Date: 2006-07-30
From: Guyot Campsite, NH

To: Crawford Notch General Store & Campground, NH
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: 0

Cell none.Last night ended up being pretty good to me. I slept in a shelter, as that was all that was left when I arrived at the campsite. Most of the campsites have the wood platforms for tents, and that site had multiple tents on every platform. The reason it was so full was partly because it was a Saturday night, and the weekenders were there.As I was saying, everything worked out well for me - there weren't any mosquitos to bother us. The second plus was that it rained during the night, and the shelter was nice and dry.I got a pretty early start this morning, and made good time all day. The wind was blowing something fierce up on Mount Guyot. I had to take my hat off for fear of having it blow away. Fortunately I didn't have to stay there in the open for very long, I merely passed over it to get back on the AT. One thing last night;s rain and this morning;s wind did was break up the clouds ruining the views. The day ended up being sunny and clear. Unfortunately, I didn't stay high very long, and was in valleys all afternoon. The forecast for tomorrow calls for clear skys, and I go up on the Presidential Ridge first thing. The ridge is named that because the mountains are named Mt Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Washington, and Madison - all former presidents.I'm in Crawford Notch at a campground with a general store because I was running out of food. When I left Glencliff, I figured four days might be enough if I was lucky enough to eat at the AMC Huts. Well, I wasn't lucky, and I misjudged on what I needed. I now have enough food to get to the next town, and possibly beyond. Actually, yesterday was going to be my first try at staying at a Hut. I thought I might have a chance, as I was the only northbound hiker going that way. The uncertainty was the fact that there was a good sized group of southbounders that got to the hut first. I ended up hiking another three miles to Guyot Campground, and had to use my food.I am hoping to get a "Work for Stay" at one of the huts tomorrow at the AMC-mizpah Springs Hut. I'll be geting a late start, and have a hard climb to get there. If I time it right, I'll get there before the southbounders, and any other northbounders. I would like to have at least one night's experience in a hut to see what it is like. These huts are operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and are there for guests to stay at. They are filled by reservation, and they provide dinner, breakfast, and a bunk in a bunkhouse. Thru-hikers can't plan where they will be on a particular night far enough in advance to make reservations. The AMC allows two thru-hikers "Work for Stay" at each hut to help them flow through the Whites. That is why your arrival time at the hut is so critical. My problem is that the southbound pack is flowing through now, too. In a few weeks they'll be through, and the big norhtbound pack behind me will come through. I'm not in Maine yet, but I can see it from the mountain tops. There is a sign here at the store that says Portland,ME, is 85 miles from here. The radio station I've been listening to is a Portland station, with their trasmission tower on top of Mt. Washington. It feels so good to know I'm near the end of this journey, I'm ready to go home to Sue.Old Goat