Virtual AT: The Whites- Greenleaf Hut to Lake of the Clouds Hut

"Beans here...luxuriating in the warmth of Greenleaf Hut...and the Waffles, Bacon,Fresh Fruit and Juice. All you want! I don't want to go back out into the cold and snow...you can't make me...."

The Blaze says it is 41 degrees out...but promises a more reasonable 62 later.

The wind and accompanying snow (howling last night) seems to have died down and although it is overcast...this too is projected to change by noon.

All the wet gear is now dry.

It is time to return to the AT.

Well...maybe just one more butter and syrup soaked waffle.

Eyeballing the thick hoarfrost as we trudge down to Garfield Pond.


And before we reach the bottom are delighted to see the sun peering through.

By the time we each the pond...is is as though the snowstorm of last night was only a bad dream.

Welcome to The Whites.

and we begin the climb

again

up

Mt. Garfield

At the top

At 4500 feet and we are back in the snow again...

Taking a peek inside Garfield Ridge Shelter

And happy we had HEAT last night!

And past Galehead Hut.

Up South Twin Mountain

And down again to Mount Guyot...and a bit warmer temperatures.

At least the heavy frost is gone.

After the start this morning...it feels like a tropical heat-wave although it is only about 60 degrees.

Mount Guyot's Zealand Overlook

And out on that white outcropping we have seen from afar...

Zeacliff


There is also suppose to be another hut near here.

The Zealand Falls Hut

Copying and pasting a real warning from the Appalachian Trail Handbook through New Hampshire

Remember that weather conditions can change rapidly on these open, exposed summits and each year hikers die!  Be PREPARED

Suddenly I realize just what life-savers these huts can be...literally.

Past Ethan Pond

And Shelter

(which appears a ramshackle run down affair)

And more falls...with water so cold they aren't even inviting.

Past the Saco River

With its cobbled beach.

And we are low enough again to see a few Fall colors. So curious...this up and down and in an out of Fall and Winter.

The Covered Bridge over the Saco at Crawford's Notch

 And heading back up to Webster Cliffs

Mount Webster

Webster Trail.

to Mount Jackson

And yes...more blowing snow.

And the Top of Mount Jackson

 (...is this a bad time to say, once again, how I would NEVER have made the AT Thru-Hike...ever...)

Past the snow frosted Mizpah Spring Hut

It is here we are warned that Mount Washington (...at over 6000 feet...) is in  for really heavy weather tonight. We will cross Mt. Clinton and Mt. Franklin and start looking for a hut...saving Mount Washington for tomorrow, I think...

Up Mt. Clinton (formerly Mt. Pierce)

And Mount Franklin

As we make our way through what hikers call The Presidential Range.

Hiking the Whites

https://youtu.be/TIsQBaYwGkM

(...note that they are hiking this trail in the summer...I think there is a REASON for that...)

We are now about 1.6 miles from the Lake of the Clouds Hut...where we will stop for today.

Lake of the Clouds Hut

We are a smaller late season bunch now...and the question that seems to be on everyone's mind is

"If it is this harsh in New Hampshire, now...what will it be like in Maine over the next 2 weeks?"

I'm guessing frigid and snowy.

Wishing we had started earlier.

But from the spacious mess hall (dining area) wafts the scent of slow simmered ham and beans, cornbread...and peach cobbler...along with woodsmoke.

It is warm and dry, and we are home-away-from-home for the night!

See you tomorrow as we climb Mount Washington!

Love,

"Beans"