Date: 2015-08-15
From: Kinsman Ridge

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I scored my first work for stay! I got here at 4:30, which is apparently perfect timing to ask for work-for-stay. The AMC operated huts in the Whites normally are more than a hundred bucks per night, so if I hadn't gotten wfs, I would have hiked on. But I really didn't want to!I think I have discovered the secret to hiking the Whites: no expectations. You can't have any expectations about pace or destination for the day, because the terrain is likely going to throw them right back at you. And then point a finger and say 'ha ha', like that kid on The Simpsons for good measure! This morning I started hiking at 6:30 and I stopped right around 4:30. Ten hours and eleven miles, it's a bit of an adjustment! Fortunately it's a beautiful area. The first few miles were to get me to Eliza Brook shelter, where I didn't get last night. I didn't see anyone for at least a couple of hours, then ran into a southbound couple, I think weekend hikers. They told me the trail up South Kinsman was terrible. Forewarned, I went on to the shelter before that trail. I decided to have a nice break there, eating lunch and reading the register, and I stocked up on water as well.The trail was indeed quite steep and very rocky. It was not unlike the north side of Moosilauke that I descended yesterday. The big, huge, not to be underestimated difference though was that this time I was going up instead of down. I was working hard and sweating profusely, but it was much better than yesterday. Though I did have a 'WTF' moment when I got to a clear spot and saw how far I still had to go!I got to the south summit after 2 hours, in which I had covered 1.7 miles. I'm sure you'll agree expectations are fairly useless! The views were beautiful and the weather was holding. It was supposed to rain in the afternoon but in fact turned into a beautiful day later! Yay for nice weather!There was a short-ish trail between the south and north summits of Kindman Mountain. The north summit was now bathing in sunlight and a couple of day hikers took my picture for me at the overlook.Then I did have to go down. It wasn't too bad, but definitely slow going. Fortunately it was not far to Kinsman Pond and the shelter there. The pond was absolutely beautiful and I soaked my feet in it for a while. I was tempted to stay but it was only 2:30 and all the tent platforms were taken. So, I decided I would try for Work for Stay (wfs) at Lonesome Lake hut, only 1.9 miles away.It may have been only 1.9 miles but the first mile was very steeply down again, on what seems to be the customary slippery rocks. There were even some wooden blocks again. Despite that, I did take one fall when my shoe completely slipped out from under me on a rock that didn't look any different from the others but apparently was. No harm done, but it made me go even slower. Partly because of this, I leap frogged with a group of day hikers who were faster than I was but occasionally stopped (and I'm not making this up) to take professional grade photos of mushrooms. They had secondary lights and tripods (in case the mushroom moved too fast?) and what have you.Halfway through this last section to the hut, the trail leveled out (my knees rejoiced) and I got here shortly after that.This is one of the smaller huts in the system (there are eight) and it's packed. There are lots of kids, because this is one of the easier huts to hike too. And everyone does have to hike in. I am writing this sitting at the lake, listening to Harry Potter. Yes, Catman and Weeble Wobble are here as well, and almost at the end of book 7!The lake is beautiful and the mountains are reflected in it. I bet I can get some nice pictures in the morning.I hope they'll give us chores this evening so I can still get a decent departure tomorrow, but we'll see!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?