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Last Big Mountain

We’ve officially crossed Moosilauke and climbed all of the peaks on the left side this picture. If you look closely, Mt. Washington is the peak in the clouds way, way back there…

I haven’t listened to music in over a month. Earlier in the day, I put in my ear buds for the long climb up Moosilauke and I teared up! When you aren’t overly stimulated by constant media, music regains it’s intensity and beauty. I haven’t felt this overwhelmed since Katahdin. And Led Zeppelin never sounded so good. It’s all down hill from here… For a while at least, as this is the last “real” mountain for a long while, and the last alpine zone until the southeast. We cross 400 miles tomorrow.

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Franconia Ridge

We slowed down to wait for clearer weather and it worked. We had to take 2 low-mileage days to make our ridge hike coincide with a somewhat favorable forecast. I’m so glad we didn’t miss clear views on this last alpine ridge.

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Mount Washington and such

This is the second section of the presidential for us and I must say the going is easier than I thought it would be. The terrain was either overstated by NOBO hikers who are used to gentle tread, or rocky old Maine beat us down and made us earn our trail legs. Either way, we planned a section a bit too easy for our ability, so we’ve had some free time.Chili dogs and pizza in the Mount Washington cafeteria acquainted us with the normal world once again. Drive-up tourists remind us of how dirty we smell and unusual we look and behave. Last night we were too early to the Madison hut to earn a work-for-stay, but tonight were fortunate. We’ll receive AYCE leftovers and a spot on the dining room floor to sleep in exchange for chores. It’s a good deal to not have to push another 4-5 miles to a tent site and eat my own food.