Coös County

Can't believe it has been a week since my last update. Time flys.

This day I tackled the Presidentials, a range of mountains named after presidents. I'd "stealth" camped, very visibly, at the tree line at the start of the range. Great spot - trees blocked all the wind, no rain, no squirrels.

Starting up the first summit, Mt Madison, was the most challenging part of the day. Steep climb and high winds. Sometimes the gust would push me off balance and I'd stumble half a meter (about 3 feet) off to the side. Very challenging but very worth it.

I approached Madison Spring hut, it is built in a very beautiful and scenic location. These huts have been built along the White Mountains in response to the high numbers of people yoloing over them. The extreme popularity of this section of track has caused damage to the Alpine environment and something needed to be done to mitigate the impact. The huts hold about 50 people each and serve dinner and breakfasts. They are expensive to stay in, though thru hikers have a work-for-stay option where you wash up and scrub tables for 2 hours, in exchange you can eat the left overs and sleep on the floor.

I refilled my water at the hut, it is nice to just use a tap and not set up my filtering system. And also helped myself to the breakfast leftovers. The porridge was gross.

The other thing note at this point was that after summiting Madison, the trail became very easy. It is a highly trafficked tourist trail, even though it was a week day there were loads of people out on the trail. Including the Olympic ski team that were trail running to stay in shape.

There was also a lady having a panic due to fear of heights. Her family was helping her so there wasn't much I could do to assist.

About halfway along the range is Mt Washington. There is a rail line to the top which a coal powered train uses to bring hordes of tourists back and forth. The summit was once (and I assume still is) a meteorological station but has now been expanded into various tourist buildings. It is absolute bedlam up there, other hikers described it as a zoo. So many people bustling about. Not what I've become accustomed to these last few weeks.

George Washington has a great legacy and it is fitting that the mountain be named after him. However on this day it is accurate to say that I've topped even Washington!

Somewhere along the trail I'd met other hikers, Hayden and Mike (no trail names), and we started hiking as a group for protection against bears (joking). Mike shared a Whoppie Pie, an American snack, it is like cake.

We arrived at Mizpah Hut and Campsite ($5 fee for camping). It was absolutely awash with people, the camp maintainer, Erica, is a hero and was able to squeeze everyone in despite the overcrowding.

There has been so many more people on the trail recently. I think that word has gotten out that I am hiking the AT and now every man and his dog wants to do it. :)

Mike has kindly agreed to give me a lift into North Conway tomorrow. He lives in Maine and was just camping a day or two, so he is heading back. I gave Hayden my food bag to pick through as he was a little short on food for where he wanted to resupply at.Read more