AT Day 129: White Mtns to near Crawford Notch

Daily Miles: 17.7, Total Miles: 1,851.8

Probably my earliest start on the northern half of the AT from Garfield Ridge Campsite at 5:30am. I must have been excited by the clear skies!

Finally a beautiful, sunny day in NH’s White Mountains with great, panoramic views. Only 3,100′ of ascent today with most of it from a rocky, steep climb up to the rocky, open summit of South Twin Mountain, and to a lesser extent, Guyout and Zealand Mountains.

But it was the 5,800′ descent, steep, sometime slippery with big drops from rock to rock that made my knees ache and scream. Passed by Zealand Falls Hut and actually had a pleasant few miles on a fairly flat trail with surprisingly good tread. It gradually turned into a muddy, boggy section with not enough boardwalks to keep from getting wet. On a warm afternoon, I was also bitten by my first black flies. Darn, I didn’t think that started until Maine. I passed Ethan Pond Shelter and made my final descent to US Route 302, south of Crawford Notch.

I had spent the last few days mulling over the weather forecast and my summit bid of Mt Washington. This included joining and becoming a member of AMC so I could make reservations at their lodges and huts and get the 20% discount rate. So I made the short hitch up to the AMC Highland Center and spent the night there. I also made a reservation at the Lake of the Clouds Hut tomorrow night, 1,000′ below the summit of Mt Washington. This hut is the largest and probably most popular AMC hut so I was lucky to get a reservation at short notice. The forecast is for rain tomorrow but supposedly clearing on Saturday. Wish me luck!