Date: 2018-07-31
From: Osgood tentsite (mile 1866.7)

To: Carter Notch Hut (mile 1877.4)
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: moderate rain

Well, I overslept a bit today. The alarm was set for 6:30, but when I noticed how sunny it was outside the tent my phone said 8am! I wanted to do work for stay tonight at the Carter Notch Hut, and the ideal time to get to a hut for work for stay is 4pm, so that set my goals for pace today.Thankfully, yesterday evening brought me down enough elevation that the first few miles to Pinkham Notch were relatively flat and quick. While walking along I heard some crackling in the woods that I thought was somebody further ahead the trail tripping, but soon realized that it was instead coming from a large black animal in the woods nearby - a moose! Two moose, in fact, a momma and her calf that I got to watch meander through the woods for a few minutes. It was fun to watch the gangly calf crash through the woods to catch up to momma when she got ahead. About a mile later I passed by the Mount Washington auto road. A guided tour van stopped by the crossing to talk about the AT so I waved. I made good time the rest of the way to the Pinkham Notch visitor center and arrived just before noon. The sandwiches looked good enough that I got one even though it means I have to carry my lunch as extra weight until the next restock. I took the opportunity to use the wifi to finally catch up on posting some backlogged journaling! Though soon I had stayed too long as the vortex of the real world tried to pull me in with emails about college and phone calls for reservations and the rest of my trip. I left the visitor's center determined to get a work for stay spot. I had heard while chatting with Mark (the 2016 thru) that Wildcat Mountain was a tough climb, and he was right - the 2000 foot gain in 2 miles to the wildcat ski gondola (which was actually running today) definitely slowed me down, but at least came with fantastic views across the notch to the Presidentials. The downhill was just as steep (1100 feet in 0.9 miles) but went much quicker. I arrived a little later than I wanted, at 4:30, but it worked out fine as there were still spots available due to Carter Notch hut being one of the most underused, even though I think the deep notch between wildcat and Carter dome is beautiful, especially as the sun sets on the cliffs. Mark, another section hiker, and Mule, the other work for stay tonight, all got to enjoy some leftover cheese and bread from the naturalist! We all helped answer questions in a presentation the naturalist gave about hiking the Appalachian Trail before having an amazing dinner and dessert. Our work for stay afterwards included cleaning dishes and setting mousetraps with peanut butter and raisins around the hut. Before heading to bed I soaked my feet in the nearby mountain ponds and also used the clear night as a chance to use the hut telescope to look at the stars. I've always imagined a backpacking trip where I manage to bring a telescope along to the wild sites I stay with beautifully dark skies, so this was a dream come true. As I fall asleep I occasionally hear the sound of a mousetrap leaping to life with the death of another victim.