Date: 2008-08-24
From: Crawford Notch

To: AMC-Lakes of the Cloud Hut
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Got a late start and on the first climb ran into Franklin, Birdbath and Hot Cheese resting on the edge of a cliff with stunning of the valley below and the mountains beyond. Hot Cheese is very familiar with this region and was able to point out what each mountain was and in particular the exact path we had traversed over the last few days. The climb up to Webster was so scary, there were a series of hand over hand sections. In a few places there were v shaped vertical walls like a chimney, all you could do was wedge yourself in, find some foot and handholds and prey. Take a fall from here and your hike would be over, I did my best and followed Franklin¢s lead, he may be 60 but he is as nimble as a cat. Some of this climbing is very technical and dangerous, I am glad I am in reasonable physical condition. Made it to AMC Mizpah Hut for some lunch (blueberry sweet Cake). Franklin and I had a fruitful discussion about all the problems with the US. Many back home might be amased to hear this, but people out here generally hate George Bush, and I mean hate. He has embarrassed this nation, and his incompetence and stupidity have left it feeling uncertain about itself. If people from outside the US could see the genuine concern that Americans have about the state of their country, and how desperately negative they feel about things right now, I think they would take a very different view of how they judge this country. I am continuously getting into discussions about US foreign policy, and domestic politics within the US, it has been a part of the trail I have really loved. The discussions are always very enlightening, and Franklin is one of the best to talk to, in many ways he is a bit of an idealist, and very much reminds me of my uncle Peter. Got above treeline and followed the ridge until making it to AMC Lakes of the Cloud Hut perched just in the shadows of Mt Washington. Washington was surrounded by clouds and looked very ominous, for days now it has been crystal clear, but the weather looked like it was about to change for the worse, just when we were about to traverse the highest and most exposed peaks in the Whites. Did another work for stay, this time had to do dishes with Briar and Earthbound, it was nice to do some honest work for a change.I am not a fan of the AMC hut system, there use to be shelters up on the whites, but they have been removed leaving the only option in many cases to be the AMC huts. The Whites are supposed to belong to the people of America, but it seems on the wealthy can stay up here. Usually us thru hikers are at the top of the food chain, but up on the Whites we are second-rate citizens. We have to go cap in hand to the huts hoping that they will let us stay. A possible work for stay where we do little jobs, sleep on the floor and eat the scraps from the tables of the privileged. If there was a near by shelter then no thru hiker would go to the huts. We are not allowed to camp above tree line so we have no option but the huts, and often we are turned away depending on the mood of the shelter manager. Most of the managers are some Harvard school graduate born with a silver spoon wedged up their arse, this whole experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth. It is very unAustralian, and to me highlights once again how the Americans are very class orientated, you got money then you can do what you like.