Well, my good luck with the weather in the Whites has apparently met its end. Walk On and I ascended the unrelentingly steep climb from Crawford Notch to Mt. Webster and up into the clouds near Mizpah Hut and the start of the Presidential Range. Had a great lunch at Mizpah out of the weather with a bottomless bowl of soup and all-you-can-eat brownies, all for the grand total of $3.
Crawford Notch
Much easier hiking today under even more blue sky. I can't get over my luck with the weather so far in the Whites. Walk On and I spent some time at Zealand Falls Hut having lunch and soaking in the falls (very cold) before trucking on to another break at scenic Ethan Pond.
Galehead
Beautiful sunshine for a second straight day--totally unexpected weather for here in the Whites. It was also very hot, owing mainly to all the continually exposed trail in bright sunshine, and more ups and downs on very rough terrain. Walk On, Waldo and I walked together again and took our time getting to Galehead Hut where Waldo moved on and Walk On and I decided to stay.
Greenleaf
Got a later start this morning, but it paid off with a quick view of Cannon Mt. and the remnants of the Old Man of the Mountain on our hitch back to the trail in addition to the weather breaking into sunshine once we finished the long gruelling climb out of the notch and up onto Franconia Ridge. An absolutely perfect day to enjoy this utterly breathtaking ridge.
Franconia Notch
Today was a day that got shorter and shorter as the weather got worse. Waldo caught up with Footloose, Walk On, and I after our morning chores at the hut and we all hiked the couple easy miles to Franconia Notch where we hitched in to North Woodstock for a resupply.
Lonesome Lake
Spectacular terrain today beginning with an extremely steep descent from the shelter down to Kinsman Notch alongside a continuous cascade the entire way. The day ended with a long and difficult climb and descent over South and North Kinsman as the weather abruptly changed from sun to rain to thunder and back to just plain cloudy. So it is, here in the Whites.
Beaver Brook
Slept in and relaxed this morning, trying to get as much rest as possible for the Whites, and hoping the cloud veil would lift from Mt. Moosilauke. After watching three movies this morning and being a complete lazy butt, Moosilauke had cleared and it was off on another short day but a long climb up to Moosilauke with Walk On.