2017 Appalachian Hike

My shuttle dropped me off at the trailhead at 7:30 this morning. The weather was perfect. 

I hiked 11.1 miles this morning. Basically all up. I’m in The Presidentials. 

I had some great views from the Webster Cliffs and Mt Webster. 

Then I hiked up Mt Jackson, Mt Pierce, Mt Eisenhower, Mt Franklin and Mt Monroe. I had no views because the weather turned bad. 

After Mt Jackson I stopped at the Mitzpah Spring Hut to get out of the rain and eat something. They had leftover blueberry and coconut oatmeal from breakfast for free. So I ate a lot of oatmeal and a Snickers Bar. 

Before I left I checked the weather report at it looked like it was going to be more of the same. 

I should know better. As you go up in elevation anything can happen. It turned real ugly. 

I ended up in an all out thunderstorm. Lightning, wind gusts over 70mph and heavy rain mixed with sleet. It was a sideways rain. The lightning had me worried the most. I was above tree line and totally exposed. There was nothing to do except keep walking. I could get struck by lightning standing still or while walking. I pushed on. 

I made it to this hut about 5:30 very wet and cold. The staff made me some hot Tang. I never heard of such a thing but it was good. 

I did work for stay again along with about ten other hikers. Supper was good. I’ll be getting a later start tomorrow because they need help after breakfast. The hikers that got here before me got the evening jobs. 

Tomorrow I will summit Mt Washington. It supposed to be partly cloudy. No rain. Winds on top expected to be over 50mph.