Date: 2006-08-05
From: Mt Washington, NH

To: Crawford Notch, NH
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: fog

I was up too late last night....I posted a bunch of photos on my journal, then got into a game of pinball on my laptop.I was the pinball wizzard last night because the dang ball just wouldn't go down the hole. I kept racking up more points and more points. I ended up with a score of over 14 million before I was done....more than twice my best ever score.I had just enough energy left to write up my journal entry for the day before I finally feel asleep near midnight.I was up at 5am to get ready for today's walk.I got my day pack ready and packed all my other stuff in the car, then Mrs Gorp and I drove to have a sit-down breakfast.I had a couple eggs, homefries, toast and a side order of French toast and Mrs Gorp had two fried egg, ham and cheese sandwiches.I have to say that Munroe's Family Restaurant in Twin Mountain, NH is one of the best places I've ever had breakfast at.Mrs Gorp and I drove to Crawford Notch trailhead and started the long climb up to Mt Washington at 7:35am.All together today will be over a 5,000 foot climb.It started with a steep ascent up to Webster Cliffs.It was 52 degrees when we started, but I worked up a sweat going up to the cliffs.I stopped at a nice spring about 25 minutes into the walk and drank some water and refilled my water bottle.We were in the forest and there was no air moving, but once I got out in the open on top of the cliffs, I cooled down in a hurry in the brisk wind...it felt great!!!It's also been very nice not having nearly as many bugs.We kept climbing to the summit of Mt Webster and could see Mt Washington off in the distance.It had just cleared out of the cloud that was hanging around the summit...that's where I'm heading today.Another plus for today is that the trail is well marked and there are white blazes!! Real white blazes!!It's nice to see the trail being taken care of and marked the way it should be.I still can't believe I got lost yesterday....that's the first time in all my miles on the AT that happened.I stopped at Mizpah Hut and ate a fairly early lunch.Mrs Gorp showed up about 5 minutes later and also ate a snack.We spent about 30 minutes there before walking on.I climbed Mt Clinton although I didn't realize it at the time.When I was well past it a couple day hikers asked me if the summit of Mt Clinton was well marked.I said yeah even though I didn't remember...after all, I'm a nobo today and we all know the stories nobo's tell. :-)))We kept walking...by Mt Eisenhower, over Mt Franklin, by Mt Monroe until I could just see Lake Of The Clouds Hut when I came over a rise.I was only a quarter mile from the hut when I passed by a day hiker going south.I said hello, then when I passed I heard him say...Stumpknocker???I stopped and looked, but didn't recognize him.He said he was Grandude.He and I have emailed each other numerous times through my journal, so it was great to finally get to meet him.I introduced Mrs Gorp and the three of us stood there talking for about 10 minutes before taking a few photos and heading on in our own directions.Grandude gets into all kinds of sports and makes me jealous when he talks about all the things he does. I think I need to start doing a few other things again. :-)))We stopped for a 5 minute break at Lake Of The Clouds Hut, then started the last 1200 foot climb to the summit of Mt Washington.I could see a group ahead of me and the person in front of the group was carrying a heavy aluminum Grummon canoe....up Mt Washington!!! :-)))I caught up to them and took a few pictures because you just don't see that everyday...a canoe being carried up to the summit of a 6,288 foot mountain. :-)))It was windy...blowing between 25 to 35 mph and the temperature had dropped to a very comfortable 47 degrees at 3pm.I wonder if there's any land for sale up here to build me a small cabin. I love the cooler weather. :-)))When we got to the summit, we went inside the building and browsed around through the small store, but just couldn't find anything to buy.It was more crowded up there than I've ever seen it.That might be because it was such a beautiful day and it was a Saturday.Mrs Gorp and I walked over to where my truck had been parked since yesterday.There was an official note on the windshield telling me that I was supposed to let the gate keeper know the truck would be sitting there overnight...ooops. :-)))I really loved the way Mrs Gorp and I walked this area.By driving up Mt Washington yesterday and leaving the truck, then walking down to Pinkham Notch and walking back up to Mt Washington today from Crawford Notch let me enjoy this beautiful area twice.I usually walk through it, then it's gone, but by doing it the way we did it, I got to enjoy it twice.I drove the truck down the 8 mile road which has an average 12 degree incline and is pretty narrow at times.Even the drive down was nice and enjoyable.When we got down, we headed all the way around the mountain back to Crawford Notch where Mrs Gorp's car was.I knew there was a few hikers doing some trail magic there today, so I drove right up to where they were set up in the parking lot.Rock Dancer, Boulder, and Mara were there with lots of goodies.We had some watermelon while we talked to a few thru hikers that were there.I had met Postcard a couple years ago on his first thru hike and he's almost done with his second one now.Slim was the only other thru hiker there.I have noticed that there really doesn't seem to be many thru hikers around yet. Some days I'll only see one and some days, like today, I don't see any on the trail.We stayed for a while, but I had lots of stuff to catch up on, so we said goodbye and left.We went to a little restaurant nearby for dinner, but mine wasn't anything to write home about.Mrs Gorp always gets real happy when there is a laudromat nearby...almost as happy as I do when there's a good restaurant nearby. :-)))She gathered up all the dirty clothes and while she was gone, I called and talked to Shortcut for a long time.I was getting sleepy because I didn't get enough rest last night and ended up falling asleep at 9pm tonight.Oh yeah, I posted another dozen photos from today's walk.This was a fantastic day!!!