Date: 2017-08-19
From: Gorham (The Barn Hostel)

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

8/19/17 Day 82 - 15.1 milesGorham (The Barn Hostel) to Carter Notch HutWoke up early today to get breakfast at Welsh's one last time and to take care of last minute chores before the shuttle back to the trail leaves at 7:30. Ran across the street real quick to grab a coffee when I met Warren Doyle! He's another AT legend who helps people complete thru-hikes. He follows them from trailhead to trailhead in his van and provides various levels of support. I think his hikers have a 100% success rate but I'd have to look it up to verify.I'm excited to finally start the Whites today and get the hardest part of the AT behind me but I have to remember to be patient and not push the miles too much. I've heard from a lot of NOBOs that you can get food from the huts so I'm only carrying 3 days worth of food. I've mailed a resupply box to North Woodstock and I'm hoping to be there in about 4-5 days (76 miles away)I was on the trail by 8:00 and the beginning was well graded and clear of roots and rocks- it was so nice. The climb started off slow and picked up like a ramp after about a mile or 2. Then it was straight up to Mt Moriah. There was a little .1 mile side trail to the peak and it's on the list of 48 peaks over 4000' that I started 3 years ago so I pretty much had to go up there. The view was awesome and I'm glad I went.  Also, I got the 1st big climb out of the way and got up into the elevation. After Moriah, the trail went right over North Carter peak(which is also on my list). Then it was on to Middle Carter and South Carter but I don't think they're all on the list. It is Saturday today and there are a lot of people out on the trail, most of them Peak baggers.  Made my second big climb of the day up to Mt Hight where I met Tork and Glampress. They're both nurses from Mt Holly NJ, about a 30 minute drive from where I live. They flip flopped just like I did but they flipped in Port Clinton PA so they have less miles to finish their trip. It was a real trip meeting them and they seem like a cool pair. I'm not sure I'll meet up with them again though- they were slack packing this section north and won't be going south again till Monday and I'll be way past where they're getting back on by then. After Mt Hight I went over Carter Dome which is another one on my list. I'm loving getting these peaks done!!  I was feeling good today and the miles were going by quick. I made it to Carter Notch Hut and asked if I could do work for stay. Leslie was the cook and said "sure, no problem." She explained how it works and basically I wait for the paying guests and the staff (called croo) to eat dinner and then I get leftovers. I'll do my 30-60 minutes of work and wait for the guests to leave the dining room where I'll get to set up my air mattress on the floor and spend the night there.  Sat around for quite awhile waiting for our assignment. Finally, around 8:00 they let us eat- and it was awesome! All we could eat turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce, salad, and apple bread. Our assignment was to scrub some sheet pans for about 30 minutes. And we got a place to sleep. In bed by 9:45, good 1st day in the Whites.