Date: 2008-08-23
From: Start of the Whites

To: The End of the Whites
Miles today: 0.0

THE WHITESI hiked 14 miles to Galehead Hut. Yes, I am hiking and staying at the huts. Some other hikers have called me a whimp....I don't care....I like showing up at a hut with a hot dinner. Speaking of dinner, I came real close to missing my dinner. I got out of Lincoln an hour later then planned and I had to climb up to Franconia ridge. The trail was rough and slow going and I arrived at the hut 10-min before dinner. Whew. I left Galehead around 8am and traveled to Zealand hut. It was a sunny but cool day. I stopped at some wonderful waterfalls. The water is so crystal clear in the mts. I arrived early (noon). I spoke to the crew and they all recommended I push on to "Crawford Notch". I caught a ride from the trail head to the "Highlands Center" which had ice cream, hot showers, and a nice bed. But more importantly, it made my next day "doable." Thursday dawned early and I started a 12-mile day 10-miles of which was up hill.   Webster Cliffs were incredible, you could see the Mt ranges heading south. This is also the start of the "Presidental Range". The trail goes over the summit of Mt Webster and Mt Jackson. Another hiker "Catfish" and I kept stopping to take pictures. The second half of the day crossed Mt. Pierce, Eisenhower, and Franklin. Now I wonder if you are thinking what I was thinking at the time? Was Franklin a President!?! After trying to recall my 8th grade history and senior civic's class in highschool I concluded that no he was not. But he had just as much influence on the development of America that they gave him a Mt too!I stayed at Lake of the Clouds hut. What a beautiful sunset. It was a warm night and a Boy Scout troop went swimming in a pond by the hut. I ended up at the troops table answering tons of questions.I went to bed concerned because the next day would be my longest day in the Whites, approximately 18 miles of talus strewn trail. I hit the trail at 7am in 60 degree temps with a wonderful clear sky. I reached the top of Mt Washington and no other hikers were present.   I had the building strewn summit to myself. After taking some photos I realized one of those buildings had a snack bar and I scored some coffee. I roamed back to the summit 20 min later and got someone to take my photo. I then commenced a race against time....dinner was being served at 6pm at Pinkham notch and I still had to hike over Mt.Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. ( I don't know if the summit of Madison was a reflection of his term in office...but that summit was covered in black flies and flying ants. I moved quickly across it.) Following Mt Madison is a long, steep, rocky downhill climb. At 5:20 I had 2 miles left and the trail finally smooth out and I picked up the pace. I arrived in time for dinner which was pork tenderloin, sweet and sour rice, freah steamed snow peas and brownies and ice cream for dessert. I felt good. I almost short cutted today but stuck with it and I am glad I did. I am tired, but tomorrow is a short day. I have been blessed with wonderful weather and am meeting so many great people on the trail and in the huts.Keep bouncing.Tigger