Date: 2018-08-14
From: Madison Spring Hut

To: NH 16 Pinkham Notch
Miles today: 7.8

Crazy BritLast night we had to splurge out and stay at the Madison Spring Hut. All our gear is wet, save our sleeping bags, we are knackered, there are no campsites so we would have to stealth camp which on this terrain is almost impossible.We had a good dinner with good company, so things are good. I tried to dry my tent but it was blowing like hell so it should be ok but there was so much moisture in the air there was no chance, so back in the bag it goes, ready for a sunny day????We had a good breakfast and left Madison Hut about 8:00am very late start for us.Today is all about Mt MADISON, this we had been warned is very dangerous to do in the rain or Thunder and Lightning, we only have one rain so we leave. There are another 6 NOBO hikers there and we leave at different times not by planning just by luck.You do not want to many people on the exposed ridges as that tends to push the person in front, which is so dangerous. I have ¢ Mud¢ one of our group of hikers, he is about 100 yards in front of me, after about 15 mins climbing up Madison he is out of view, the low cloud and rain has made him disappear.There are very few white blazes up here in New Hampshire, as there are so many Trails so for the AT they have piles of stones called Cairns, these are about 50 ft apart and most of them are about 6ft Tall.Like I say about ¢Mud¢ he disappeared, then as we climbed more up this rock pile the Cairns started to disappear into the rain and cloud, so you are left going from Cairn to Cairn. Sometimes the visability is so bad you are just relying on the marks on the rocks to see ahead. All the time it¢s raining horizontally and with a 40 mile an hour wind it is hard to keep in contact with your partner, I would never attempt this section on my own in these conditions.Dave is nursing an old injury to his knee, aggravated by a couple of falls, which we both have had, but we are still not being caught by guys behind, this is the hardest I have ever worked to keep on the trail, and still climb over the rocks, It¢s Actually Stupid when you tell people.But at the same time it¢s so exhilarating to be here and you are solely relying on yourself, there is no one to help you because they are working on their own situation. The wind is trying to pluck you off the Mountain, every step you make over these slippery rocks has to be so calculated, your poles are you best friends for testing loose rocks to supporting your whole weight, I had made sure my poles were very tight more than normal.Even with the poles some times you were hand over hand over the larger rocks, good job I had a glove for my stumpy finger as it was really cold and it hurts every day. But when it gets cold it is really painful, and in these conditions and conditions to come it¢s best to keep it warm in a glove.After at least five false summits, we are eventually coming to a tree line of small scrub pines, at this time we have bunched up a bit so we get into the pines and get some shelter and have a snack and a drink. We both have scrapes and cuts from the rocks and sure to have some nice bruises tomorrow.We are heading to Pinkham Notch, bloody hell its still 5 miles away, and we have been going hard for 3 hours to cover only 2 1/2 miles TOUGH!!!!Now we are into a slippery mud situation, lots of flat Granite rocks with moss on them a real nightmare. YES it¢s still raining so we are now getting rain dropping vertically together with drops from the trees, plus the vegetation you are brushing against, all in all it¢s Hell!Of course we have to ford streams now swollen with the rain, all in all it¢s a tough day.Then as we are approaching our destination there is a sign on the trail showing a fast route to Mt Washington 4.3 miles WHAT!!! We had just done about 30 no justice but it is the Appalachian Trail??We come out of the Forest at Pinkham Notch to be met by my Old Friend Tim Otterbach. We are staying with him today and a Zero day tomorrow to get replenished and dry all our gear.We are whisked away to a bar which has great Burgers and Beer, thanks Tim.Another great day on the Trail, just glad this section is over with I will remember this for a long time.Zero day tomorrow so will let you know what happens until then Goodnight.Anyone can walk on the flat, Didn¢t know living on the Edge going over Mt Madison in a Rain Storm withAlmost Zero Visability could be so Crazy and ExhilaratingOnly now got 319.4 miles before we have another Exhilarating climb to summit Mt Katahdin the big one !!!!!