Date: 2014-09-04
From: Mizpah Shelter

To: Madison Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Since the hut serves breakfast at seven, we were up early as the guests were milling around downstairs while we hid out in the library. The crew was nice enough to give us a pitcher of coffee so while they ate downstairs we were packing up our stuff and drinking the sweet elixir known as coffee. After the guests were done eating we were invited downstairs to eat and we had some pancakes and oatmeal. When we were done eating the crew was informed that they would be getting their resupply-by helicopter. After hearing that we needed to stick around a bit and see this go down me it was definite to worth it. In the distance you here a helicopter and all of sudden it come somber the horizon with supplies dangling from a rope below and drop it off. They made a whole bunch if deliveries and took away huge propel and tanks every time they left,it was cool to watch and see how the process goes down.   Atlas and I left first and we were heading up to Mount Washington today which was exciting. Mount Washington has the recoded for fastest wind speed ever recorded and is known for their weather turning quickly. Thankfully we had beautiful warm and sunny weather to start the hike. The hike towards Washington was some of the most beautiful scenery we've seen so far and just gave us more energy to hike. We got to the Lake of the Clouds hut which is the most popular hut in the Whites since it's so close to Mt Washington. We didn't stay there long since we were so close to Washington and we headed up the steep, rocky trail.    When we got for the top it was a little lackluster since the first things you see was all the construction equipment on top of the mountain. Once you turn the corner you see the tourist trap and try to move through inconspicuously but it's hard to do so with the way we look. We heard there was a snack bar there and that's what we went for, a bunch of people asked us what we were doing and everyone was in awe and supportive so it wasn't as bad as I thought. They have a sign at the highest point and there was a line for it that I refused to stand on so hopefully there won't be a line after we eat. Since we're in New England I had to have a bowl of clam chowder and had a chili dog as well, odd combination but it was delicious.    After we got our photos at the Mt Washington sign we left and headed down the mountain. Since we're at the top of the mountains and so high up there weren't any stealth campsites so we hoping we could get to the Madison hut and do work for stay. It was a very rocky trail to the hut and with the wind blowing it was slow going and tiring. The hut is nestled in a valley so we didn't see it until we were about .3 miles away and thankfully we could do work for stay. The hut was packed and smaller than the last one we were at so they made us wait outside until dinner was finished with. In wouldn't have minded that much but the temperature was dropping quick and the wind was howling but we got to see an amazing sunset. We were worried about the others behind us including Delaware because it didn't look like they would be making down to the hut and if they didn't stay at the Lake of the Clouds,they're huddled down somewhere up there and I hope they stay safe. After about an hour or so we were invited in and they had beer stroganoff, cream of mushroom soup,homemade bread and some cookies. It was so delicious especially the soup which I had four bowls of. They did all of the chores before letting us in so we had to come up with something to do because we felt guilty so we cleaned the windows.    This hut didn't have a library so we had to sleep on the floor or the benches in the dining room. I slept on the floor on my sleeping pad next to window looking up at the stars and listening to the wind howl.