Date: 2007-07-28
From: Madison Hut

To: Mount Washington
Miles today: 5.6

I wake up just after sunrise. I lay in the bag for awhile and eat breakfast. Pack up my site and make my way back up to the hut. I get to the hut shortly after breakfast was served. I'm greeted by the gang. They tell me they won¢t be coming to Chicago, I'm a little disappointed, but I understand. Tumble Weed ended up doing the work for stay since she hikes faster then Timber. Mary Anne and Tumble Weed have an hour worth of chores to work off, so me and Timber push out without them. Timber and I hike together for about an hour then she takes a break because her feet hurt. I'm feeling good today. I push on without her. I end up catching a threesome that stayed at the hut. We hike together and have light conversation all the way to Mount Washington. The hike to the base of Mt. Washington was amazing. An above treeline hike with a few climbs but nothing tough. The 1st 3 miles we have clear skies with lots of views. The next 3 miles would be different. We walk in and out of clouds. Finally at the starting point of the climb to Mount Washington, I start my push. A mile to the summit, I figure about an hour hike. I take small 30 second breaks here and there but feel strong. Clouds are slowly rolling in. In true thru hiker style I moon the Cog Rail as it passes me on its descent. I make the last rock scramble to the summit. I've made it. I get a little emotional about this accomplishment, I break down. Now the summit of Mount Washington is a little surreal for me. People everywhere, an observation deck with a huge food court. Cars are everywhere, people in regular town clothes. Very strange. I make my way to the hiker room and change into warmer clothes, temps have dropped since the start of the hike. I look at my watch and am amazed it only took me 45 minutes to do that last climb. I decide not to eat lunch until everyone shows up. I wait about 20-30 minutes and Timber shows up. Now it's pretty cold up here and we decide to hang in the hiker room for Tumble Weed and Mary Anne. We both comment about how easy the hike was. Now for me this is the end of the line, while Timber and Tumble Weed are shooting for 5 more miles today. Tumble Weed and Cat (Mary Anne) show up 30 minutes after Timber, they store their stuff and we all head up for lunch. With lunch over Cat pushes out and is headed for Mizpah Hut. Tumble Weed hangs around and sends out some post cards. At the summit of Washington there is a make shift post office. We say our good byes and I watch them as they go down the trail. It is now 3 o'clock and I need to start finding a way to get back to Pinkham Notch. I find out there is a shuttle to take me back. On the drive down the Mountain I'm amazed on the weather change from just dropping 2000 feet. When we left it was cold and clouded in, at Pinkham it¢s hot and sunny. I make my way to the lodge to see if they have any rooms available. Sold Out. I purchase my bus ticket and head down to their hiker room. I hang there for awhile getting everything situated for my trip. I start planning where I'm going to camp for the night. Closest legal campsite is 4 miles away. Not going to happen. I plan to hike down one of the trails at dark and just stealth camp. I want to be close by, my bus comes at 8:12. A sobo has entered the room while I was making my plans. We end up talking, what a mistake. This guy ends up talking nonstop until 11:30. I make my break from him and find that it's raining. I grab a spot on the floor and try and fall asleep. People move in and out of this space all night. Needless to say I did not sleep. The lodge opens for breakfast at 6:30 so I eat and hang around until the bus comes.