Nimblewill Nomad
Long Distance Hiker/Author
Journal 210-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!
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Friday–September 17, 2021
Trail Day–210
Trail Mile–-7.1/2195.2
Remaining Miles–422.2
Location–Lake of the Clouds Hut
The Hut System is quit remarkable. It’s been around, catering to adventurous hikers for many years. I’ve “poor boyed” my way through two different times, the first in 1998 during my northbound Eastern Continental Trail (ECT) trek, then again during my southbound ECT journey, Odyssey 2000. Certain of the lodges accommodated a few lucky thru-hikers by offering “work-for-stay.” I had the good fortune of lucking out a time or two back then. This trek, however, I’m going to lavish myself by reserving stays (handled by Nathan Switchback Wright, my itinerary manager) for pretty much the entire hut system. Whats so neat is that it’s possible to trek nearly the entire Presidentials/White Mountains Range by simply hiking hut-to-hut. They’re arranged along the AT in such a way that it’s possible to get in a respectable day of hiking between each one. A warm bunk, plus a hiker-feast supper and breakfast are included in the stay fee.
So, my first overnight was last night at the grand Madison Spring Hut. Tonight it will be the huge Lake of the Clouds Hut, which is located just below Mount Washington. Copperhead & Speedy tent camped near Madison Hut last night. Tonight they’ll be permitted to stay in “The Dungeon,” a small basement-like area under the hut main floor here at Lake of the Clouds. The “work-for-stay” option is available and has been offered to them, which includes bunk space, plus supper tonight and breakfast in the morning. For that privilege they’ll need to help clean up after breakfast in the morning.
Out of Madison Spring Hut we’re headed into another weather-perfect day in the White Mountains/Presidentials Range. Plenty more of challenging, rock- and boulder-strewn trail as we climb past Mount Quincy Adams, then Mount Adams, Mount Sam Adams, Adams Five, Mount Jefferson, Mount Clay. Then comes the steep and steady ascent up Mount Washington. On that final climb for today comes the cold wind, bringing the eerie shroud so common to Mount Washington. We’ve been able to see its peak (cloaked in clouds) the past two days, and we’re now in that shroud as we climb.
Making our ascent, rattles past us the last three cog railway trains for the day, one up and that plus two others down. It’s well past four when we finally reach the summit. By then I’m in the early stages of hypothermia. The folks managing the visitor center take pity on me by providing piping hot coffee, then clothing–gloves and a beautiful Mount Washington wool coat. A true blessing; thanks folks, Mount Washington Welcome Center!
A small stack of boulders adorn and mark the mountain peak (between communication towers and weather monitoring structures). We make that short climb to take photos by the summit sign before descending the mountain.
Over Washington it’s pretty much a bail-off, down and more (slow) down, a mile-and-a-half to Lake of the Clouds Hut. We use up the last bit of daylight to get in. Though late for supper there’s plenty of food left for us.
It’s been another difficult and challenging day, almost entirely above tree line.
Once we believe in ourselves,
we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight,
or any experience
that reveals the human spirit.
(E. E. Cummings)
6 Comments on “Journal 210-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!”
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Nimblewill Nomad 
You are so lucky to walk the trail aged 83. Many thanks.
David breen trailmàn
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Very impressive. Hike on!
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You are the man;)!
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Fabulous photos, my friend. I hiked the Presidential range a few times as a Scout in the early ’70s many decades ago. How wonderful to see it again through your photos and log. The AMC Hut System was well established even back then. As a young scout, I was awestruck by the strong AMC employees and volunteers who kept those huts supplied by packing in and out every single thing. Hike on!
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I am reading your Ten Million Steps that you signed for me back in Virginia, and I don’t know which sounds harder, slogging through waist deep water and jumping across burned out railroad trestles in Florida or fighting hyperthermia and bounding over giant boulders in the Presidentials. Keep a goin’! You are amazing.
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Love it! Hike on Hiker Trash!
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