Date: 2018-09-04
From: Ethan Pond Campsite

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 9.3

Yesterday evening Red Bard arrived to camp with some good news. He'd told me there was a place with an all-you-can-eat breakfast but we'd have to get moving early in the morning. I said I was in! A bit of background on Red Bard. He's from Canada, speaks French and English, and can play six different musical instruments. He's possibly the most well-rounded individual I've met on the trail and it is always great to hike with him. Now on to our magical day.The plan was simple. Hike three miles to Crawford Notch, US 302. Catch a hitch four miles to the buffet. Catch another hitch to our resupply point. Catch a third hitch back to the trailhead and resume hiking. Upon leaving the campsite, we saw a moose across Ethan Pond. When we reached the parking lot at US 302 we found a familiar face, Stitches. She was doing trail magic and I had four cookies and an iced tea. After a small chat we began our hitchhiking attempt. Two other hikers gave up after 15 minutes and resumed hiking. After half an hour we were just about to begin walking when a couple pulled over and offered a ride, we accepted. We were at the AMC Highland Center for the buffet by 9:00 AM. I had three full plates of food and lots of coffee. The food was awesome!Hiker 'Oklahoma' joined us for step two, hitch to the resupply point, which had an outfitter across the street. He needed new trekking poles. Initially our attempts to hitch a ride were fruitless. Hitchhiking is all about giving the driver a reason to stop. Remember, we are stinky and dirty and carrying big packs. My idea for a gimmick was to do pushups as the vehicles passed while the other two held out their thumb. It worked! The first vehicle stopped. Turns out the driver is a conductor on the cog railway to the top of Mount Washington. We did our resupply at a small gas station/general store and Oklahoma bought his new trekking poles. Now on to step three.We crossed the street and positioned ourselves for passing vehicles. Then I noticed a guy from the gas station parking lot was positioning himself to cross the street when traffic cleared. Once clear, he approached and offered us a ride but said he and his wife were in separate cars. No problem I said. She took Oklahoma back to the AMC Highland Center where he planned to spend the night and he took Red Bard and I back to the trailhead. We were ecstatic as it was only 12:30 PM. Back to hiking we went. And it gets even better.We hiked up Mount Webster and a bit more to Mount Jackson, totaling over 3,000 feet. We were so busy catching up on stories since last seeing each other near Dalton that the climb seemed to take no time at all. Before we knew it, we'd gone six miles since resuming hiking and were at the hut around 4:45 PM. We were expecting to be there about 6:00. We asked for work-for-stay and we got it! Work-for-stay goes like this. Two to three hikers do small chores to eat leftover foods when the guests are done with dinner. Then you get to sleep on the eating area's floor overnight. We cleaned and straighten-up the library while the guests ate and then we washed dishes after dinner. We had couscous, a rice dish and desert. We filled our bellies for sure! And that is the hitch'hiker's guide to a perfect day. Thanks to all those that gave us rides today making this adventure day possible. For book followers, mile 1,851.9 page 190.