Date: 2014-08-18
From: Madison Hut

To: Pinkham Notch/White Mountains Hostel
Miles today: 7.8

The wind and rain blew all night long. It blew so hard I could hear it whistle through gaps in the window. It was so cold now that you could see your breath inside the hut so I stayed inside my bag for another hour. When the weather report was given at 730 it was reported that it was 38 degrees and the wind was blowing at 20 to 25 mph. In talking with the croo members they said it would be quite difficult going over the top of Madison this morning but I wasn't going to wait. What's 5366 feet elevation over huge boulders in a wind and rain storm. It will also be a real challenge for my knees which feel a bit better this morning as once over Madison the trail is very steep going down. To say it was H*&^ going over Madison would be an understatement as the wind blew at 30 to 40 mph and whipped my pack and me along with it around like a top at times. I had to plan each foot steep with the wind in mind. It took me over 2 hours of scrambling over rocks and the fog and rain mist was so bad I had to find my way through going from cairn to cairn. Finally below Madison as I moved closer to tree line the wind eased up and on the ridges below you could see the clouds begin to burn away revealing views of Gorham, Pinkham and back to Mount Washington. I could have sat there all day soaking up the views. The Frogg Toggs held up pretty good and keep my dry. They have taken a beating on the tip and holes and tears are making their in way in different places. As the sun started to warm things up I took off the pants and top. It was a long way down to the Osgood tent sites and the pounding on my knees only got worse. the trails continued to be poorly marked and at one point I got turned around. Fortunately someone was there to help me out. I also really need to look at all of the signs including the ones for the trails I am not following. Then there was the problem of the trail splitting and not knowing which path to take. Do I go left or right? I looked at the profiles in the book and checked out the trail and then took off. 45 minutes later nothing seemed to lead me to believe that I was on the right trail. No other hikers, no land marks and of course NO Blazes! Therefore I doubled back and when I was almost back at the beginning the trail abruptly dropped down through a patch to the other trail. Long story short the two trails went their separate ways and then came back together. It was my fault not being more observant and I had wasted over an hour. Now I had to go back the same way I had gone before and of course as I went further I finally hit a land mark that was on the trail book! The extra miles didn't help my knees and my feet were soaking wet and blisters were starting to appear every where. I know I'm tired when I start to slip and fall and the next thing you know I took a tumble. While the fall was not much I landed against an old fir tree and scrapped the side of my face pretty good. It won't require any stitches but will definitely get a good cleaning when I get to the hostel. My knees are really starting to hurt but I only have 2 miles to go to get to Pinkham Visitor Center where I hope to call the hostel and once again pray they have room. I finally stumbled off the trail to the center at 330 and see the German couple trying to get a room also. The staff at the visitors center are really helpful and I got a hold of the hostel and yes they do have space. OH YEAH! A half hour later they picked me up and on the way back we did a drive thru of Micky D's. Got a bottom bed and while going thru my gear I realized I had lost my water treatment bag with all of my things. Now I was without anything to filter or purify water. Hopefully I can get something from Wal Mart tonight on our food run. I got my box I had bumped from Lincoln, NH and see I don't need much for the next two days. Wal Mart had nothing for treating water. I will end up carrying more water and get some at the Carter Notch. It shouldn't be a big problem as my pack it much lighter now. I caught up on my trail journal (6 days worth) since Leo had pointed out to me I had been lax in my duties. On Wednesday I will do more when I get back to the hostel. I also need to figure out when I would be able to meet up with David Burns for some possible trail magic and/or resupply. With that done I will go to bed and hopefully get a good nights sleep. One thing I forgot to mention is the number of people my age here. For the longest time it seemed as if the majority of the hikers were much younger. Now it seems like this place is a senior citizen's home for the wounded and disabled as we all have some ailment or other.