High Tech's '16 Chunk Hike

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1800.3	Dilly Trail (2,650')	2650
1803	Gordon Pond Trail (2,700')	2700
1804.3	Mt. Wolf (East Peak) (3,478')	3478
1806.2	Reel Brook Trail (2,600')	2600
1806.7	Power Line (2,625')	2625
1807.2	Eliza Brook Shelter and Campsite (2,400')?9mS; 4.1mN	2400

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1808.6	Harrington Pond (3,400')	3400
1809.7	South Kinsman Mountain (4,358')	4358
1810.6	North Kinsman Mountain (4,293')	4293
1811	Mt. Kinsman Trail (3,900')	3900
1811.2	Kinsman Pond Trail (south) to +AMC Kinsman Pond Shelter and Campsite (3,750')?4.1mS; 15.3mN	3750
1813.1	+AMC Lonesome Lake Hut (2,760')	2760
1814	Kinsman Pond Trail (north) (2,294')	2294
1814.5	Basin?Cascade Trail; Cascade Brook (2,084')?ford	2084
1815.6	Whitehouse Brook (1,610')	1610
1815.8	Pemi Trail (1,520')	1520
1816	I-93, U.S. 3,Franconia Notch (1,450') ?underpass Pemigawasset River North Woodstock, N.H. 03262 Lincoln, N.H. 03251 Franconia, N.H.	1450
1816	Franconia Notch paved bike path east to Liberty Springs hiker parking and shuttle; and beyond to The Flume Visitor Center; west to +Lafayette Place Campground (1,450')	1450

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1816	I-93, U.S. 3,Franconia Notch (1,450') ?underpass Pemigawasset River North Woodstock, N.H. 03262 Lincoln, N.H. 03251 Franconia, N.H.	1450
1816	Franconia Notch paved bike path east to Liberty Springs hiker parking and shuttle; and beyond to The Flume Visitor Center; west to +Lafayette Place Campground (1,450')	1450
1816.6	Flume Side Trail (1,800')	1800
1818.6	+AMC Liberty Springs Tentsite (3,870')	3870
1818.9	Franconia Ridge Trail (4,260') ?0.3m to Mt. Liberty	4260
1820.7	Little Haystack Mountain; Falling Waters Trail (4,800')?above treeline for next 2.5 miles north on Franconia Ridge	4800
1821.4	Mt. Lincoln (5,089')	5089
1822.4	Mt. Lafayette; Greenleaf Trail to +AMC Greenleaf Hut (5,260')	5260
1823.2	Skookumchuck Trail Jct. (4,680')? above treeline for the next 2.5 miles south on Franconia Ridge	4680
1825.2	Garfield Pond (3,860')	3860
1825.9	Mt. Garfield (4,500')	4500
1826.1	Garfield Trail (4,180')	4180
1826.3	+AMC Garfield Ridge Shelter and Campsite (3,900')?15.3mS; 6.4mN	3900

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Day #15

July 1,2016
Garfield Shelter to zealand falls hut
Total Milage 9.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1826.3	+AMC Garfield Ridge Shelter and Campsite (3,900')?15.3mS; 6.4mN	3900
1826.8	Franconia Brook Trail (3,420')	3420
1828.4	Gale River Trail (3,390')	3390
1829	+AMC Galehead Hut, Twin Brook Trail (3,780')	3780
1829.8	South Twin Mountain, North Twin Spur (4,902')	4902
1831.8	Mt. Guyot (4,580'); +AMC Guyot Shelter and Campsite on Bondcliff Trail?6.4mS; 9.8mN	4580
1833.1	Zealand Mountain (4,250')	4250
1834.3	Zeacliff Pond Trail (3,800')	3800
1834.7	Zeacliff Trail (south) (3,700')	3700
1834.8	Zeacliff (3,700')?overlook to the east	3700
1835.9	Lend-a-Hand Trail, Whitewall Brook (2,750')	2750
1836	+AMC Zealand Falls Hut (2,630')	2630

5:15pm
today I almost gave up and almost stayed at galehead hut. but one of the workers (Emily) told me that once I got up the hill out of that hut, it would be fairly easy hiking and she was right. i was actually able to hike, instead of rockclimb, most of the way.

