Date: 2018-08-06
From: Madison hut

To: Lakes of the Clouds hut
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I started stirring when I heard the crew in the kitchen but waited with my eyes closed for a few minutes before stretching and getting up. I packed up and some of the other hikers moved the tables back where they belonged. When the croo began setting them I grabbed a coffee a headed outside taking a seat on the bench with my puffy on and had a nice conversation with one of the guests. Just before 7am the guests disappeared into the dining room and we hikers waited outside for them to eat. Just before 8am they were done and disbursing and we went in. I helped myself to cold oatmeal and eggs. The bacon was gone and so was everything else. After I finished eating I asked about my chores and was told bunk rooms. I was really unhappy because I had to wait for the guests to clear out first. Meaning it would be a late start. I swept the dining room floor and River started on the bunks, checking blankets and folding as needed. I swept the bunk rooms and we left. Of all the hikers here last night I saw only 3 others do chores. None of them did morning chores. I think some just skipped out. While I'm not fond of the morning chores, I'd rather do evening chores so I can hike early, I'd never skip out. We hiked out at 8:30 not quite knowing how many miles we'd get in today. We stayed close to each other all day, carrying lighter packs with only 1 tent, 1 stove and 1 filter. The day was sunny and breezy and completely exposed. The scenery was gorgeous no matter where I looked. It was amazing to look back from time to time and see what I'd already hiked. Because it's all exposed the perspective is so different. I can't do that on other sections. The terrain seemed like a moon walk at times over lichen covered rocks. Miles of them. I had to always be looking at my footing and actually stop to look at the views. The trail ambled around summits not reaching all of them and I opted not to hike the extra miles to bag them. There were lots of Cairns marking the trail as well as wooden signs. Not many white blazes at all and many intersecting trails. It was confusing at times and I got off trail twice for a tenth of a mile and had to backtrack. Once was by the cog railroad. A trail went under the tracks and I followed those Cairns. It wasn't the AT but I did score some great train photos! By this time River was probably already at the summit wondering where the heck I was. I had wandered around out there for a while! I got myself corrected and saw a helicopter circling around between Mt Washington and the Lakes of the Clouds hut. I couldn't see what it was but after a couple of circles I didn't see it anymore and I was close to the summit. River found me waiting in line to take a picture at the summit sign and after that festivity it was straight for the snack bar. The chilli was delicious and I enjoyed it with a root beer and chips. It was around 2:30 and we decided that we'd do another 1.4 miles to the Lakes of the Clouds hut and see about a work for stay. They have a dungeon there which is the basement and we could stay there for $10 without any food included or chores due. So that was a possibility. On the way I told River that it was her turn to negotiate. I'd negotiated the last 2 work for stays and gotten morning chores. It's her turn to work magic with the cook of the hut who is the one who makes the decision. We arrived and River walked inside in front of me. We met Libby, AKA Gluten Puff. She was extremely kind and offered us work for stay with morning chores or $10 each in the dungeon. The dungeon was dank and moldy, so River negotiated a $10 fee to sleep on the dining room floor, no chores. We paid up and I traded in my baked good on my thru hiker pass for a bowl of soup. Another win! We were sitting at the table gloating about how great the arrangements were when Libby came over and offered us bunks. We were shocked. Someone unable to use their reservations requested that their accommodations be donated to thru hikers. This meant bunks, dinner and breakfast. And we wouldn't have to wait outside while the guests ate or until 9:30 pm to sweep the floor and put our beds down. I can't articulate how good this felt. We claimed our bunks as directed in bunk room 6. Elated, we joined the guests at 7pm for dinner. A hot dinner! Soup, salad, beef, rice, vegetables and even a GF brownie for me. All wonderful home cooked food. The crew did a little skit and the guests we joined at the table were awesome. A man on the other side of the table addressed the table asking if anyone thought there were any thru hikers there tonight. We smiled and introduced ourselves and had great conversation with him and his wife as well as 2 women from Concord NH sitting next to us. We learned that the helicopter was a DART emergency transport that landed at the hut to extract a hiker who was apparently suffering a heart issue. I noticed from the corner of my eye the work for stay hikers lurking outside. It was different being on this side of the fence. I almost felt bad was couldn't quite muster it up. After dinner and more conversation it was off to our cozy bunks. Feeling content I crawled in with my own pillow and quilt. I've cleaned bunks twice now and I know they don't wash the pillow cases or wool blankets. So no thanks on those! Thankful for the bed and lack of snoring bunk mates in this 15 bed room I plugged my phone into my charger and drifted off after saying goodnight to Brian. Life is great and my back is holding up well despite the terrain.