Date: 2008-08-19
From: Stealth site above Carter Notch Hut 

To: Stealth site past Imp Campsites
Miles today: 8.0

Today's woodland romp took us through rocky pitches galore, and in winds up to 40mph, and temps that moved from 57 to 52 degrees. V8, Certain and I all agreed that it was a challenging day, especially up out of Carter Notch, and down from North Carter to Imp campsites. It had rained in the night, leaving a fairly slick surface along the rock faces. A Canadian cold front has been moving in all day, gusting ferociously since before dawn, and even now at almost 8pm, still whipping the old spruce stands into a frenzy.   We started out in the rain, deciding to pop in at Carter Notch Hut for a few minutes, to see if the rain would abate. This hut is an old stone building, built in 1914, whitewashed inside and feeling for all the world like a medieval home in a fairy tale. Other hikers sat quietly waiting for a break in the clouds. The croo had a platter of leftover pancakes available for hikers and we each had one, plain, like big floppy cookies. They were sweet and tender, surprisingly satisfying as we geared up to head back out.    I was handling my pack in the entry way, and saying to myself that the big cast iron boot grate was a heck of a place to drop anything, as the stuff would fall through, land in the gravel, and be really hard to reach. Later, as I turned to head out the door, I noticed a red and black Petzl e-lite lying in the gravel there, almost a foot below the heavy grating. Gee, that's just like mine, I thought. I looked for mine in its spot in my pack lid. Gee, I think that IS mine! Once again, it was Certain to the rescue, deftly fishing it out with the business end of a hiking pole. Thank-you, Michele!   Out we marched into the mist, to hike up 2500 feet in a mile, up to Carter Dome. OK, then. We made it, all was well. Then we descended briefly, before going up to a very exposed Mt Hight. I have never been in winds that strong, as we moved cautiously over the granite peak, being heavily buffeted by gusts that felt like 60mph. As I went to place my feet on rocks submerged in a deep, broad puddle, the wind actually blocked my forward motion, and I had to wait for it to back off a bit before I could move at all. My pack cover got ripped right off as I was beginning to descend, as a fellow hiker saw it in a bush up there. I hadn't felt it fly off, so didn't check until later. A bit of a surprise.   I met two SOBO hikers, Nomad from Ohio and Bearfoot from Michigan, who actually stopped to chat. Both were just entering their second state on their journeys, feeling what appeared to be happy and strong.   We then began 4 miles across the Carters, looking for a sheltered spot for lunch, but finding none. When its cool and really windy, one wants to go as fast as possible to keep warm and to get it over with. Yet to do that, one's exhausted body needs breaks which are uncomfortable, nay, sometimes miserable in those conditions.    The sun broke through by noon, but as quickly disappeared. It was tough to choose the right layers for the conditions. I wound up wearing my skort, high gaiters, long sleeved poly shirt and a raincoat with pit zips. On and off went my gloves and hat. I also discovered, thank you V8, Liteshoe and Colin Fletcher, the warmth and protection of a trash bag rain skirt. Both Jan and I donned the little rigs, turning heads aplenty, no doubt, and I found my body stayed dryer and warmer in the coldest part of the day. I kept it on until the leftover rain was no longer shaking off of the overhead branches on us. To make one, just slice open the bottom of a "cinch sack" style heavy duty black lawn and leaf bag, and tie it on like a skirt. Voila   The finale for me was the one mile drop of 2500' down to Imp campsite.Hoo, boy! That was, as Jan put it, the incredible elastic mile. It took me much longer than I thought it would, yet I spent no time lingering or fidgeting. Moving gradually down that laborious set of vertical rock walls was tedious beyond belief. But its done, and I am no worse for the wear.   We checked out Imp campsite and shelter, yet another .5 mile round trip and decided to move on. The winds were just driving right into the tenting area, and we knew we needed some protection for Certain's hammock and our single wall Tarptent. Tom had told me that his group last year had found spots beyond Imp, so we looked for those and are now tucked in off the trail in a quiet, somewhat more sheltered spot. I enjoyed cooking dinner together below our sleeping area, and am more than ready to sleep now.   We are all pushing the limits of our summer gear tonight, so hopefully we can all warm up enough to make it somewhat comfortably through the night. Until tomorrow, Fondly, Auntie Mame