Date: 2021-07-21
From: Joe Dodge Lodge 

To: Carter Notch Hut
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 37 7/21 Matthew 11-13We had another yummy breakfast.  I picked up my lunch - Ham, cheese, and lettuce on thick slabs of whole wheat bread with honey Dijon mustard and apple butter, chips, apple, m&m trail mix and a raspberry fig bar.  While looking in the gift and gear shop, I learned that they participate in the Darn Tough socks lifetime guarantee and exchange wornout socks for free. I had just noticed a hole in one of my socks (that I bought in 2014) the last time I did laundry.  I hurried up to my room to get them and exchanged them for a brand new pair.  Thank you Darn Tough!!I called Rattle River Hostel where we will be tomorrow night and added a second night so we can take a zero there. We finally left about 8:30. Gene hiked the first easy mile or so away from the lodge with us. She decided she would not be able to do the next two days with us and booked another night at the lodge. When rhe trail started it¢s ascent up The Wildcats, she turned back. The next two miles were mostly steep uphill steps and rock climbs. There were. Some sketchy climbs but the four of us managed them. We had several great views from ledges along the way where we could see all the way back down to the lodge.After lunch we finally summited Wildcat D Peak where a ski gondola operates in the winter. There was a field of wildflowers there where I channeled my ¢inner Maria¢ and sang ¢The hills are alive with the sound of music.¢  From there we hiked up and down Wildcat Peaks C, B and A and then descended a mile of steep stone steps and skirted a pond before finally arriving at Carter Notch Hut.This hut is actually four separate buildings: a kitchen/dining area, a bathhouse, and two bunkhouses. The four of us are in our own room in one of the bunkhouses. There are only 16 guests, which makes this the smallest of all our hut stays.We unpacked in our bunk room and cleaned up quickly. The croo did a talk about their green practices before dinner, then served us lentil soup, homemade rolls, salad, roast pork, green peas, wild rice, and vanilla cake with buttercream frosting. We ate with a mother-daughter duo from WV and a couple from MN.  As usual, we were clean and full and ready for bed by about 8:00.Day 38 7/22 Matthew 14-17Somehow I counted the day¢s mileage from Carter Notch Hut to Rattle River Shelter (13.3), when it should¢ve been to Rattle River Hostel(15.4). We realized my mistake last night. This meant our already tough day of 13.3 miles would really be 15.4. Yikes!We packed our headlamps close to the top of our packs in case we got caught out after dark, and we left immediately after breakfast.  SusanB had not felt well after supper last night and was still not feeling great in the morning. Our first uphill stretch was steep and she was having a hard time. span class="Apple-converted-space"> We made it to the top of Carter Dome and then over to Mt Hight, where we had clear 360* views. We continued over to Middle Carter Mountain and North Carter Mountain, where we stopped for a lunch break. A young family joined us there for their break. They were ¢peak bagging¢ - climbing all the 4000+ high peaks in their home state of NH with their three kids (a 6 and 8 year old, plus a 2 year in old in a backpack).  We took group pictures for them and they did the same for us. Shortly after lunch, SusanB made a tough decision. She was still not feeling well and did not think she could finish the 15+ mile day before dark.  She took a side trail down to the highway and would find a ride to the night¢s destination hostel and meet us there.  We continued on and soon were climbing large steep rock slabs up to the top of Mt Moriah.  It was much easier on this dry day than it would¢ve been in the rain!  Once we finally topped it, we had 6.7 downhill miles to get to US 2 where Rattle River Hostel would be within sight.  span class="Apple-converted-space"> Between the steps and slides, we were still negotiating thick black patches of watery mud.  Gradually the trail became somewhat gentler; and even though we were tired,  we picked up speed. We finally made it to the hostel at 8:18, without having to hike in the dark using our headlamps.SusanB had found a ride with some dayhikers and arrived around 4:00. Hostel rules were to leave poles and shoes outside in the covered area, come into the check-in room to pick out loaner clothes and towels, and go directly into the showers, putting dirty clothes in a mesh bag to be laundered. SusanB ordered us pizza and salads while we showered. Gene also brought Subway sandwiches and visited while we ate. We ate the hot pizza and saved the sandwiches for the next day¢s lunch.  Of course, our bunkroom and the bathroom are on the second level of the hostel so we must go up and down the flight of stairs  repeatedly with our aching feet and knees.  Shortly after eating, we collapsed into bed by 10:00. 15.4 miles