Date: 2018-10-12
From: Liberty Springs Trailhead

To: Greenleaf Hur
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Let me tell you all a little more about Cooper. He¢s one of the brightest most confident 8 year olds I¢ve ever met. I was asked a question about my Tyvek when I was at the shelter with him. I said it came from Walmart...Cooper said it¢s got Lowes written on it. He was right! He read my journal recently and saw I only gave him credit for summiting four 4,000ft mountains, actually he has summited 18 4k¢s! Wowthat¢s a big difference! Awesome job Cooper!  Today I chose to NOBO my last little 27 mile gap in the Whites. It was to be 55 degrees and a good day to hike and summit several more 4K mountains.  I came in on a blue blaze which means I hiked 0.6 miles that I won¢t get credit for. I¢m full packing and planning for an overnight at Galehead Hut 12.9 miles.  My hike started going UP. This will be 6 miles of UP! It was a little chilly and damp, but the weather forecast lead me to believe the sun will come out.  At first the trail was great. Not many rocks or roots. I was hiking beside a flowing brook. You know I love that! Colored leaves covered my path making it hard to differentiate if I was going to step on rock, root, or mud. I said aloud ¢this trail is like a box of chocolates¢. Before long I crossed that brook on boulders. The trail went up and away from there to Franconia Ridge. I stopped half way up for lunch. I packed in a leftover grilled all beef hotdog. Mmmm delicious!  After about 20 minutes break I continued up to Little Haystack Mountain. 4780ft elevation. That¢s where everything started going haywire! I was in the wet clouds. It was cold and windy. Where was my beautiful day?  I continued on eventually going up Mount Lincoln at 5089ft elevation. That¢s when I realized this weather is going to be something to deal with. Above tree line makes a big difference regarding weather. There were no views. Just a grey abyss. Winds were steady but sometimes gusts came so strong I was actually blown over.   I fought my way across the ridge to Mount Lafayette. I really don¢t know how I made it there. At the summit was a sign to Greenleaf Hut 1.1 miles off trail. I looked the direction of the arrow, but I could see nothing. No cairn, no resemblance of a trail. If I stayed on the A.T. I had 3.3 miles to a tent sight.  I decided to go for it.  I was not dressed for this cold weather. Soon rime ice was forming on the rocks. Ice was even forming on my trekking poles.  It was impossible to move when the gusts hit. I finally hid behind a boulder. For the first time I thought I might die out here. I was shivering and not able to keep moving. That¢s a death sentence. I called Papa Big Swig. I had real fear, and I needed a miracle. During my conversation with Papa Big Swig one lone hiker came up the path. It was my miracle, Griggs.  Griggs suggested I put on my puffy coat even though it would get wet. I did. I also grabbed out my rain pants just to get a second layer on my lower half. As I was zipping up my pack the wind got my rain pants. They flew down the side of the mountain. Gone for good.  Griggs encouraged me to turn back around, endure the wind and go down to Greenleaf Hut. I explained that I couldn¢t find the path. He said he would take me...and he did. Greenleaf was not really his plans for today, but he changed for me.  Once we got below tree line it was like a whole different world. Below the clouds Griggs and I were able to enjoy a little view.  My knees give me a lot of discomfort going down, so I¢m slothier than usual. I told Griggs I would be alright now and he can move ahead. He refused. Said he¢s in no hurry, and he walked me to the door. A young man with character. There was bunk room for both of us, so I paid for his stay. It was the least I could do. He literally saved my life.  Greenleaf Hut is a full service hut. We had a hot dinner, and will get a hot breakfast in the morning. I met some lovely folks who were doing weekend hikes with a hut stay. But the weather prevented the hiking part today.  I learned some of those gusts were 80MPH! The forecast calls for wind and snow on the ridge tomorrow. Ugh!  For now I¢m fat and happy. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?