7:15pm
wonderful dinner of bread, black bean soup, salad, dijon mustard chicken and chocolate cake. I even ate the soup and salad. started raining after dinner...so nice to be inside for it. was able to thank the amc worker from the other hut....she really works here, was just filling in there earlier in the day.

8:05
getting back to the "almost giving up". the last few days have been some of the most dificult, mountanous and technically challanging hiking I have ever done and it has taken a toll. they say you will slow down by half in the whites, but I have been doing more (from 8's to 9's and 10's). we (50+ and I) have decided to slow down to 5's for the next few day...if we can get the huts we want on sun-tue (we know sat would be impossible since the huts are almost always filled on weekends). but if it goes as planned it should give me time to build up my reserves.

besides fatigue, my feet have been paying the toll for the wet boots. a bashed little toe and at least one blister. did first aid on both.

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Day #16

July 2,2016
zealand falls hut to ethan pond shelter
Total Milage 4.8

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1836	+AMC Zealand Falls Hut (2,630')	2630
1836.2	Zealand Trail Jct. (2,460')?former railroad bed	2460
1837.5	Zeacliff Trail (north) (2,448')	2448
1838.3	Thoreau Falls Trail (2,460')	2460
1838.8	Shoal Pond Trail (2,500')	2500
1840.8	+AMC Ethan Pond Shelter and Campsite (2,860')?9.8mS; 17.4mN	2860

12:50
after beating ourselves up for the last few days we (50+ and I) decided to slow down. we did an easy 4.8 here to the shelter and now am taking the rest of the day to relax. a bit cool right now and it doesnt seem to be warming up. sun still behind clouds most of the time, but at least no rain. eating a dinner for lunch since I had dinner at the hut last night and have reservations at a hut tomorrow night (so I have extra food I need to eat to lessen my pack weight).

1:15
crawled into the old sleeping bag to warm up and relax a bit. 50+ is napping. I have now done 138 miles on this trip in 16 days and have done some of the most dificult parts of the trail thus far. still averaging over 8 miles a day, and feel that, once I am out of the whites, I will be able to pick up some speed.

7:00
the shelter and surounding tent platforms are packed, it must be a weekend. still cold, sun never made it fully out from behind the clouds. in the shelter with 5 others all AT hikers including one southbounder. I like the cooking area here, everyone, thru hikers and weekenders all cooking and eating together...lots of great conversations. wish it wasnt so cold but I think the half day off dod some good. i hear the climb out of crawford notch tomarrow is particularly hard, so i hope the break pays off. had spagetti for dinner (two dinners in one day) should also help, unless i burn all those calories staying warm tonight.

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Day #17

July 3, 2016
ethan pond shelter to mizpah hut
Total Milage 9.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1840.8	+AMC Ethan Pond Shelter and Campsite (2,860')?9.8mS; 17.4mN	2860
1841.8	Willey Range Trail (2,680')	2680
1842.1	Kedron Flume Trail (2,450')	2450
1843.2	Arethusa?Ripley Falls Trail (1,600')	1600
1843.4	Railroad Tracks, Willey House Station Road (1,440')	1440
1843.7	U.S. 302, Crawford Notch, Presidential Range (1,275')Bartlett, N.H. 03812	1275
1843.8	Saco River (1,350')?footbridge	1350
1843.9	Saco River Trail (south) (1,350')	1350
1844	Saco River Trail (north) (1,400')	1400
1845.6	Webster Cliffs (3,025')	3025
1847	Mt. Webster (3,910')	3910
1848.4	Mt. Jackson (4,052')	4052
1850.1	+AMC Mizpah Spring Hut, +AMC Nauman Tentsite (3,800')	3800

~5:30
went over mnt webster and jackson today. we were warned that after crawford notch the trail would be real hard. I do not know if it was that the info was from a south bounder or, because of the short day yesterday I was ready for it, but I found it fun (although it was not easy trail). the climbing was fun, the wind on the mountains and ridge was fun and playing mountain goat was great. tired at the end of the day, but not exhausted.

also saw a momma grouse with her young...pics on camera. also say mnt washington (for sure) today. could tell due to the observatory and buildings on top.

had a chance to look at the 96 journal for the hut. found a number of hikers I recognized including Snail-no-more.

now waiting for dinner at the hut.

