Date: 2003-08-08
From: Mizpah Hut (2635') 

To: Lake of the Clouds Hut (5040') 
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: light rain

Aloha! I LOVE THIS STUFF! Some days you just know why you're out here and today is one of those days. Absolutely one of those days!   As I sit here at the Lake of the Clouds Hut I can't help but think back over my day and smile. It wasn't anything really exceptional in regards to the effort expended; it was more that I felt like the queen of the world. And on top of it at the same time.   The adrenaline rush I have been experiencing all day is almost the intensity of the first day on the trail in '01. A total rush. I would love to be able to explain the feelings I experience as I walk above the tree line but I really don't know how.   It is just so phenomenal for me to be here doing something that I've dreamed of doing for so long. Doing this - hiking the Presidentials in the White Mountains; hiking above-tree lines, on top of the world! No, I can't explain it. I don't know if my inability to define the moment is due to my lack of sufficient descriptive adjectives or possibly a subconscious decision not to share these moments with anyone. I honestly don't know which.   The best I can do at this moment in time is to tell you about my day. Hopefully that'll be enough.   I was awake early enough to let the pouring rain almost lull me back to sleep. Almost but not quite. Unlike waking up to go to work in the "other " world, once I'm awake out here, I'm awake. I also enjoy waking earlier than most too.   It gives me a few extra minutes to replay the day before and mentally prepare for today. It gives me a few moments of absolute complete solitude. I've come to truly love and appreciate those moments.   Because Gutsy and I were only doing the 4.8 miles to the Lake of the Clouds Hut, we were in no hurry to rush out the door. We allowed almost everyone else to pack up and head out before we even began packing. It isn't hard to pack when you're not carrying anything!   Old Corpus wasn't in a rush to get out either so he opted to hike along with us.   The hike to here was magnificent! At least half of it was above tree line. We hiked across Mt Pierce (formerly known as Mt Clinton - hmmm... wonder what the story is there) at 4310', around Mt Eisenhower at 4760', over Mt Franklin's 5004', past Mt Monroe at 5372', and arrived at our current 5040'.   Our journey above   began at Mt Clinton/Pierce and is suppose to stay that way for something like 12.7 miles north. Awesome! The views are breathtaking and to die for. The terrain is actually kinder and gentler and allowing for now and then actually walking and looking at the same time.   Still going UP but UP in a fashion that I'm loving. I could have run today had I had an inkling to do so. (As luck would have it, I didn't.) Again, no words to describe both the beauty and personal adrenaline rush of today. So awesome.   As for the Lake of the Clouds Hut, also called the Lake of the Crowds Hut because of its large size and the 90 guests it can hold, it was constructed in 1915 at an elevation of 5050' and is the highest, largest and most popular hut. Mostly because of its easy access to and from the summit of Mt Washington. Due to its location though, this is one of the huts that actually closes early in the season because it's too cold to keep it open.   That's in mid September! Burrr... I can't wait to see this place from above as I climb up to Mt Washington tomorrow. Praying all the while for warmer weather and calm winds.   While sitting here this evening I spent time looking through the old 2001 registers. It was both heart-rending and wonderful to read a note written to Lady Hawk 9/2/01 wishing her a belated birthday from someone who forgot to sign their name. Then there were signings by Tumbleweed, Happy Feet, Braveheart, Grampie, Stryder and Wonder, Iculus, Homeless and Unemployed, Baltimore Jack, Emma, Caroline Cruiser, and the Honeymooners to name just a few.   People I either knew or knew of passing through the same place I'm now sitting. People I would have passed along with had things gone differently. Like with the 501 Shelter in PA, it was a bag of mixed emotions reading the registers. I'm so very happy for each of them to have gotten this far. And so very proud of all of us.   Other than reading the journals, I've spent the evening enjoying the companionship of many weekend hikers and the abundance of wonderful food. Tonight's dinner was a delight for Gutsy and two others at the table since it was vegetarian. We started with a tasty vegetable broth soup, moved to a crisp green salad with fruit, followed by stir fried vegetables, spinach and cheese calzones with a tomato sauce, and ended with rich moist brownies and coffee.   Everything was wonderful! It even beat our chili soup, immediately gobbled up for lunch, upon arrival. I swear I'm going to gain 10 pounds as I make my way through the Whites! Love it.   Lights have been shut off and most everyone has gone to bed. This is my preferred time to write. Mostly because the noise level has come down at least seven octaves since the last light went out. It's almost unbelievable and somewhat overwhelming the noise at the huts.   So many people after having been around very few. I understand tomorrow¢s arrival at Mt Washington actually scares some of the hikers. Tons of people, cars and vendors all as you top the summit. I'm looking forward to the journey but I admit that I'm not looking forward to "civilization".   Maybe it won't be so bad... we can hope.   Okay, one of the work-for-stays has placed his bed at my feet and is hinting that I should go elsewhere. He's right, I should go to bed. Tomorrow and Mt Washington will be here before I know it. So I'm going. You should go too. I'm sure you have a day filled with exciting fun events ahead.   I'm thinking maybe you should go take a hike. Literally!BSandTs: no, No, NO!AandPs: not reallyMandGS: forgetting that I've been carrying Baileys and not drinking it...waah!Critter count: 1x chipmunk, 1x red squirrel. Everything else is smart enough not to come UP this high.