Date: 2003-07-28
From: N Woodstock NH Zero Day #2

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 137 Avg Mls/Day 13.0Weather: Partly cloudy in town in the morning. Mostly cloudy, breezy cool in the mountains. Foggy, windy, cold on the mountain tops. High temp in low 60's.Today's Nature: Couldn't see much today...no wildlife. Alpine plant life was about it.Today turned out to be a bit of a disappointment...although the Trail itself was fine. It was the weather again on the peaks that didn't cooperate.I got up before 5...showered, shaved and walked down to Peg's for breakfast. There was Ranger Rick waiting outside.   He had been there since 5 and they didn't open until 5:30. We sat down together and had the "hungry man" special.I went back, gathered up my pack and sticks and began hitching back to the Trail. After 20 minutes or so, a fellow named Dick picked me up. I believe he said he was from AZ and spends his summers here in NH. He had to drop me off at the Flume Visitor Center which was up the road a half mile of so from where the AT goes under I93. Thanks Dick!Just after he dropped me off Ranger Rick got dropped off from his ride. We started out hiking together but I soon went ahead. The Trail began a long gradual climb from 1,500' up to 4,760' at Little Haystack Mtn. I noticed it getting colder and windier the higher I climbed. It was on to Mt Lincoln (5,249) where things really started to get interesting. The wind must have been gusting around 40 mph by then. It was cold enough for me to put on my stretchtop. I hadn't worn it hiking since March or April and rarely then. It seemed to get colder and windier as the Trail passed over the north peak of Mt Lafayette. My hands were "freezing" and several times I nearly lost my balance fighting the wind.The book says there are vistas along this section. Not today...you could barely see 30 yards in any direction. It felt like the wind was now gusting up to 50 or 60 mph. There were a few other hikers on the Trail...looked like day hikers for the most part. Talked briefly with a couple of guys out hiking with their dogs. The dogs seemed to be enjoying the cold temperatures. The wind chill felt like 10 to 20 degrees to me.I couldn't wait to get off the mountaintop and out of the blowing mist. The only other day I can remember similar to this was Roan Mtn where I was being blown sideways in the cold rain.I did pass a woman NOBO hiker who goes by the trailname, "C.B." She started in GA in April but had to get off the Trail in Erwin for 6 weeks with a stress fracture. When she got back on the Trail she jumped ahead and will come back to make up the missed section after reaching Katahdin.When I reached the Garfield Ridge camp/shelter it was 2:30. I had only hiked 10 miles and decided to push on another 3 to Galehead Hut.The huts are like hostels on the Trail that vacationers and tourist pay $72 a night to stay in. It includes dinner and breakfast the next morning. The beds are 9 bunks to a room...4 rooms. Normally, they let the first 2 thru-hikers do "work for stay."When I got to Galehead, Sticks and Spielberg had already taken the work for stay, so I ended up paying motel rates to stay tonight. I could have hiked on 3 miles to the next shelterbut at 1 mph I would get there late and still have to cook.About an hour behind me in walks Ranger Rick. He's ticked having to pay the going rate.Dinner wasn't bad...turkey soup, salad, beef tips, corn, and blueberry pie.After dinner I was surprised when Hazmat (Josh) walks up and sits next to me. He's not sure what to do since he's not prepared to pay $68 to sleep here. He's hoping they don't realize he hasn't checked in. It was good to see him again. He has lost weight...said he stopped cooking in the warmer weather. He sure can't afford to lose any more.Thought for the day: The White Mountains are beautiful...when you can see them.