Date: 2014-09-09
From: Joe Dodge Lodge, Pinkham Notch, Mile 1865.9

To: Imp Campsite, Mile 1879.0
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

Joe Dodge Lodge has a buffet breakfast starting at 6:30, so for the first time in the Hut/Lodge system we didn't have to be there at an exact time. Of course we were there right at 6:30 since Swede had to catch the 7:30 shuttle! One of the best breakfast buffets I've ever had! Just about everything was there and I stuffed myself. I said goodbye to Swede and went back to the room to figure out what I was doing next. It's 21 miles to my next planned stop at the White Mountain Lodge and Hostel at Rt 2, but the tough climbing and descending isn't over yet. My feet and knees were still pretty sore, so I decided to just see how far I'd get today, knowing I'd stop somewhere in between.I've had very little cell coverage going thru the Whites, and none at Joe Dodge Lodge, but finally had wifi so I could check email and call Linda on Viber. So I called her one more time before hitting the trail at 8:30. She's pretty awesome putting up with my adventures!I had about one mile of fairly level trail to get my joints warmed up before heading up Wildcat Mountain. Then it's two miles of steep rocky climbing. There are frequent places of exposed rock climbs where I had to use my hands to get up, but with great views back at Mt Washington. I thought of Lately and her dog Early, and hoped she had boarded Early for this stretch as she was considering doing. I also thought of her apprehension with heights and knew this would put her to the test.After six miles of rough trail, I stopped in to Carter Notch Hut for lunch - the last hut in the Whites. Pete was the only crew member there at the time and I enjoyed chatting with him. He asked me how I got my trail name, and when I told him a fellow NASA guy gave it to me, he asked me where I worked at NASA. When I told him DC and Houston, he asked me what I did at the Johnson Space Center. Turns out, he grew up in Clear Lake City and went to the same high school as our oldest daughter. He's the "naturalist" member of the fall crew, which is there for only four weeks before they close the hut for the winter. He's planning on grad school in his specialty area of geology next year.Shortly after getting there, Mailman and No Rush came in for lunch. I had seen them several times in the past few days, but hadn't really met them until now. They had been just behind be climbing up Wildcat, so I knew we had a similar pace. They're both older guys (not as old as I) who met in Duncannon and have been hiking together since then. I had decided by then to head on to the Imp Campsite another 7 miles down the trail for the night, and that was their destination, too.I left ahead of them, and we leapfrogged each other as we headed for Imp. The trail was a mix of difficult rock hopping and easier, almost level trail. I caught up with them about a mile before the turnoff to Imp and we hiked together for that mile plus the half mile down the side trail to the shelter/campsite. Fortunately, we made better overall time for this section than the morning section and got there in time to settle into the shelter and eat dinner before it got dark. Fisher King, No Rush and MailmanThe only other person in the shelter was Fisher King, a southbound section hiker who had thru hiked the AT eleven years ago. We had a good time chatting before turning in for the night. I am once again tired after a tough but good day, and am looking forward to an easier, shorter day tomorrow! My legs deserve a break!