Date: 2007-08-16
From: Carter North Hut

To: ????
Miles today: 11.0

mi. 11sleep hammockdest. Unknown? day 35 This morning I was woken up early to the sound of the hut crew starting to make breakfest. She said we could go back to bed, but we were already up. The second part of my work for stay this morning was to stack firewood some more during breakfest, then sweep out one of the bunk houses after I ate. One again I stacked the firewood like I was asked, but I didn't strain myself over it. It only took 10 minutes to sweep out the bunk houses too. I did the work and didn't want to skip out. I could have fairly easily. The issue would have been I would have ruined it for the next few hikers to come through. That and I said the night before I would do it. The breakfest was reminisant of dinner, cold. It was eggs, oatmeal, and cake. The cake was good though. I finally hike the trail around 9am south. The climb out of Carter Notch wasn't too bad. After that another day of going over a couple mountains with a lot of peaks. On ofthe wildcat mountains had a little observation deck on it. With great views of mt. Washington. I am hoping to be over it tomorrow. Funny thing is there is a ski lift that brings people to the top of the last peak. I was wondering why I was seeing tourons about. It was interesting to see some of them going over trail that I now think isn't that bad. They probibly looked the way I did when I started. Ok. I think I am finally done asking or listening to people when they say that a particular stretch of trail is hard. Everyone was telling me how bad the climb down Wildcat is going to be. I even saw a couple northbounders who put their trekking poles on the pack to climb up. They were telling me how bad of a rock scramble it was. I was really excepting and looking forward to some spiderman moments. Lets just say I was dissappointed. It was steep but not too bad. Only once did I have to drop the poles and climb down. Only a couple more did I put them in one hand and grab something else to lower myself. I think my opinion is really skewed after going through maine. It takes a lot more of an elevation change or rock climbing for me to consider it bad. One thing I also think is different is how there are not many climbs per day. I am only seeing 1 huge one everyday to every other day. With a couple smaller ones. In Maine I was seeing a couple huge ones a day or 3 to 5 smaller ones. I got into the Pinchem Notch vistors center right around 1:30. Some northbounders told me there was a lunch baffet that ended at 2. Lets just say that was some bad intel. There was a good lunch menu though. The tuna sandwich and orange I had were really good.   I had a crazy bit of trail magic come my way. One of the weekenders I was talking to at the hut offered and gave me is dinner ticket. The visitors center also has a hotel that you can stay at. It is just pricey at $60 a night per person. I had the biggest look on my face. I took it and thanked him a lot. Here in lies my big debate. I did not realize that dinner started at 6pm. It was just after 1pm now. The nearest campsite was 5 miles out. They realy frown and fine you for camping where you shouldn't up here. I thought about it a lot. I ended up heading out anyways. I asked if I could trade them in for something now, but no go. I hate turning down trail magic that good. But it seemed like the best decision at the time. On my walk out I kept looking at all the spots I could have hung my hammock. I think that if I was not having tail bone issues in the hammock, I would have went for it. One thing I am noticing in the AMC section is that they don't waste a lot of paint. Here really is not a lot of blazes. I crossed the auto road to the summit of washington to see a sign that said wilderness area. Signs and trail markings are only when needed. Or something to that effect. Lets just say they were not kidding. They even call the AT by other names. A couple places someone carved into the sign "AT". That was really the only marking you had to go on. On the way to the campsite i saw a side trail to a stream. I was feeling pretty dirty and could really use the mood and cleanilyness booster. It felt great to get the layer of filth off of me. the water was really cold. I'm kind of glad it was only knee deep or i might of jumped in. On down the trail a ways I saw a sign that had a picture of a tent showing it was a legal site. Now this was about where Osgood Tentsite should be. I looked but I did not see anyone else. I thought about it for a couple minutes a figured it must be up the trail a little ways. The maps showed it about a mile from the last intersection. So I hiked on. It was getting close to 6pm now. I walked maybe 3/4 of a mile. It also started to look dark and thunder. I think I mentioned something about my last couple hiking in thunderstorm miles and how I was not going to do it again. I thought about it and turned around. There were not any good sites should I need to setup in a hurry. Plus the whole sleeping in the hammock issue. I finally got back to the campsite around 6:30, I think. It was starting to blow, thunder, and look dark. I originally wanted to setup somewhere where I could go to the ground if needed. But I didn't see any trees that worked on the tentsites. These were not the wooden platforms at other sites. Luckily I found a place and got my tarp, hammock, and bearbag rope up before the rain came. I usually try not to cook under my tarp, but it was raining. I figured it was about the same as cooking in the shelter. Just as I was finishing dinner the sky opened it. It was a huge downpour. Luckily I didn't choose the tent sites. They were all flooded. I was up on the side of a hill a little. After awhile the rain stopped. I'm glad I moved on. If I would have stayed and hate dinner I would have ended up staying the night and spending the extra $60. I got everything hung and put away for the night. The plan was to try the pad folded in half in the hammock. Maybe that would work. Thinking back I made the right call in turning back. Sometimes I think I need a hiking partner to help with these decisions.