Date: 2008-09-12
From: N of Zealand Falls Hut, NH

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut, NH
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: fog

I woke up at 5:45am and couldn't believe it was morning already. I stuck my stove out the tent door and made coffee, then laid in my sleeping bag and wrote yesterday's journal. I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast, then packed up and started walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7:45am. I was walking along on some puncheons in a low area and saw where a moose had walked right next to them and kicked up mud on the boards. It wasn't too long before I came through. I kept looking all around, but never seen him. I passed by the side trail to Ethan Pond Campsite without stopping. It was cool out, but it still felt fairly humid. I got down to Crawford Notch and walked the mile down the road to Wiley House and ordered a sausage hoagie, a bowl of chili, two hotdogs, pasta salad, potato chips and two Cokes. :-) I met Top Knot '75. He and his wife run Wiley House. We talked quite a while and when he mentioned college in Connecticut, I started thinking about Warren Doyle. He mentioned a guy that would take about 10 people on thru hikes about that same time....small world! :-) I got to watch part of a 200 mile runner's relay going by out on the road while I was eating. It started raining just as I was leaving Wiley House. I put my rain coat on and started walking...another mile to get back to the AT. It was 12:10pm when I got back to Crawford Notch and started the climb up to Webster Cliffs. I crossed a brand new bridge across the Saco River and took a picture of the dedication plaque. New footbridge over the Saco River at Crawford Notch Saco River Dedicatory Plaque in memory of Albert Sargent RobertsonI stopped at a small spring and filled up a water bottle, then continued on. I was on Webster Cliffs after about a 2,100 foot elevation gain. I had to climb carefully because it was raining lightly. I got into fog near the top and was in fog most the rest of the day. I climbed another 600 feet to Mt Webster, then on over to Mt Jackson. It was 4pm when I got to Mizpah Spring Hut. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. The rain had stopped. I had another 5 miles to Lake of the Clouds Hut, but I don't do huts. I looked on my map and saw that if I did go to Lake of the Clouds Hut, I might make it to Gorham in two days. I decided to do a hut. I walked on and climbed Mt Pierce, then Mt Franklin. It was windy, foggy and chilly...but it wasn't raining. :-) I kept walking and thinking that if it was clear out, I'd be seeing Mt Washington right in front of me. I was surprised when I saw Lake of the Clouds Hut right in front of me...in heavy fog. Lakes of the Clouds Hut magically appears before me in the fogIt started raining as soon as I got there. My lucky day! :-) I saw Stretch, Toes, Happy, Arius and about four others. They were all doing work for stay. I paid $8.00 to stay. We all sat around a picnic table while all the paying guests ate dinner. It was 9:30pm when we finally got to put our bed rolls on the dining room tables and get to sleep. The winds were blowing about 35 mph. That kept me cooled down....that and the cool weather. :-) I had a really good walk today even though I couldn't see much. I hadn't seen another thru hiker all day...till I got to Lake of the Clouds Hut. :-) I keep forgetting to tell about the leaf I caught two days ago. That puts my total up to two leaves...a very slow start, but I know that will change soon. Looks like I'm in the lead though. ;-) Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)