Date: 2014-07-19
From: South Twin Mountain, NH

To: Webster's Cliffs, NH
Miles today: 17.0

I was up early to see sunrise. We had a perfect vantage point atop the South Twin Mountain to watch the sunrise over Mt Washington (see photos). Both Long-Haul and I kept warm enough over the night on top of the exposed rocky peak but our gear was wet from the evening dew and condensation. We draped our wettest items over some rocks in hopes they would dry a little while we ate and watched the sunrise. I was packed up and walking down the mountain by 6:30. Long-haul was still eating but he would be following shortly. He will be picked up at the next road crossing (Crawford Notch) only about 14 miles away and stay in a nearby town. He said I was welcome to come in also if I wished. I figured I would decide when I got to the notch. The first 7 miles down the mountain were very strenuous with a lot of steep rock sections.   This section ran down to the Zealand Hut and falls. I reached the hut mid morning and I went in to talked to one of the staff about my prospects for camping after I pass Crawford Notch. It was Saturday meaning huts and designated campsites were going to be packed with weekend hikers. He indicated there were plenty of pristine sites I would be able to set camp at before reaching the hut and campsites since my chances of getting a slot were slim to none without a reservation or early arrival. I thanked him for his insight. One issue thru hikers often have in the Whites is we normally put in a full day of hiking (hiking until at least 5 pm but usually later). If you roll into a hut or campsite at this time it is unlikely there will be space as many weekend hikers arrive much earlier normally wrapping up the day by early afternoon. This is simply one of the things that must be considered each day. At the Zealand hut I also visited with some of the weekend hikers. They were very supportive of my thru hiking quest, asking me if there was anything I needed or something they could do for me before heading out on the trail again. Encouragement from others along the trail, such as this, I find so motivating. All these folks showed a real admiration of thru hikers particularly those heading northbound like myself as we have so may miles under our belt and we are so near our objective. I departed the hut with some additional wind in my sails as I headed down toward the notch. The next 7 miles were much easier than the first giving my poor feet a break. I reached the notch around 1:00 pm crossing a railroad and road. It was the weekend and there were tons of people out enjoying the nearby Ripley Falls. I felt pretty good when reaching the Crawford Notch and decided I would push on after a long break and big lunch. I found a nice sunny spot beside the Soca River. I hung my wet gear in the sun on the bridge that crossed the river and made a nice hot lunch taking in the beauty of the little river valley. I hung out there for over an hour beside the river and afterwards I felt refreshed enough to start the 2500 ft climb out of the notch up the ridge that will lead me to Mt Washington tomorrow. This is only the start of the Mt Washington climb but it is the steepest section and I wanted to get another 3 miles or so in before calling it a day. Toward the top of the steep climb, the trail skirts directly beside Webster's Cliffs. The drop off along the cliffs is significant which can be a bit hairy when hiking so close to the edge. However the views from the cliffs were awesome with the notch below and a panoramic of the mountains I crossed earlier that day (see photos and video). Some sections of the trail near the cliffs also require some hand and feet climbing to get up steep sections of rock.   It all made for an exciting experience. By 5:00 I called it quits and found a nice quite campsite beside the cliffs. I did not venture up to the nearby hut and it's campground as I mentioned before it was the weekend and this late in the day there is no chance for me to get a bunk in the hut or pad at the campsite. So I settled in for the night and ate my dinner at the edge of the cliffs with a ringside seat to the beauty of the valley and mountains. Tomorrow will hike up and over Mt Washington, the pinnacle of the White Mountain trek.