Date: 2007-08-14
From: Lake of the Clouds Hut

To: Osgood Tent Site
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

As it lightens up everyone begins their day at about 6am. I pack my bag and vacate my sleeping spot by the window placing my pack out of the way by the thru hikers table. The temperature is in the mid 30's and the wind is blowing very hard about 40-50 mph. I can't see very far, maybe about 30 feet, because we are in the clouds. At 6:30 the crew is busy quickly setting the tables for guest breakfast. It's like a beehive, all business and very efficient. The crew at this hut were very congenial and had fun while working hard. Hats off to AMC for a great experience. I was assigned the job of sweeping, so sweep I did, and within a few minutes I was free to go. I decided to go with a short sleeve shirt, shorts, my rain jacket and a knit hat. It was bitter cold out with high winds and clouds streaming by. I had a good climb left to reach Mt Washington so I got to it passing everyone I could. As I reached the summit I was hot and beginning to sweat. I was dressed perfectly. The summit has several buildings and towers plus a parking lot and the train platform for the Cog Railway. I entered the main building and found several other thrus there. I ate some food and waited for awhile, hoping for improved weather. My wish came true, the clouds parted, revealing another-worldly, crazy landscape. The sky was so blue and I could see forever, way far and down in the valleys across ponds and some mountains with ski slopes. I could see for miles and miles.... I am in my tent and thinking "how can I ever begin to explain today?" I'll try. It was the biggest, hardest, most challenging day with the greatest rewards. I am pleasantly exhausted and overwhelmed. After leaving the Mt Washington summit I continued on the rocky trail where it is a tradition for thru hikers to moon the Cog Railway as it passes. The engineer supposedly throws a piece of coal trying to nail the mooner on his rear. I walked across this rocky landscape above the treeline for miles, crossing ridges and over several more mountains. All the way totally exposed and enjoying nonstop views. It was overwhelming to my senses, I can't believe I'm here. This is fantastic, I wish I could fly but the miles are slow and I can't go any faster. Every step has to be planned and carefully executed. It sounds like exageration but I kid you not. One mile an hour would be very fast, for me at least. Toward what I hoped was near the end I reached to AMC Madison Spring Hut and had a quick break. Then I hiked what might have been the most challenging section I've ever hiked. Of course I was tired by then. Mt. Madison is a big pile of rocks, it is strange-looking, a big cone of broken-up rocks. The trail goes very steeply up and it gives no place for rest. It is a long grind up large rocks where I mostly have to take big 2-3 foot high steps one after the other. I think I've reached the summit only to find it was hidden from view while I pass a lesser pile of rocks. The trail is marked by cairns but the way is hard to follow as it seems like random rocks all look similar. When I reach the top I hiked down over a lower summit, then down again, and again on a descent that seemed endless. Surely this can not go down forever. My legs feel like cement. I am determined to keep going, there is no place to camp up here. Fast forward many rocks with high step-downs or jumps, a constant jarring of my weary bones...WAH WAH WAH.... I reached a tenting area just in time to set up as it turned dark. I am going to tell you straight up - I'm tired.