Virtual AT: Lake of the Clouds Hut to the Maine State Line

"Beans, back again!"

After a good sleep, warm surroundings and a hot breakfast...ready to hit the virtual trail...to Mount Washington!!!

Lake of the Clouds Hut Tour

https://youtu.be/sQCITlgOY54


Our goal today?  
Finish New Hampshire and hit the Maine State Line.

It is 53 degrees out and they are expecting a high of 65. Probably not up on Mount Washington...but later down below.

Starting up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Mount Washington

 Not sure what we are climbing into...they had a huge storm last night.


And what a climb. Over 6000 feet up and most of it is now covered with snow and ice that seems to get heavier as we get closer to the summit.

It is difficult to remember that at the base it is still fall-like. 

And rime ice covering even the sign as we finally reach the frozen summit

Thankful that we waited and did this hike fresh.

Redbeard's  Mount Washington Summit (without the snowstorm)

https://youtu.be/G_pm0rkptAI

The best part is the restaurant and visitor center at the very top.

The Tip Top House

Who knew???

A place to warm up and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a doughnut or three before we start back down.

Down Israel Ridge Path to The Perch Shelter.

 
Surprisingly, filled with hammocks and refugees from last night's weather.

These guys are hardcore.

"It only dropped to about 35 here."

lol

I didn't have the heart to tell him we roughed it at the Hut in about 72 degrees with copious amounts of hot food.

Past Thunderstorm Junction

Where we are finally below the snow line once again and it is close to 60 degrees!

Passing the Madison Spring Hut

A Quick Peek Inside

Back up a bit on Mount Madison...but nothing like Washington and no snow!

Past the West Branch of the Peabody River.

Lowes Bald Spot

The View


To the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

Where we are back down to something resembling civilization...oh...and it is still FALL down here!

Which is a nice change from the snow on Mount Washington!

And inside

The girl at the visitor center reminding us how lucky we were to head up or down the Summit (and scree) in soft snow.

"It is much much harder to hike when it is just jumbled broken rock"

she explained.

We will never know.

Our last climb of the day...Wildcat Mountain

and the Fire Tower

Hike of Wildcat Mountain Area with Baskets

https://youtu.be/E2YjK1sY7so 

NH to Maine with Baskets

https://youtu.be/BM2CevNhrac




And back down to Carter's Notch

Carter's Notch Hut at Wildcat Mountain

It is a push...and if this weren't virtual...probably impossible...but at long last we see the sign we've been waiting for...

And we have arrived...our very last leg of the journey...Katahdin awaits us only 281 miles away!!!!

We are 1877.8 miles from our start at Springer Mountain.

Taking a few Zero days and we will start Maine on Monday!

We are going to make it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

"Beans"

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"