9:10
trying to stay up and do some star gazing....but eyelids very heavy. will see if I make it.

9:48
went outside to see the stars, but dusk was still visible in part of the sky. did see mars jupiter and saturn amd the big dipper, but just too tired to stay out any longer...it is, afterall, way past hiker midnight (8:00pm). good night!

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Day #18

July 4, 2016
mizpah hut to mnt washington
Total Milage 6.1

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1850.9	Mt. Pierce (Mt. Clinton) (4,312')? above treeline for the next 12.7 miles north	4312
1851.8	Spring (4,350')	4350
1852.6	Mt. Eisenhower Loop Trail (north); Edmonds Path (4,475')	4475
1853.1	Spring (4,480')	4480
1853.7	Mt. Franklin (5,004')	5004
1854.7	Mt. Monroe Loop Trail (north) (5,075')	5075
1854.8	+AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut (5,125')??The Dungeon?	5125
1855.6	Davis Path; Westside Trail (south) (5,625')	5625
1856	Gulfside Trail (6,150')	6150
1856.2	Mt. Washington (6,288'), Mt. Washington Auto Road Mt. Washington, N.H. 03589	6288

3:10
here on mnt washington waiting for a shuttle to the valley. mnt washington on the fourth of july...seems fitting, although not our original plan. we hoped to stay at the dungeon at lake of the clouds but they told us to hike on since we were there so early.

the stay last night at Mitzpa was great, dinner was stuffed shells and winderful french bread. breakfast was oatmeal, donuts, sausage and eggs.

mnt washington is just such a wierd place: thru hikers, amc hut hikers and tourists...lots of tourists. it is a zoo. I decided NOT to wait in line for the mnt washington summit sign hero shot. took other shots instead. cold up here with some wind gusts, but perfect for a summit day weather wise (sunny with no clouds in sight).

8:05
got the shuttle as planned down to Pinkham Notch. we are staying at the Joe Dodge Lodge. our plan tomarrow is to go back to mnt washington and slack pack back to the Notch and stay a second night.

internet here not the greatest, got journals updated but not pics. also no verizon service so I had to use 50+s cell AT&T to call home. dinner was french bread, salad, meatloaf and mashed potatoes. was able to get a hot shower before dinner too (and boy did it feel good).

[ed note: the guy being crushed by the rocks is Lewis Lark, Hiked or bumped into him a number of times on the trail and in towns]

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Day #19

July 5, 2016
mnt washington to Pinkham Notch
Total Milage 11.3 (2.5 not on AT)

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1856.4	Trinity Heights Connector (6,100')	6100
1856.5	Cog Railroad Tracks (6,090')	6090
1856.6	Great Gulf Trail (5,925')	5925
1857.1	Westside Trail (5,500')	5500
1857.2	Mt. Clay Loop Trail (south) (5,400')	5400
1857.5	Jewell Trail (5,400')	5400
1858	Greenough Spring (5,100')	5100
1858.1	Sphinx Col; Mt. Clay Loop Trail (north) (5,025')	5025
1858.2	Sphinx Trail (4,975')	4975
1858.7	Cornice Trail; Monticello Lawn (5,325')	5325
1859.2	Six Husbands Trail (5,325')	5325
1859.5	Mt. Jefferson Loop (north) (5,125')	5125
1859.7	Edmands Col; Gulfside Spring; Spaulding Spring (4,938')	4938
1860.4	Israel Ridge Path (5,475') to +RMC The Perch Shelter and Campsite? 7.1mS; 2.7mN	5475
1861	Thunderstorm Junction (5,490'); Trail to +RMC Crag Camp Cabin; Lowe's Path to Mt. Adams and +RMC Gray Knob Cabin?2.7mS; 23.2mN	5490
1861.5	Air Line Trail (south) (5,125')	5125
1861.9	+AMC Madison Spring Hut (4,825')	4825
1861.9	USFS Valley Way Tentsite (3,900')	3900
1862.4	Mt. Madison (5,366')	5366
1862.6	Howker Ridge Trail (5,100')	5100
1862.9	Osgood Junction; Parapet Trail; Daniel Webster Scout Trail (4,822')	4822
1863.6	Osgood Ridge (4,300')?above treeline for the next 12.7 miles south	4300
1864.9	USFS Osgood Campsite (2,540') Osgood Cutoff	2540
1865.5	The Bluff at Parapet Brook (2,450') Great Gulf Trail	2450
1865.7	Madison Gulf Trail (2,300') West Branch of the Peabody River	2300
1865.8	Great Gulf Trail (north) (2,290')	2290
1867.6	Low's Bald Spot (2,875')?rock dome	2875
1867.8	Mt. Washington Auto Road (2,675')	2675
1867.9	Raymond Path (2,625')	2625
1868.7	George's Gorge Trail (2,525')	2525
1869.2	Crew Cutoff Trail (2,075')	2075
1869.7	N.H. 16, Pinkham Notch, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, +AMC Joe Dodge Lodge (2,050')Intervale, N.H. North Conway, N.H. Gorham, N.H. 03581	2050

