Date: 2011-07-12
From: Galehead Hut

To: AMC Highland Center
Miles today: 15.0

Well it definitely rained last night. It rained and blew so hard it knocked a screen out of the window. I¢m glad I¢m not picking up a wet tent. After the guests ate we were treated to pancakes, bacon, oatmeal, and bread for breakfast. So even though the work seemed silly, it was nice to start out on a rainy, foggy day with a warm breakfast, and the work for stay was certainly appreciated. The climb up South Twin was steep and rocky of course, but once I got on top the trail just sort of rolled along. It rained off and on for most of the first part of the day, but for once I really didn¢t mind it. I arrived at Zealand Falls Hut about noon just as it started to rain again. I spent about 2 hours at the hut eating, talking to a day hiker, and trying to figure out the weather for the Presidentials. My original plan was to stay at the Ethan Pond Shelter and then head up as the weather was originally going to be beautiful. Now they are talking about showers, and thunder showers. I decided to head to Crawford Notch and see what the weather is for tomorrow, and then I¢ll decide if I should zero or head up. The trip to Crawford Notch follows the Ethan Pond Trail which is fairly flat following the ledges of Whitewall Mt. Once I made it to Crawford Notch I decided to go to the AMC¢s Highland Center, that way I could get a shower (which was badly needed), charge my phone, and get the latest weather. I didn¢t have much luck hitching and ended up walking the mile to the Willey Site where a woman offered to give me a ride. I checked in, paying way too much money for a bunk and breakfast, but I refused to pay $20 for dinner. I thought I could get a sandwich and a beer, but later found out that after 4:00 they won¢t make sandwiches, and they were sold out on dinner. I was able to get a beer after I showered, and a couple ladies that work for AMC overheard me mumbling about the lack of food and offered to take me to the store to get something to eat. I bought a nice BBQ sirloin and potato salad at the store, which was their special, along with some desserts and a beer to enjoy with dinner. The AMC ladies were going to meet me in the unused dining room after dinner. When I was in there eating and waiting I needed a bottle opener to open my beer, so I asked the woman clearing tables if I could get one. Seeing my to go boxes she asked if I bought the beer here, and I replied no. She told me I couldn¢t have it in there, and she would have to take it and I could have it back when I left. My reply was they sold the same beer, and I wasn¢t allowed to have alcohol anywhere but in the dining room. This didn¢t seem to matter, so she took the beer and I purchased the same exact beer to have with my meal. When I was finished they returned my beer, and I walked out past the ¢no alcohol past this point¢ sign and over to the bunkhouse with the ¢no alcohol on the premises¢ sign. I opened the beer with my knife and proceeded to drink that one also. The Highland Center is a very nice place, but the prices are very high for hikers, and they don¢t always make things very easy. I did meet and talk to many nice people, and one group offered to take me and another woman finishing up the trail back to the trailhead in the morning. I¢ve checked the weather several times and it doesn¢t look too bad, so I¢ll head out tomorrow unless it is horrible in the morning.AlanMore pictures will be added when I receive the next set from Alan ¢ Mary