Date: 2011-07-14
From: Madison Springs Hut, NH

To: NH 16, Pinkham Notch, NH
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Sent: Thu, Jul 14, 2011 07:34 PMDownload All | Start Madison Springs Hut, NH, mile 1854.5Stop NH 16, Pinkham Notch, NH, mile 1862.3Hiked 7.8 miles NorthboundSleep bed in AMC Joe Dodge LodgeOld Goat's notes:We were at the oldest and newest hut in the Whites last night. The hut was originally built in 1898 but it was totally rebuilt this year. Everything was torn down and rebuilt except the stone foundation and walls. The place had new bunks that were laid out to allow some privacy. I finally got to see a view from Mount Madison. The weather was very cooperative and visibility was great. The last time I hiked this section I was with fellow thru hikers Tink, Tater, and Brian. We had to constantly brace ourselves from being blown off the mountain. Our hike took a long time due to weather. This year our hike was slow during the climbing and decending from the mountain but we made average time the rest of the day. We leap-frogged a group of 7 FDNY aka New York City firemen all day. Most of the guys hiked pretty fast, but there was one guy who took longer. They would stop at every trail junction until the group was together, once they were all there they would proceed. Also they took turns staying with the slow guy so he was never alone. These guys showed the bond they have and how they look out for each other. We will be taking one more zero tomorrow to adjust for the next section. We need 3 days to do the next 20 miles and the best way to do it is to stay in one more hut. Unfortunately it is booked solid for tomorrow and the next night. We'll set out southbound one more time and we'll camp Saturday night then go to the hut Sunday. This is the northern most hut and then we'll be back to using shelters and campsites.Our hiking rang is 8 - 10 miles per day. There aren't many places to camp in The Whites within our range so we've been staying in the huts. Now that we've reached the end of The Whites we will have the option to camp wherever we want. We have about 38 miles left in New Hampshire and then we'll be in Maine, the final state in our journey. Check 6's notes:These White mountains are hard mountains to hike, but when we finish another mountain it's very satisfying. When I first looked at the mountains ahead of us I was worried. Now we look back on what we've done and I find it amazing to know we've hiked them. What a feeling of accomplishment. I understand the Wildcat mountains are just as challenging, but I know we can do them. One foot in front of the other and the miles melt away. Some extremely slowly, others more quickly, but we are adding up the miles each day we hike. I enjoyed meeting the FDNY guys. They were so cheerful and friendly every time they passed us or we passed them. I especially like that they didn't leave the slowest guy to hike alone. So often we see people hiking "together" but the slower person is left behind. Last evening a woman arrived at the Hut long after we had gotten there and the rest of her group had arrived before we did. I hate seeing that. She seemed to be okay with it. I would not have been okay with it. Sent from my iPhone