Date: 2007-08-28
From: Mt. Garfield

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 10.1

EclipseI woke up at 5am and caught the lunar eclipse a quarter eclipsing. In the opposite direction the pre dawn colors were shining over Mt Washington. There was a dense under cast (fog in the valley) to the north of the whites. I just sat there in a meditative state watching the eclipse creep over the moon. It was a moment of bliss for me. I felt at one with the world on top of that mountain. As the eclipse reached its full state, the sun peaked over mt washington and its light washed out the dim moon. I was up earlier than ever before on the trail, but was so energized by the beautiful cosmic event I just witnessed, that I couldn't go back to sleep. I packed up my stuff and started down the mountain with a mile wide smile on my face. I went into the garfield ridge campsite and used the privy and told all the hikers in the shelter of my experience. They all wished they had stayed up there as well.I left the shelter and started on my way to galehead hut. I passed some hut hikers and when they asked how I was doing, I replied, "it's the best day of my life" and kept hiking. I got to the hut around 930 and took a break there. They heated up some ayce potato dill soup for the hikers that were there. I left the hut and climbed up south twin mtn at 4902ft. The view of mt washington from up there was stellar. Game on and I hung out up there for a while with a local, rob. He told us about winter snowshoeing around the whites and how amazing it can be. Rob, game on, and I hiked over to mt guyot at 4560ft and sat up there for a bit. The sky was as clear as yesterday with 90 mile views. The whites are by far the most beautiful section of trail.After guyot, I made a beeline to zecliff, which offered an expansive view of the zealand notch. I soaked in the views and contemplated staying, but pushed on to zealand falls hut. I got to the hut and fully expected to be the only hiker there. I thought everyone ahead would have pushed on, but iceman, buffalo bobby, brisk, moongoat, chach, popeye, and lightweight were all there doing a work for stay. The croo (hut staff) was SUPER cool and gave me a work for stay also. I hung out by the beautiful cascading waterfall and talked with some of the hut hikers. I also met granite who was up there to spread his mothers ashes. Granite has led a very interesting life, much different than the average American, and we sat talking for a while. All the hikers hung out and had to wait for the paying customers to eat until we got fed. I felt like a total second class citizen, but didn't mind. They had veggie lasagna, which quickly ran out, so they made extra pasta for us. All the hikers we!re sleeping on the porch or in the dining room. I decided to cowboy camp on the flat rocks next to zealand falls. I was essentially sleeping in the cascade with pools of water 2 ft to my left and a drop off into another pool 4ft on my right. Good thing I don't roll in my sleep.As I went out there to setup Granite was out there. He had just spread the ashes and was pretty emotional. The two of us sat up late having a deep conversation about the state of our country, our different lives, and his mother. Granite felt so glad to have me there to talk to that he gave me two of his favorite necklace beads. Both made of lapis lazuli, one with beautiful silver enamel. The full moon was shining and lit up the falls in a beautiful white glow. I fell asleep to the soothing sound of the waterfalls.Today's StatsStarting Point:Mt GarfieldEnding Point:Zealand Falls HutMileage:10.1Elevation Gain:3050ftElevation Loss:4820ftHiking Time:9:52Weather:Warm, sunny, beautifulPain Factor:2