Date: 2017-08-08
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I spent August 7 resting at the Barn Hostel.  I like the Barn because it is walking distance to a convenience store and restaurants. Paul the owner truly cares for the hikers. I also like the shuttles to trailheads and Walmart. I was the only woman of the 14 people in the loft. Hard to believe in 2004 I threatened to not go on a 5 day caving trip because I was told I would be sleeping in a 6 person tent with 5 men. For me, the AT is about conquering your fears.  August 8 I took the 7:30 shuttle to Pinkham Notch.  Prior to taking the shuttle, I was running a little behind.  A fellow hiker offered to wash my pot as he was taking a zero mile day that day.  I love the AT hiker culture, passing the kindness forward.  There were two cars of hikers going to Pinkham Notch today.  All of us got out of the car and went to the toilets. The Barn is a historic landmark and is not allowed to add a toilet. There is one toilet which has the only shower, for 14 people plus campers. I walked north on the AT, across Rt 16, to some pretty ponds. The first mile near the ponds was relatively flat with the usual rocks and roots. As the trail turned away from the ponds, the trail became an almost continuous rock scramble up steep rocks, for 5 miles.     There were a few nice overlooks, with views of Pinkham Notch. As I climbed, the fog/cloud got thicker.     I heard an odd whistle every now and then. Eventually I came to the Wildcat gondola. The people getting off the gondola were disappointed. All they could see was fog. I had lunch on the observation deck just a little beyond the gondola. I only could see fog but it was a good place to sit. There needed to be a white blaze here, as there was more than one trail from the deck. While I had lunch, two men came by. Then two more men. Then a 52 year old mother with her 70 year old mother and two teenage children. I leap frogged with them the rest of the day. I had third lunch at a view of Carter Notch Hut and its associated ponds, with this family. They lived in Tampa and were doing a south bound thru hike. They got off the trail when the mother's father became ill. It was unexpected.  They had a few days with him before he passed. His funeral was Saturday. Today was Tuesday. The previous day, they flew to Manchester to be on the trail today. The mother said she was a bit disoriented after the previous whirlwind. They were hiking further than me.    The trail was a steep rock scramble, down to the pond near the hut. Around the ponds, the trail was relatively flat with roots and rocks. At the spur Trail to the hut, two men were commenting about the caves on the other side of the pond. My interest was piqued, since my other hobby is caving.    I continued on to the hut. I arrived at 3 pm. I told Abby that I had a reservation. She said my reservation was for tomorrow. Not a problem. They had room. She would just change it to today. I stayed in bunk room 3. The bunk room was nice and clean with 4 bunks. I was the only one in the room. Such a change from the previous night.      I went to the hut to drink apple juice. I read all of the posters on the walls and attended the Croo talk on the history of Carter Notch Hut. At the end she mentioned there were Ice Caves nearby. A mother and two daughters went to find them. I followed them. Others followed us. A teenage boy and I went in the Caves. The rest did not. I went down a steep incline into the second cave. A woman asked how I was getting out. I said that is what you are here for. Apparently she did not think I was serious. All of them headed back to the hut for dinner. I quickly scampered out and caught up with them. I had a whistle I would have used if I needed help.    Dinner was very filling. They cater to dietary restrictions which I greatly appreciate since I am gluten free. I had dinner with an Oriental man and his college daughter and a man with his two teenage children.     After dinner the naturalist gave a talk on moose. The other two croo asked lots of questions. They were giddy. Maybe because they are near the end of their season