Date: 2009-09-12
From: Crawford Notch

To: Lakes of the Clouds
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: fog

Highlight: Climbing up Webster Cliffs and looking out over Crawford Notch; meeting a wonderful older couple, who inspired us to continue to enjoy the freedom of adventure - regardless of age. In the morning, we managed to get a hitch (me in the back of a pick-up truck and Jungli in the front) back to the trailhead. The climb out of Crawford Notch was steep as hell, but I was feeling fresh and strong in the morning and made it up to Webster Cliffs within an hour. While I waited for Jungli to catch up, I sat up there and enjoyed the view of one of the most picturesque sights on the trail. I was already getting a bit hungry, so I took out my food and started chowing. Jungli continued soon thereafter, while I stayed to enjoy the view a bit longer. During this time, I met an older couple (late 50's or early 60's) who continue to come out and enjoy hikes and the natural beauty of this world. Later on, they told us a story of how they were out in Colorado rock climbing and managed to get stuck up on a small outcrop on a mountainface and couldn't get down until the next day. So, they spent the entire night completely on a rock face underneath some of the most beautiful stars up above. They said that it was one of the most magnificent experiences of their lives. It was a lovely story and it touched us both. Their continued determination to enjoy life and adventure will undoubtedly inspire many more. We continued to climb up Mt. Webster and then on to Mt. Jackson. On top of Mt. Jackson, we became friends with Steve, an early 40's man, who works for LL Bean up in Freeport, Maine. He has or is trying to complete the 48 peaks of New Hampshire above 4,000 feet, a very common goal for day hikers of the northeast. We chatted with him for a long while en route to the Mizpah Hut and then continued to chat while at the hut. He was very gracious and wanted to help us out with anything possible. He provided me with a dehydrated ice cream sandwich and Jungli with a Gatorade bottle. He even offered to show us through the LL Bean factory in Freeport if we decide to pass through as we attempt to get home after our thru-hike. Steve will be hiking through the Mahoosuc Notch/Grafton Notch area next weekend, so hopefully we'll be able to see him again sometime soon. At Mizpah Hut, we saw Chinese Tourist and Chef, both of whom I hadn't seen for many weeks. They were planning on heading up to Lakes of the Clouds Hut to do a work-for-stay and, although it was late into the evening, we decided to do the same. As I came to Mt. Franklin, the weather had been getting quite nasty and the fog had rolled in, thereby reducing visibility yet again. This is a common occurence here in the Whites and, more specifically, the Presidential Range. Just at the foothill of Franklin, the clouds began to part, the sun started to creep through and colours shown in almost every direction. Jungli decided to push on, and me, as I enjoy the sunsets so much, well I decided to stick behind. I took many photos and videos and enjoyed watching the clouds being forced up and over the mountain peaks in the distance. I felt so happy to be out there. I should also point out that I felt so FORTUNATE to be out there as well. Not many people have the chance to enjoy the nature of one's own land, and not only was I out there observing, I felt a deep connection with it...a oneness of sort. Snapping out of the meditative trance, I pushed on to Lakes of the Clouds Hut, which is at the base of Mt. Washington. This is the most popular hut, sleeping 96 people. Chef Fred, Chinese Tourist, Fletch, and Jungli were already there and I managed to get a work-for-stay despite arriving a bit late. It was their last night, so they really didn't care how many people came. There was a very large crowd and we had to wait a good while before dinner was over and we were able to go into the kitchen and, like vultures, begin to eat the leftover food. Fortunately, when I say leftovers, I don't mean the leftovers on the patron's plates - I mean leftovers, or excess. As a thru-hiker, I should separate the two. At night, we sat around and chatted and cracked each other up, before heading to bed.