Date: 2010-09-12
From: Lakes in the Clouds Hut

To: Osgood Campsite
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: fog

Talked to Ripple on top of Mt Washington!! Now...HAPPY TEARS. She said the hike to Lake in the Clouds hut yesterday was amazing, clear and sunny. She got her extraordinary views in the Whites all day Saturday including a sunset. She was hiking on about 8 miles today to her next destination, so we didn't talk long, but she's much better mentally. The folks at Big Agnes (her tent) were wonderful and offered up a replacment fly wherever she wanted it sent up trail. She's also about to get her late re-supply box in Pinkham Notch. I told her about the guest book entries of encouragement and she sooo appreciates the support...bringing on those happy tears again. All is well, Ripple will summit Katahdin. She did 10.1 to Osgood campsite, hanging with thin mint, ziggy, stardust, t-bone, patch and gorp. Here's my written entry:First off, it was a most interesting night! You see, it was the last night for guests this season and the Croo¢s have a ritual. They raid other huts in the middle of the night! I woke up to some guys with a ladder, removing the signs decorating the walls! I was a little freaked out, thought maybe a real¢¦robbery??? Surely not! Of course not! Eventually I saw the suspects enter the Croo¢s bunkroom and heard laughter! OK, then! The morning came and immediate movement¢s a must at the huts! Brrrr!!! I did however get outside to catch the few glimpses offered of the sunrise through the clouds! It was surreal! I couldn¢t believe where I was standing! What a day THIS is going to be!! The forecast is pretty good considering I¢m next door to Mt. Washington! Wind should be low-yea! Maybe, a view??? We¢ll see¢¦It seemed like forever before I was able to hit the trail! I had to wait on the Croo to serve breakfast, clean up, I did some sweeping and straightening to help and took my turn to eat. Then the blanket folding began. See they helicopter most supplies out for the season and today was the day! There were hundreds of blankets that needed rolled up and tied! It was quite an operation! I turned the monster twine ball into the pieces they intended to be to keep the line moving! I was very anxious, yet dragging my feet-due to the cold I think, not the trail¢¦During the excitement, Ziggy, Thin Mint and Patch arrived so it was fun to visit with them (and stall a little longer¢¦ ) I finally hit the trail at 9:30! It seems it won¢t be clear liked they¢d hoped yesterday but who cares! First on the trail, which was and would entirely be made of small to large boulders, it took a little time to orient myself to the cloudy and misty view it provided! Wow! Oddly enough, my eyes adjusted and I was off! I maintained the slow and steady pace and seemed to be there in no time! It was 11:30, nice! It was white, cloudy, misty and beautiful! There were many structures! I checked out the replica hotel that once was, found the bathrooms and the actual summit! There was a little further to the VERY top! AWESOME!!! Those were fun pictures to take now!!! I then made way to the main guest facility. There was a hiker room downstairs for us to spew and dry our gear-NICE! There was a cafeteria, gift shop, museum and even a post office! I picked up some postcards to send and got some hot food! I found a table near a post with outlet-score & charged my phone and camera! With no signal I made a quick call to LT on the calling card and soaked up the moment a little more. No matter what happens from here, I can forever say I climbed Mt. Washington! I couldn¢t believe it! Ok, time to get! I still have 8.5 miles to go and its 1:00!! The first few miles were some of the most amazing views on the whole trail! See, as soon as I set out the clouds started moving out! Mother Nature provided the show of a lifetime! The sun would even peek out now and then! I¢m glad I enjoyed it, however slow the miles were coming, because the rest of the day would prove to be the toughest yet! Unfortunately the next hut was closed and the campsite was another 5 miles (total 8.5 from Wash.) The problem was Mt. Madison which lied between us and our home for the night! It¢s was 5:30 and supposedly 1 mi up and 1 mi down, we should have enough light for that and do the last 3 down with head lamps. Unfortunately the terrain was not 1 simple up and down. It, I mean they, were all rock mtns, piles and piles of rocks-all above treeline! With next to no visibility I really struggled to see the blazes and cairns. I was beginning to get doubtful. Was I going in circles? Where¢s the trail? This will take me FOREVER! I can¢t camp above treeline-keep going! Where is the gang? They were behind me and haven¢t passed me yet??? I could see a sign¢¦.cool! I REALLY hope I haven¢t seen it before!! No-it¢s new! Thank God!! I continued to struggle but stayed NOBO and just as the doubts started to come back I heard Thin Mint!! Yeah!! OK, it¢s going to be ok! It took a good while longer and we finally started to descend. What a TREAT that turned out to be-NOT! It was dark now, very wet and very slippery! That was a very long 2 mile down! I caught up with Gorp and we stumbled our way through the damp darkness! Eventually we spotted signage! Yahoo! It was a nice campground with several sites, a privy and bear boxes, nice! We arrived shortly after the rest of the gang and were all EXHAUSTED! We set up, ate dinner and got in dry clothes! Ahhh, bed! WHAT A DAY! 1 MAJOR high and 1 MAJOR low, this trail is something else! Tomorrow is Pinkham Notch and a hostel in Gorham!