Date: 2015-08-10
From: Us3/93 1815.9

To: Galehead Hut 1829.1 miles
Miles today: 14.0

Monday August 10th The Iceman and 3D were dropped off this morning at the I-93/3 by Sandra even though her whole body was still painful from yesterdays hike. The Sherpa spent much of the day checking the online Delorme map to see the Iceman's progress as he hiked to the Galehead Hut with 3D. He called at around noon to say how spectacular the scenery was on top of either Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette, Haystack Mt. or Mt. Garfield, don't remember which and then at 6:50 to say they had just reached the hut and were going to have dinner and then go to bed. He's sleeping in a bunk and there are about 50 other hikers there also staying for the night. He sent photos you see here and in the photo section, from his iPhone. There was a lecture outside the hut but the Iceman said it was too cold to go out and listen. The day was sunny and about 80 degrees. Since there's so much to do at the Inn at Mt. Washington the Sherpa stayed where she was. The boys went to Storyland with their mother and came back to find the Sherpa happily having a conversation with Ann from MD sitting on the veranda with a glass of wine and a sandwich. Ann's only child, a 17 year old son, is volunteering with the Appalachian Mountain Club in Maine. He is almost finished his 10 day stint helping maintain the trails in ME. Lunch finished and the Sherpa joined her daughter and the boys at the outdoor pool. The day flew by and it was time for dinner at Stickney's which is overlooking Mt. Washington on the lower veranda. We're all in the same room now since the Iceman is in a hut for the night. Today is Tuesday and the Iceman and 3D were both going to stay at Galehead if it rained, and the forecast was for rain. At 7:40am the Sherpa received a call and message that the Iceman and 3D were going for it. Sandra and the Sherpa were not happy to hear that. This meant a 14 mile hike, over horrible terrain, to Rt. 302. It started to rain shortly after those messages and heavy fog was setting in. From the Inn at Mt. Washington, where we are all staying, the mountains disappeared into thick cloud cover and the rain became heavy. At about 12:30 the Delorme map showed that the Iceman was at Zealand Hut and not moving. The Sherpa hasn't had any communication with him since this morning but believes that he wasn't able to go any further. It's treacherous to hike on those mountains in this kind of weather. There mustn't be any way to send a message from Zealand Hut otherwise the Sherpa would have gotten one. Hopefully the two of them are warm and dry now and able to get some food and a place to sleep. They didn't have a reservation at the Zealand Hut but if hikers get stranded they can often sleep on the floor or a cot if one is available. The price for the Galehead Hut was $125.00 per bunk for one night. THIS IS NOW THE ICEMANS ACOUNT OF MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH AFTER HE RETURNED The Iceman hiked today with 3D and they were dropped off at the I-93/3 by Iceman's daughter. The hike was steep up to the Franconia Ridge, then there was a slight drop followed by a climb up to Mt. Lincoln. another drop and then finally a climb to Mt. Lafayette; see the view from Mt. Lafayette on this page. What a view! The Iceman climbed a total vertical of about 4000 feet and it was a strenuous climb over very rocky terrain but the view was worth every step. After Mt. Lafayette the trail dropped 1500 feet and then went back up to Mt. Garfield and back down the same amount. All of it was very steep. A rocky trail then brought the Iceman and 3D to the Galehead Hut at just before 7pm where the other hiker were just finishing dinner. This was by far the most difficult hike the Iceman has done to date. The terrain is getting harder and harder to climb. When one reserves a bunk at Galehead it comes with dinner and breakfast and the price, depending on the day of the week, it can range from $111.00 to $125.00. This night, because the Iceman arrived at the hut after dinner was served, he ate a rather cold meal of roast beef, peas, rice and bread and drank apple juice. After all of the paying customers are fed whatever is left is given to the WFS (work for stay) hikers. The first three hikers to get to the hut that day can ask to be WFS and that means that they serve the meals, wash dishes and sweep the floor. They also get a place to sleep. There was a lecture outside but the Iceman was to cold to go out and listen so he stayed in the hut. Every light is turned out at 9pm and by then all hikers are in their bunk beds snuggled under their blanket; the huts aren't heated. The Iceman slept in the 3rd level up and 3D slept in the 4th, the stratosphere bunk. The bunk is wooden with a plastic mattress filled with foam. The hiker gets a pillow and a blanket and most, if not all, sleep in their clothes. The Iceman also slept in a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth.