

As promised the alarm sang at 5am and I waited a few minutes then jumped in the shower. I was ready before 6am and took my pack outside the front door and waited not more than a few minutes for River and Sarah. I was running on somewhere around 4 hours of sleep. We headed off to the highly recommended Sunrise Cafe and loaded up on fuel. On the way to Pinkam Notch I drank my Starbucks frappachino and took my meds. I was officially full now. The parking lot at the AMC Pinkam Notch visitors center was full. Sarah dropped us off and circled back for a parking spot. River and I checked in our boxes of extra gear and food, filled our water bottles and enjoyed the convenience of modern plumbing one more time before Sarah joined us and we headed out. Sarah was going to hike the tuckerman ravine trail but it was closed with a bridge out so she joined us from 8am to 10am before turning around and heading back home. We're going to see her in a few days in Maine where she's going to be helping us out with some slack packing. The initial couple miles of trail was nice. A few wet spots, some very gentle elevation and it felt good to be back! But I know I need to be very careful with my back and really listen to it. We had to forde a brook that was deep and raging. I chose to forde because the rock hop wasn't comfortable for me. It was truly a hop and the rocks were wet and slippery. If I missed I'd be in worse condition. We sat and changed into my sandals and crossed in those. On the other side I dried my feet with my bandana and put my shoes and socks back on. It takes 10-15 minutes to do this but I feel safer being extra cautious. I want to stay out here hiking and not feel like I made a mistake coming back so soon. The elevation picked up but I was still below treeline. Then I popped out above it and Mt Madison climb came and it was steep, open and 100% rock. I took my time and where I could have taken 1-2 steps I took 2-3 so they'd be smaller and I'd be stressing my back less. I took many extra steps. But I don't regret it. Hikers passed me but I knew I was doing the right thing. My back was still very tender. 7.4 miles in I reached the summit of Mt Madison and it was around 4pm. My back was tired and sore but I pressed on the half mile descent to the Madison hut. It was around 4:30 when I arrived and the croo was busy. I had a lemonade and paid attention to my back. I was pretty much done and thought about pushing on one more mile to Thunderstorm junction and then another mile down below treeline to camp. But as I sat there waiting for River I threw out the white flag and approached the crew regarding a work for stay. I explained that I am just coming back from an injury and I didn't feel that I could push myself any further today. Because they had already accepted a few hikers on work for stay, the decision-maker didn't look very pleased and offered us work for stay in exchange for morning chores. I wasn't thrilled because the last time I did morning chores I wasn't able to start my hike until 9: 40 in the morning. That's really late! When River walked in her face said it all. She was done for the day and accepted the work for stay with relief. As it is with work for stay we waited outside while the guests ate dinner and when they were done and disbursed we were allowed in to have cold leftovers. Tonight it was leftovers from the fridge of turkey, rice, peas and corn. There was also a bit of soup on the stove still luke warm. After dinner some of the hikers completed their agreed evening chores. Some washed dishes, some washed windows and 1 gave a talk on hiking the Appalachian Trail which was quite popular among the guests. At 9:30 we we're allowed to move the tables, sweep the floor and put our bedding down. It was not a restful night, with guests from the bunks back and forth to the bathroom all night and one guy vomiting. One of the hikers fell off the bench he was sleeping on. I still don't know who it was but there were 8-10 of us there. One hiker was actually new to backpacking and just out for a couple of days. Her equipment was heavy and she had too much. Her pack weighed over 40lbs at her estimating and she was tiny, at less than 100lbs. They let her stay and I'm confident she learned a lot about backpacking. We enjoyed talking with her.