Date: 2013-09-08
From: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH

To: Franconia Notch, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's miles for Miles: 8.8Total miles for Miles: 1036.3------------------------------Today's miles for Side: 0Total miles for Side: 705.2----------------------------- As a reminder, you can view additional pictures by left clicking Photos on the left side of the screen. We all planned to get up early but I was the first one up and not as early as I wanted. It had rained on and off all night and I was glad I had stayed in the shelter. Not happy that I forgot to take a picture of that shelter because it was so beautiful. Got everything packed up and ate and it was still raining. Finally started out with my rain pants and rain jacket on. It was chilly and since my clothes were still wet from yesterday (gross I know), felt I needed to keep my warmth in even though I knew the rain clothes would make me sweat like crazy. It only rained for a little while so was able to take of the rain clothes which felt great but now I had wet clothes to carry. Sigh.Hiked along a beautiful brook with it's series of waterfalls because of course I was going up. And up. And up. A hard climb of 2000 feet. Many scrambles up big rocks holding on to rocks or roots or trees above you to pull yourself up. It was fun even though it was tough. But wet conditions again made it hazardous. Many slippery long, inclined rock slabs. Required a lot of focus. Many boardwalks. Many wooden steps embedded in the rock. And of course they had to be built for giants. Honestly, do you think a giant even needs the assistance? The trail wasn't quite as boggy as yesterday but still many wet spots. Passed Harrington Pond halfway up South Kinsman Mountain. Not any other hikers on this part of the trail except those I had stayed with. Finally made it to the top of South Kinsman. No view - fogged in. Dropped down 300 feet and then back up 200 feet to North Kinsman Mountain. Now I started seeing day hikers who were staying at the hut ahead - out for a hike. Got to Lonesome Lake Hut, one of the AMC huts in the White Mountains, and stopped in for soup that was mostly broth, bread, barely warm coffee, and a partially baked cookie. Then made a quick exit to get back to hiking so I could get down the mountain. Hit a spot where a bridge was washed out and there was a temporary brook crossing across stones. They didn't have it marked well on the other side so I ended up taking a trail that was blazed in bluish white. Found out tonite that there really was a white blazed trail which caused problems for others too. Annoying because I'm very fussy about hitting all of the trail and now I missed part of it. But I'm not going to hold myself accountable for a poorly marked trail. Got myself down the mountain but ended up a different place than I should have. Made my way into town to shower, wash clothes, and resupply. Bought myself a map of the huts and surrounding area in case of poorly marked trails again. Of course we bought a map of the Whites last year for this trip and I never thought to bring it. Duh. Ended up at the Comfort Inn because it's supposed to be really cold tonite and because it was too late to get back to the trail. Called Side to check in and chat. Cleaned up gear and packed food into daily bags.