7:50
today KICKED MY ASS! as planed, we took the shuttle from the lodge to mnt washington. it was empty up top at 9am so I got my mnt washington summit hero shot then we started our way down mnt washington. 2x 50+ took the wrong trail, the second time I had to yell full volume since he was so far away. he herd me, but as I walked to the last interesction to double check, he cut bushwacked to the AT. I waited for 20 min for him at the intersection until a southbound group came by and told me they saw him so I hiked on. when we met up again at Madison hut he said he had been there for 20min (what a shock). we hiked on after a water and lemonaid break. I lost site of him pretty quickly. all day was above treeline until way after sumitting Madison. it was a sunny day...so I know I will have sunburned arms. finally got below treeline at around 4:30 and realized I still had 6 miles to go...no way, I hiked all day and did only half!?! so now I am thinking I might have to spend the night in the woods with only minimal stuff (we were slack packing after all). got to the osgood campsite, not an AMC camp so no caretaker to ask for advise. now I know I am in trouble. decided to hike on and decide at the next trail intetsection what to do. at the intersection with the Great Gulf Trail, wich leads to a parking lot on 16 I fianlly hit some luck. a young couple was just coming from to the intersection and I told them my predicament and tjey said they were going to their car and they would take me to the lodge. made it just in time for dinner too, so I got food. 50+ just arrived a few min before (by foot) so he was surprised to see me and we exchanged stories.

looks like I missed about 3.7 miles of the AT, but given the circumstaces i do not think anyone will hold it against me.

i am dead beat, probably sunburned on both arms, and my legs and feet feel like a 100 year old's. not sure if I will be able to move on tomarrow.

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Day #20

July 6, 2016
Pinkham Notch to Carter Notch Hut
Total Milage 6.0

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1869.8	Square Ledge Trail (2,020')	2020
1870.6	Wildcat Ridge Trail to Glen Ellis Falls (1,990')	1990
1871.4	Open Ledge, Sarge's Crag (3,000')	3000
1871.7	Spring (3,250')	3250
1872.7	Wildcat Mountain, Peak D (4,020')?gondola	4020
1873.8	Wildcat Mountain, Peak C (4,298')	4298
1874.2	Wildcat Mountain, Peak B (4,330')	4330
1874.7	Wildcat Mountain, Peak A (4,442')	4442
1875.6	Nineteen Mile Brook Trail (3,350') Carter Notch, +AMC Carter Notch Hut	3350

4:45
today I was having a low energy day. my body wants a break and is telling me so. the problem is that the Wildcats are a hard! one person compared it to an all day stairclimber exersize class and they were right. luckly we agreed to a low milage day so I was in by 3:45, cleaned up, rinsed my hiking cloths and now relaxing.

early in the day there was a climb that took me six tries to get up, but I did finaly made it. it is the first time that it took that many attempts to get up something. does make me scared of mahoosic notch coming up.

