Date: 2003-08-07
From: Crawford Notch, US302 

To: Mizpah Hut (2635') 
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Aloha! Ahhh... life is good. Have I said that before? It's worth saying again. Life is good; very good.   The only downer to the day was having to say aloha to Pizazz and Short Job. Due to everyone needing to get to his or her various locations, we were all up early. Pizazz was scheduled to do some volunteer work at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, David was due at work, Gutsy and I needed to get to Crawford Notch to start our hike to Mizpah, and Short Job needed to get to a particular area to start her hike across the Wildcats (an area to come for me).   It was a busy household for a short period of time. A quick hug was all the time left to say aloha to Pizazz before she drove away. Such an awesome lady. Once again, I owe her much for her support in my endeavor and most importantly, her friendship.   She is truly a Phenomen. Mahalo Pizazz!   For us, Short Job became our trail angel of the day. She was our shuttle system back to the trail. Not actually near or on her way to where she needed to start hiking from, she was still willing to go the distance and take us where we needed to go.   Such a wonderful friend. I swear, these women are going far and beyond the call of duty to ensure my dream hike becomes a reality this time. Are they awesome are what!   Since I'm hoping to hike with Short Job through the 100 Mile Wilderness, I'm pretty sure I'll see her again. Like Pizazz, a quick hug and she was off to work on her own dream. Another Phenom. Mahalo Short Job!   As for our hiking today, well... it was, well... phenomenal! We have officially started hiking the Presidential Range! This is the highest part of the Trail in New Hampshire with 25 miles of ridge-walking from Crawford Notch to Pinkham Notch, most of which is above tree line (about 4400').   The AT skirts many of the major presidential peaks but short side trails will lead us to, and often over, the peak proper. Two of the peaks traversed today were: Mt Webster (3910') and Mt Jackson (4052'). Weather permitting; I'm hoping to check out a few of the other peaks off the trail.   It will definitely depend on the weather though. No matter how it turns out, the Presidentials are breathtaking. Today's weather was grey and overcast but still allowed for fantastic views of the ridgelines traveled, to come and the valley below.   It was awesome!   I would say that Gutsy and I spent the day practicing the art of sauntering. We were slower than meandering even. What was the hurry? We had all day to get here... and we took it. Since all we did was hike UP (from 1280' to 4052') before finally going back down and then UP to our current 2635', we saw no reason to rush.   It worked wonderfully.   Before we even took our first step this morning we met a new-to-me NOBO named Old Corpus. When we came up on him on a break I asked him the meaning behind his name. I don't know why but I thought I knew where it was coming from and I was right.   Old Corpus is from Corpus Christi, TX, my old stomping grounds. Corpus is approximately 50 miles from Beeville. It's a small world after all! Old Corpus hiked along with us off and on the remaining portion of the hike. A nice fella.   To see him and hear his tale, check out his trail journal on the site under Old Corpus. It'll be another I'll read upon returning home. (He also has a cool digital camera that you can speak into to record what it is you just shot. Real cool!)   We arrived here, the Mizpah Hut, with plenty of time to clean up, meet our roommates (bunk rooms are assigned at this hut) and just relax. A nice way to begin the Presidentials. Mizpah Hut is one of the more modern AMC huts in the Whites having been constructed in 1965; a helicopter was used to transport building materials during construction.   A costly process to say the least. It's from here that the majority of our above tree line hiking begins. Yea!    The Hut is completely crowded this evening with a Boy Scout troop and what looks to be a Girl Scout troop. We lucked out though and got the all-adult bunk room. Better than that, we got the fun adult bunkroom. In the room with us are six weekend hikers, Wally and Megan (lots of fun), Nathan, Pippy (like Pippi Longstockings) (a cute young couple), and Nathan's parents The Preacher Man and Jennifer.   (All trail names given by us.) We've had a blast with Wally and Megan. Megan was even kind enough to give me a wonderful back rub after dinner. I've decided to keep her! Wally too! At least through Lake of the Clouds and Madison Huts since they're going there also.   Excellent!   Oh wow! I almost forgot to tell you! Today I got to do something I've never done before! I got to pick blueberries! I've been waiting for 1834 miles to pick blueberries and I finally got the opportunity atop Mt Jackson this afternoon. Wuhuu!   Picking the freshest of fruit straight from the vine is the best. It may seem silly to you but for me it was great. Can't wait to fill a bag hopefully tomorrow or in the future. Cool beans!   I just looked at the map for what's to come tomorrow and I think it's bedtime. Tomorrow is an extremely short day with something like 4.8 miles but all of it is UP. UP to over 5000' to be exact. The next hut, Lake of the Clouds, is reported to be at 5040'.   I'm going to need all the leg strength I can get! So I'm heading to bed now. It's the least I can do for my legs. You go rest yours. I'm sure you'll need them for something tomorrow. Goodnight!BSandT: nothing out of the ordinaryAandPs: knees are a bit stiff but nothing bad. I did fall today but the damage was limited to a raspberry below my right eye. Face and knee hit the rock but nothing else. No damage.MandGs: loud people in small places that echo... waah!Critter count: 1x small frog, 1x red squirrel, 1x short metallic snake (aka a train way below in the valley)