August 16: We were up quite early in the morning, as the kitchen staff started making breakfast at 4:45am. Subaru and I decided to just eat our own food for breakfast so we could get an early start on the day. We were on the trail at 7, bundled up in warm weather clothes since it was such a cold morning. Lucky for us, we started with a 1000 foot climb, which warmed the body very quickly. Up top, we once again had spectacular views. New Hampshire, you rock!
We then descended a little and hiked along right at treeline for a few miles, through the 3 foot christmas trees. We had a few steep ups and downs, some boardwalking over muddy areas, a couple river crossings; the usual. About 100 feet before Zealand Falls Shelter, our lunchtime destination, Subaru slipped and fell right in a stream. Scared the bejesus out of me. He was okay, though. The stream was very shallow and he pulled himself our very quickly. I learned that in an emergency, I could get my pack off very quickly, though. Have to keep that in mind. We have a lot more river crossings coming up in Maine and much deeper, faster moving rivers, at that. I fear that that may be what happened to the missing woman in Maine, though I have nothing to base that on.
At the hut, we took a long break, having lunch and drying out Sub's stuff in the sun. The Zealand Falls Hut was really cool- it generated all its power from the river and falls by hydro power. Plus, it had yummy cinnamon buns to go with lunch.
After lunch, the terrain flattened out a bit.Easy walking, which is always welcome. But then, after a while, it started to get a bit boring and monotonous. Eight miles of easy walking is nice, but mind numbing. FOrtunately, we had some nice waterfalls to look at on the way.
Around 4, we reached Crawford Notch. We tried, unsuccessfully, to hitch into Bretton Woods to stay at a motel there. We ended up getting a ride from another hiker's friends who was waiting for her when she learned from us that she was at least 2 hours behind us (she had stayed at the campsite the night before).
Good thing we didn't get that hitch; the motel had no vacancies, nor did any other motel in the area since there was a bike race up Mt Washington Auto Road this weekend. We ended up getting dropped off at the AMC Lodge, which was sold out as well. They weren't all that helpful, either. But then we got a tip about a good stealth camping spot about .25 miles away in the national forest. So we ended up eating dinner at the Lodge, and stealth camping in the forest that night. Plus, one of the employees told us we could put our slack pack bags on the shuttle to Pinkham Notch instead of driving all the way back to Crawford Notch to get our stuff. SO they are back in my good graces again.
Wouldnt you know it, it started raining around midnight. Boo! Wet gear in our slack pack bags tomorrow.
We then descended a little and hiked along right at treeline for a few miles, through the 3 foot christmas trees. We had a few steep ups and downs, some boardwalking over muddy areas, a couple river crossings; the usual. About 100 feet before Zealand Falls Shelter, our lunchtime destination, Subaru slipped and fell right in a stream. Scared the bejesus out of me. He was okay, though. The stream was very shallow and he pulled himself our very quickly. I learned that in an emergency, I could get my pack off very quickly, though. Have to keep that in mind. We have a lot more river crossings coming up in Maine and much deeper, faster moving rivers, at that. I fear that that may be what happened to the missing woman in Maine, though I have nothing to base that on.
At the hut, we took a long break, having lunch and drying out Sub's stuff in the sun. The Zealand Falls Hut was really cool- it generated all its power from the river and falls by hydro power. Plus, it had yummy cinnamon buns to go with lunch.
After lunch, the terrain flattened out a bit.Easy walking, which is always welcome. But then, after a while, it started to get a bit boring and monotonous. Eight miles of easy walking is nice, but mind numbing. FOrtunately, we had some nice waterfalls to look at on the way.
Around 4, we reached Crawford Notch. We tried, unsuccessfully, to hitch into Bretton Woods to stay at a motel there. We ended up getting a ride from another hiker's friends who was waiting for her when she learned from us that she was at least 2 hours behind us (she had stayed at the campsite the night before).
Good thing we didn't get that hitch; the motel had no vacancies, nor did any other motel in the area since there was a bike race up Mt Washington Auto Road this weekend. We ended up getting dropped off at the AMC Lodge, which was sold out as well. They weren't all that helpful, either. But then we got a tip about a good stealth camping spot about .25 miles away in the national forest. So we ended up eating dinner at the Lodge, and stealth camping in the forest that night. Plus, one of the employees told us we could put our slack pack bags on the shuttle to Pinkham Notch instead of driving all the way back to Crawford Notch to get our stuff. SO they are back in my good graces again.
Wouldnt you know it, it started raining around midnight. Boo! Wet gear in our slack pack bags tomorrow.
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