Date: 2008-06-10
From: Kinsman Pond Campsite (3750')

To: Galehead Hut (3820')
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: few clouds

No mosquitos last night so I actually got some sleep. It was a clear day this morning and Double Cheese and I stopped at the Lonesome Lake Hut to check it out. They had leftover food from breakfast so we got pancakes, bacon, and cranberry juice. All a pleasant surprise. Also I was able to see Bob and Quade in registers again and will be able to at all the huts. We got a great hitch into Lincoln right away and stopped at the outfitter and resupplied. I've been hearing New Hampshire accents now. It was real hot out when we started up to Franconia Ridge (88o) and fairly humid. I was feeling very toasty when I got to the Liberty Spring tent site after the 2400' 2.5 mile climb. There was a cold stream there, not very big but a liter of water to drink and another dumped on my head rejuvinated me quickly. It was amazing how new life that little stream gave me. It was still really nice out but the crew at Lonesome Lake said that the forecast was calling for thunderstorms over the ridge so I would get up there before it got nasty. Walking along the ridge was absolutely amazing. I felt on top of the world and very mystified by my surroundings. I had been here before but for some reason I saw it in a different light this time. I had been looking forward to this section for so long that I was worried it wouldn't live up to my own hype but it easily surpassed it. Walking along the ridge was a wonderful feeling and as you walk you're able to look back at these amazing mountains and know that you just walked them. I got below treeline and was walking with two french speaking hikers when the lightening storm hit. It wasn't right above us but was close enough that I needed to delay going up Garfield. It passed rather quickly and the rain even cleared as well. I decided to pass the Garfield Ridge Campsite and head to Galehead Hut because the terrain didn't look too tough on my map. I made pretty good time the last couple miles but the Whites have slowed me down a lot. I knew that would happen but I didn't realize how much they would slow me down. There aren't too many at the hut and I got leftovers from dinner. No instant potatoes with Hot Sauce tonight. I got lasagna, bread, salad, soup, apples, and apple pie. The work for stay I did involved cleaning grease off of a part of the wall in the kitchen area. I was glad they let me do it tonight because I can get an early start tomorrow morning. After dinner and cleaning up that stuff a huge lightening storm hit the area. A lot of people from the hut (including me) sat outside and watched as it developed. Lightening was all around constantly, barely seconds between flashes all over the Franconia area and I'm sure beyond it. It was quite a show and the rain finally hit as well as things worsened. It was one of the biggest lightening storms I've ever seen and its nice to be in the hut tonight. I am thoroughly enjoying the Whites, a lot more than I expected. They really are the nicest trail I've come across and its too bad they don't stretch all the way from Georgia to Maine. Of course then a thru-hike would take about twice as long.