Date: 2008-09-12
From: Mispah Hut/Nauman Tent site

To: Mt. Washington!
Miles today: 6.0

I climbed the mighty Mount Washington today! Amazing that this trail actually attempts takes us up to the summit of this most deadly mountain. The hike up wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, likely because the worst really was yesterday. Today, from the tent platforms it wasn't too difficult, though I am not saying it was easy! (The only way I would ever use the word easy in relation to the AT would be to say, "it was easy to see why she quit." It was super foggy and a little alarming at times because visibility was so poor. The winds were whipping the fog around, coating everything with water and making the rocks slick and dangerous. I hiked alone, silently moving through the fog. The only noise was the sound of the wind. In places like today, above treeline, the trail is marked with rock piles called cairns. In the fog these are so important! Hikers make their way from cairn to cairn, sometimes barely being able to make out the pile through the white blanket of fog. It is weird hiking in fog! You can't see anything around you, have no idea how much farther the summit is, if there are mountians around you, even where you came from. Eventually I came to a sign that let me know the summit was .2 away so then I had some idea. The entire last section of trail today before the top was nothing but lichen-covered rocks. But thankfully, most of them were not giant and didn't require using my hands to pull myself up, it was just a matter of stepping from rock to rock. And not getting blown over by the wind! I am glad I am not a tiny person. When I finally reached the top it was a bit frightening because I could not see a thing. Only white. And the wind was blasting me with water. Having driven to the top (on a visit with Frank years ago)I knew a bit of the layout, certainly that there were numerous towers and buildings and parking lots but I could see nothing. I walked on, in the opposite direction I had come. Soon enough I reached a building and then a sign leading me to the summit building. I was glad when it finally came in view and I could step inside! Rocksie and Root C and Lead Dog were already there. We all sat down and got something warm to eat (chili) and discussed plans for the day as the weather isn't looking too promising. The prediction is rain and a cold front moving through with a chance for thunder and lightning. In other states I would have just hiked on in the rain and never given it a second thought but I am learning that here in NH and in Maine, this is not always a wise idea, that it could be potentially deadly. Rocksie and Root C decided to go on anyway, despite the weather. Lead Dog and I went around in circles about what we should do but finally decided to take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail down to Pinkham Notch, rather than continue above treeline. We exited the building and started toward the trail when through the fog we saw two figures making their way. It was Rocksie and Root C who said the trail was turning icy and that the rocks were so slippery it was nearly impossible to make any distance, that is was too dangerous and they were going to walk the road down the mountain. So Lead Dog and I abandoned our plan of hiking and got a ride from a nice couple from Nova Scotia down the mountain, and then another ride, this from a guy in an old red pickup truck into Gorham where we will stay at a hostel called The Barn. So here I am. Working on my journals when I should be hiking! But it is nice. To be warm and dry and to get caught up here. And tomorrow will be another day, with the legendary MT. WAshington out of the way. Katahdin, here I come!!!!!!!! Only 332 more miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!