DAY I
The original plan for day one of my three day trip was a sunrise hike to the northernmost peak of the presidential range. The presidential's are a string of mountains in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, and includes the famous Mount Washington.
I knew it was going to rain in the morning and planned accordingly. By the time I reached the trailhead at 4am the steady rain had turned into a heavy pour. So I opted to nap for a couple hours until it eased a bit, and then started the 4000 foot climb to Mount Madison’s summit…
Madison Spring Hut
As I had expected, the summit of Mount Madison was “in the clouds,” thus view-less so I spent the rest of the day meandering the side trails around Mount Adams and Madison.
DAY II
On day two I hiked back up Mount Madison before breakfast to watch the sunrise from the summit. It's a great spot to view the sun come up behind the collection of mountain ranges before you. What's more thrilling is watching the sun slowly make its way down neighboring Mount Adams and the effect it has on the clouds and fog that frequently coats the peaks at night.
I went back to the hut to eat breakfast, and pack my things. But first, I waited for the higher summits forecast so I could mentally prepare myself for the day.
The forecast: 35-45F, clear early with rain and in the clouds starting late in the morning, 30-40mph winds with gusts up to 80mph.
It was a morbid forecast. Especially considering the 8 mile hike to Lakes of the Clouds Hut is along a ridge, where I'd be exposed to the elements. You could see a few people shudder as the croo member slowly read to us. A handful of people made the logical decision to hike back down to the trail head and try traversing another day. I put on all my weather-proofiest layers: gloves, shell jacket and pants, and a rain-sleeve for my camera from the get-go.
Despite the confidence I had in my garb, I'd soon discover the fail-point of all my gear, and that the forecast was only a conservative estimate of the weather I'd travel in that day.
The early morning was bright and the air comfortable. The last two pictures exemplify the "classic" uncertainty when hiking in the whites: one moment it's clear and sunny, then in a blink of an eye you're in the clouds. The two pictures were taken with a minute of each other. The latter image best illustrates what I'd be hiking in the rest of the day - fog.
Took a short side-trip to one of my favorite areas, The Great Gulf Wilderness, to check out a couple areas of flora that I remembered from a past trip on the Six Husbands Trail
The last couple hours and miles were the most dangerous sustained conditions that I’ve hiked. The misty rain became a downpour and the 50-90mph winds weaponized the horizontal rain. Either side of my face took a barrage of what felt like sleet for 90 minutes. Each step I took was meticulously planned, trying to keep the time spent on one leg to a minimum. The trails in this region are 90% rock/boulder paths anyways, so it made each foot of trail feel like a field of tractionless mossy rock. Despite my calculated steps I had a few blow downs and periods where I had to lie prone while the 80mph+ gusts passed through. My boots, pants, jacket, and rain cover had all reached 100% saturation at this point. It felt like swimming on land. Fortunately, the worry about staying on two feet and the gunfire of rain keeps your mind off the whole "being wet" thing. So I hope you understand that this part of the adventure will read a little bit like Jesus's childhood as I had to pack away my camera.
That is until I reached a portion of the cog railway and had to grab the shot below. Mind you, the winds were still blowing, so steadying myself on my knees was the safest way to get one of my favorite photos from the day. This camera didn't work until the next day after taking this shot.
When I finally reached Lakes of the Clouds Hut, I stripped off what was wet, and cocooned myself in the provided wool blankets. It was no less than an hour until I stopped shivering. With a tremulous grin I laid there thinking about the hours before me: "Man. Now that's Living."
DAY III
a morning at Lakes of The Clouds Hut
Looking back at the southern presidentials
Another great view of the southern peaks and the cog train before it climbing up Mount Clay.
The last of the morning clouds ripping between the ridge of Mount Washington and Clay. Soon after, the skies cleared up, and the air became hospitable for my clothes to start drying out.
I'll leave you here, atop Mount Clay, with a sunny and breezy 9 miles back to the trailhead.
