THE PERFECT SPOT ON EARTH

Monday July 28,1997

We've had a few days off hanging out with Smiles Mom and brother. We stayed in a hotel in Bretton Woods across from the Mt. Washington hotel. We went over there one day and watched a show. We drove up Mt. Washington. I'd much prefer to hike it. I feel much more comfortable on my feet opposed to a car right on the edge of the road. We got a really late start yesterday and hiked up to Osgood Campsite. Today we hiked up Mt. Madison. It was the toughest climb we've had yet. First of all, I've been feeling a little under the weather and I felt really weak today. I kept having dizzy and nausea spells. Yuck! When we got to the 1st peak it was sooooo windy and cold! There are 7 peaks, I think. So, as we continued, the wind got worse and worse. Many times the wind pushed me into boulders. It was tough, and I kept feeling weak and had to rest a lot. Smiles was nice enough to stay with me. We finally made it to Madison Hut at about 2. It took us 5 hours to do the 3 miles up Madison (5385 ft). That's not good, but that's OK. They had 2 spots to work for stay and since it was starting to sprinkle we decided it was best to stay here rather than try to get up to Washington, especially since I wasn't feeling too hot. For a good part of the hike we were in the clouds and couldn't see anything around us. They moved so fast, they were just blowing by us. Louie & Helen were also working for stay, they work at another hut and just came over for the day. The crew here is really nice and really laid back. We just had to clean the stove and make bread and salads for 50 people to stay the night and get dinner and breakfast. NOT A BAD DEAL! Especially considering the fact that it's normally between $45 and $65 to stay here. It's so expensive, I couldn't imagine going on a backpacking trip and paying that every night, especially if you're with your whole family. The people staying here are crazy. One guy hiked up carrying 5 liters of wine!

It's true what they say about the weather changing so fast up here. You're so high up and one second the sky is clear and the next second you're right in the middle of a storm cloud.

I weighed my pack at Pinkham Notch and it was 47 lb's!!! It's a real shock to my body. I just added a water purifier, tent - 5 pounds, and we're carrying enough food for almost 8 days. We're hoping to be able to get some left overs or something in huts at least 2 nights. When I left Monson my pack weighed only 31 pounds, right as my body was getting used to this whole hiking thing I throw another 16 lb's on my back. I've also added things over time, mainly clothes I'll probably send home after the Whites and then just have it sent back when it starts getting cold again. It looks like it's going to storm hard tonight. I just hope it's nice in the morning to go over Adams, Jefferson, and then Washington.

Tuesday July 29, 1997 --- No Journal ---

Wednesday July 30 --- A.M.

We hiked from Madison Hut over Mt. Adams (5798 ft), Jefferson (5715 ft), Clay (5532 ft), & Washington (6288 ft) to Lake of the Clouds Hut today. It was only a little over 7 miles, but it was rough! By far tougher than the hike up Madison. Winds reached 92 m.p.h. and it got down to 34° - it was crazy! I had all my clothes on and wind gear which made me sweat so much that by the time I got to the hut I was soaking wet and smellier than I've ever been in my life. But I was warm while I was hiking. Up on the mountain we had to hold on to the rocks to keep from being blown over during the really strong gusts. I still did get blown over a few times though. But it was fun.

We worked for stay here, but had to sleep in the dining room because it's so crowded. Better than The Dungeon downstairs. We went down there and it was so cold. One door said Refuge on it and was partly broken so the wind and cold went right in. I'm glad I wasn't down there. We've met a lot of cool N'bounders here, Easy 8, Kix, & 3-Piece. Kix reminds me of my friend Tom back home. The dining room wasn't too bad, but people stayed up talking pretty late. Smiles was talking in her sleep and woke me up a few times. Off tomorrow, Cranford Notch today.

Thursday July 31 --- HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

We had the most beautiful campsite on the face of the earth last night. It was so perfect. We hiked from Lakes of the Clouds Hut after hanging out for a while with N'bounders, to Mitzpah Hut. We've decided we've had enough of the hut experience and continued on to find a campsite for the night. We met Old Crow, Violet, (something) not Stirred and a few other N'Bounders along with Andy whose a camp counselor out here up on top of Mt. Webster. Probably hung out and chatted for over an hour. We also met Cowboy, Virginia Creeper, and Swamp Donkey over on Mt. Eisenhower. I love meeting and talking to other hikers. Everyone is so nice and they all have awesome stories to tell.

We had had such a great day. The weather was perfect and it was ridgewalk almost all the way to Mitzpah. Nonestop views everywhere we turned. It was an amazing hike! So we started to descend Mt. Webster and found the GREATEST campsite. It wasn't far down and was back in the trees, but also right next to some cliff too. Again, great view. We didn't have that much water and some guy at Mitzpah said there was water all over the mountain, well, HE LIED!! I don't know what mountain he was climbing. Fortunately we met another N'Bounder, Shadow who gave us 1-1/2 quarts of water. PERFECT!! We set up camp, ate, and then just sat on the cliffs. We watched a phenomenal sunset and then stayed up to watch the stars come out. The sky was so clear. Nothing could have made the night better. I kept on thinking .. Now, this is what it's all about!! I think this is where I want to live.

Friday August 1 - Sunday August 3 ... No Journal