I hope the trail starts getting easier soon, but each conversation seems to start ".. the next part is really hard...."

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Day #21

July 7, 2016
Carter Notch Hut to Imp Shelter
Total Milage 7.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1876.3	Spring (4,300')	4300
1876.8	Carter Dome, Rainbow Trail (4,832')	4832
1877.2	Black Angel Trail (4,600')	4600
1877.6	Mt. Hight (4,675')	4675
1878.2	Zeta Pass (3,890')	3890
1879	South Carter Mountain (4,458')	4458
1880.3	Middle Carter Mountain (4,610')	4610
1880.6	Mt. Lethe (4,584')	4584
1880.9	North Carter Mountain (4,539')	4539
1882.8	+AMC Imp Shelter and Campsite (3,250')?23.2mS; 6.3mN	3250

7:40
today was a pretty good day. the hike out of carter notch was a little tough but then turned to real trail for much of the day until north carter mountain, the start of the downhill to the shelter, which turned into a slide on your butt downhill for a bit (right when I started to hear thunder). never did get rain, although we did have a few drops at the shelter, but no thunderstorm, at least not yet.

hope to get into Gorham tomarrow and then take a zero day after that to resupply and do town stuff.

here with one group of weekend wariors tenting and the shelter is all ATers (3 sobo, 1 nobo, and three chunk). great fun, the sobos are a riot and have great stories.

new deffinition of AMC - asshole millionairs club.

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Day #22

July 8, 2016
Imp Shelter to Goham, NH (White Mountain hostal)
Total Milage 7.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1882.8	+AMC Imp Shelter and Campsite (3,250')?23.2mS; 6.3mN	3250
1883.5	Stony Brook Trail; Moriah Brook Trail (3,127')	3127
1884.9	Carter Moriah Trail to Mt. Moriah (4,000')	4000
1886.1	Middle Moriah (3,640')	3640
1886.3	Kenduskeag Trail (3,300')	3300
1887.4	Rattle River (1,700')	1700
1888.5	East Rattle River (1,500')?difficult in high water	1500
1888.9	Rattle River Shelter and Campsite (1,260')?6.3mS; 13.9mN	1260
1890.8	U.S. 2 (780')Shelburne, N.H. Gorham, N.H. 03581 Berlin, N.H.	780

9:55pm
up way past hiker midnight but taking a zero tomarrow. hike here started out foggy and wet due to last nights rain. made the start of the day a little more trecherous thanks to wet rocks, but the fog did lift and the trail did get better and by the time I got to Rattle River shelter the trail smoothed out so I could do a 2.5mph pace for the first time in weeks (so it seems). got to the hostal too late for the shuttle into town. got a shower and relaxed and planned for the next section. caught the 6pm shuttle to wallmart for a food resupply and to pick up a chicken for dinner. got my food repacked also the hostal did wash my cloths. need to get new boots tomarrow and maybe send back home old maps I dont need any more (the the second might not work out since the shuttle is at noon and the post office closes at noon on saturdays).

all in all a good day

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Day #23

July 9, 2016
Goham, NH (White Mountain hostal)
Total Milage Zero

9:35pm
took a zero day today. started off with a wonderful breakfast! then i took some time to redo my backpack from the ground up. figured out, after owing it for six years, that the lid was NEVER put on correctly, and figured out how to do it right. this will allow me to adjust the backpack on the fly which should make it more comfortable. als got it so the chest strap is not at my neck (althought it is still higher than it should be). then at noon, I went into town. first to the post office to mail home maps and my camera sd card. then to the outfitter/hardware store (no kidding it is both), but they had boots that fit me to replace my merrells that blew a seam and also a sawer water filter that will replace the much heaver and slower MSR. our last stop was to J's Corner resturant for a lunch of fantastic new england clam chowder and a swiss mushroom burger....yum. latter in the evening it was to wal-mart for a new sd card for the camera, some other small items and dinner.

I think the day off helped my knees and my spirits (especailly since most of the day it was grey with on again off again showers). but tomarrow we head out again, and the forcast says rain.

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'16 Hike Map

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