Date: 2013-08-25
From: Mt Washington

To: Madison Spring hut
Miles today: 5.7

I had planned to take a day off today & go to church, but plans change. The weather was perfect on Mt Washington yesterday, & the forecast for today sounded the same, with increasing chances of rain over the next several days. To take the opportunity, Susan drove me to Pinckham Notch to get the shuttle up Mt Washington (she didn't want to drive up or down that road again).There were only 3 of us in the 1st van to go up in the morning. I looked around at the top & saw several NOBOs in the snack bar: River-Song, Orange Peel, Sparky, & 2-sticks. Talked with them for awhile & used the rest room.Because of construction, it was a bit difficult to find the Trail at the top, but I got started down at about 10:30. We walked in bright sunshine all day, tho I did manage to find a tiny bit of shade to fix my lunch. Most of the people out were day hikers, including a family with 3 kids under 7. I did meet a couple of SOBOs: Herc & Hobbit, & flip-floppers Sunshine & Sunbeam. The other NOBOs passed me early on, & I didn't see them again.The Trail to Madison Spring Hut is mostly downhill over lots of rocks with some uphill around Mt. Jefferson & again around Mt. Adams (also Mt. Israel, however that fits into the Presidentials). There are very few white blazes up here because AMC prefers to use cairns & signs. The signs always use other trail names & then "AT" in parentheses, as in "Gulfside Trail (AT)". I came to a place called the Cornices where the signs seemed unclear & asked someone. He told me, "Turn right if you want to go up Mt. Jefferson; left if you want to go around it." I knew the AT doesn't go over Mt Jefferson, so I took the left trail. It took me a half mile out of the way till I figured that out the left trail goes around the West side of the Mtn. while the right trail goes around the East side [with a side trail to the summit] & IS the AT! In this area, the AMC also has some orange-colored blazes that mostly seem to correspond to the AT ¢ I have heard no explanation of that. As I got within a mile of Madison Hut, I began to think about getting work-for-stay. Since this is all above tree-line, where camping is not allowed, & it was too late in the day to go over & down Mt. Madison, the only alternative would be to go 0.6 mi. down a side trail to a campsite. I would arrive at the hut around 5:30, which is usually a good time, but I began to be concerned that someone would pass me & get the last available space. So it disturbed me when I was suddenly passed by Jabberwocky, a hiker I hadn't seen since Southern Virginia. I got there a little after him, & they had room for both of us, plus 2 SOBO young women, Sasquatch &      .   This croo had a little different idea about how much work thru-hikers should do. They had us set the tables & help clear them, then 2 of us entertained the guests with Q & A about thru-hiking while the other 2 washed dishes. After we ate cold leftovers, the croo fixed themselves something else for supper! While sitting around, I got to read a very interesting book about place names in the White Mtns. This croo didn't mind of I slept on one of the tables. That's nice for someone who gets up multiple time in the night [It's easier to get down off the table than to get up [off the floor].