Date: 2005-08-22
From: Madison Spring Hut 9:39pm ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Bad Moon Rising

To: Carter Notch Hut 9:20pm ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Come Sail Away
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: fog

Carter Notch Hut 9:20pm ¢ Come Sail AwayFor a change of pace there was nice weather up on the ridge this morning. After a bowl and a half of super-loaded oatmeal (the fresh baked donuts were all eaten by paying customers), Sam-I-Am, Origami, and I headed out. We had a short and quick ascent over Madison ¢ for a change, the trail actually crossed a peak. We followed the ridge sharply down and then cruised across the Great Basin to Pinkham Notch Camp at the foot of Mount Washington. Though we¢d hiked over 13 miles for the summit we could have re-ascended by following the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for four miles. We hung out at Pinkham Notch for longer than I expected. I had lunch and made some phone calls learning that Precision Camera Repair is still waiting on my lens to arrive from Sony. The other two took showers; I figure I¢ll just wait until Gorham tomorrow. I¢ll hit a new record ¢ nine days between showers. I have no idea what the old record was.Eventually we dragged ourselves away from the snack bar, pay phones, and visitor center at Pinkham Notch. We climbed up Wildcat Mountain and were treated to some fantastic views of Mt. Washington. However, it was slow going. We reached Carter Notch Hut around 7:30pm. My original plan was to hike on a bit more and camp but I didn¢t have enough daylight. I decided to pay $25 to stay at the hut as did Sam-I-Am and Origami.Carter Notch Hut is a bit different from the others. It doesn¢t have a Croo, only a caretaker. It doesn¢t serve meals but you have full access to the kitchen. Up until 1946 it was a full service hut but now it¢s entirely self serve. It has a hostel feel to it that¢s quite nice.It¢s also a thru hiker haven tonight. Upon walking in Sam-I-Am¢s face lit up. I was quickly introduced to Hopeful and Red Wing, and also Slow and Steady. I almost met Slow and Steady a few days ago at Mizpah Springs. I knew her name, and as I was eating I heard someone say. ¢I¢m heading out again as I always am ¢ Slow and Steady.¢ My head whipped around just as the door closed behind her.I also passed a few south bounders with tales to tell today. A fellow named Just Jim related how he couldn¢t find a trail crossing near a beaver pond in Maine and had to ford it through chest high mud and water. A fellow hiker tried to name him ¢Scuba Steve¢ after hearing of his adventures. Later we met Southpaw, the hiker who tried to name him. Apparently Steve had been bragging about how he nailed the ford in the next town. Southpaw looked at him and asked why he didn¢t cross on the beaver dam where the AT goes. Ever since then he¢s been working hard to make Scuba Steve stick. He wants to get ahead of him so he can arrange to have nobos greet him all day as Scuba Steve.So at long last I¢m almost out of the Whites. It¢s taken far longer than expected mainly due to the horrible weather up top. Rather than reach Gorham on Sunday night I expect to reach it on Tuesday night. I feel far more battered than expected especially after pulling a 65 mile week out of Glencliff. But don¢t get me wrong ¢ the Whites may have gotten the best of me but I also feel that I experienced the best of them. I¢m tired, my legs are sore, and I¢m just plum worn out but I wouldn¢t have it any other way. The Whites are rugged but that just adds to the satisfaction of finally conquering them.