Astro on the AT 2019

StalkingTortoise · Jun 20th 2019, 7:24am

Right about now, Astro should be finishing his breakfast at the Galehead Hut. He's probably feeling a bit 'puffy'.

Astro · Jun 20th 2019, 9:01am

StalkingTortoise wrote:

Right about now, Astro should be finishing his breakfast at the Galehead Hut. He's probably feeling a bit 'puffy'.

It was good, but climbing South Twin is working it off. Rocks wet from rain last night and misting now.

IMScotty · Jun 20th 2019, 12:47pm

Astro, if what's happening in Boston is any indication that mist is going to turn into a downpour soon. A good day to find shelter early and watch the deluge from a dry place.

StalkingTortoise · Jun 20th 2019, 1:04pm

Here's a screenshot of today's radar over the Whites for posterity. Hopefully Astro can make it to the Zealand Falls Hut before the yellows & reds hit Zealand Mountain.

Edit: Zealand Falls and Thoreau Falls should be roaring tonight and tomorrow.

LIhikers · Jun 20th 2019, 11:51pm

I'm guessing that Asto will pass me and Kathy somewhere between Monson and Stratton and we'll be going in opposite directions.

IMScotty · Jun 21st 2019, 8:00am

LIhikers wrote:

I'm guessing that Asto will pass me and Kathy somewhere between Monson and Stratton and we'll be going in opposite directions.

Is Tara going?

Drybones · Jun 21st 2019, 1:56pm

This song goes out to all those actually hiking this year, of which, hopefully I'll be one.

youtube.com/watch?v=_oL_pCjPgUg

StalkingTortoise · Jun 21st 2019, 2:14pm

Drybones wrote:

This song goes out to all those actually hiking this year, of which, hopefully I'll be one.

youtube.com/watch?v=_oL_pCjPgUg

I know I've had the Walking Blues more than once on the AT.

Go Astro go. Don't let them blues (or yellows & reds) keep you from Big K!

Astro · Jun 21st 2019, 3:37pm

StalkingTortoise wrote:

Drybones wrote:

This song goes out to all those actually hiking this year, of which, hopefully I'll be one.

youtube.com/watch?v=_oL_pCjPgUg

I know I've had the Walking Blues more than once on the AT.
Go Astro go. Don't let them blues (or yellows & reds) keep you from Big K!

I don't have the blues when I am walking, only when I break/tear/hurt something and have to stop.

Drybones · Jun 21st 2019, 6:42pm

youtube.com/watch?v=4sV7vyXfutQ

Astro · Jun 21st 2019, 7:12pm

Day1
Galehead Hut 2.7 miles
Actually more miles including the Gale River Trail and backtracking on the AT. Tool AMC shuttle from Pinkham Notch to Highland Center where I transferred to another shuttle. Gale River was pretty easy until climbing all the rocks in the last mile. Walking along the river was a constant reminder you were outdoors.
Was great to be back on the AT! Got to spend my first night as a guest at a hut. It is expensive, but they are well run with two good meals and a nice bunk. Also great for when it rains so you don't have to carry a wet tent.

Astro · Jun 21st 2019, 7:37pm

Day 2
Galehead Hut to Zealand Hut 6.9 miles
After a great breakfast started the climb up South Twin (1100 feet in .8 miles), but unfortunately there would be good views as a reward today. Rain up during the day to the point of a Lightning and Thunderstorm in the afternoon. But my primary focus was on my feet and making sure I did not slip on any of the wet rocks. Did catch a picture of a pine marten on Mt Guyot. Also saw some patches of snow. Feet were soaked from all of the rain, so near the end there were several crossings where I did notbother to use my Vivobarefeet, including Zeeland Falls which was raging. Finally arrived a little after 5pm, and several people who passed me on the way were happy to see me. Was happy to get all of the wet clothes off. Unfortunately found that I left my glasses case back at Galehead. Notified the head Croo guy at Zealand and is letting the Galehead croo know and it be at Pinkham Notch by the time I get back there. The bunks are really nice, even have reading lamps. But now I know to double check all of the shelves before I leave. Not something you have to worry about with your tent.

IMScotty · Jun 21st 2019, 7:55pm

Astro wrote:

Day1
Galehead Hut 2.7 miles

Dinner sounded good

Rivers look high.

Astro · Jun 21st 2019, 7:55pm

Day 3
Zealand Hut to Crawford Notch 7.8 miles
Another picture of Zealand Falls from another location this morning, and few other shots of raging water. Rain off and on today, but nothing like yesterday. Would have been a real nice section of trail if not for for the rain and mud. Past two days trail has been more of a stream than trail. Was fortunate to hike with a couple from New Jersey who stayed at the huts with the two nights who gave me a ride with them to the AMC Highland Center. I am staying in the bunkhouse. It was awesome to take a shower. Oh, the things we take for granted I normal life. Ate dinner with the couple tonight. Hung clothes up to try and dry them out. I wonder if microwaving socks would work? So it seems wearing stuff is the fastest way to dry things (I assume due to body temperature).
Hope I can get to Mitzpah tomorrow before the thunderstorms start.

LIhikers · Jun 21st 2019, 8:03pm

Astro wrote:

......... I wonder if microwaving socks would work? ........

Note to self, don't use a microwave anywhere near the trail........

IMScotty · Jun 21st 2019, 8:05pm

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

Astro · Jun 21st 2019, 8:16pm

LIhikers wrote:

Astro wrote:

......... I wonder if microwaving socks would work? ........

Note to self, don't use a microwave anywhere near the trail........

They have one in the bunkhouse.

Traffic Jam · Jun 23rd 2019, 5:59pm

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I can’t find it...

max.patch · Jun 23rd 2019, 6:05pm

Traffic Jam wrote:

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I can’t find it...

picture - top row, 2nd from left

just below dead center

Traffic Jam · Jun 23rd 2019, 6:12pm

max.patch wrote:

Traffic Jam wrote:

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I can’t find it...

picture - top row, 2nd from left
just below dead center

lol...I saw that but thought a Pine Marten must be a bird. :rolleyes:

max.patch · Jun 23rd 2019, 6:30pm

Traffic Jam wrote:

max.patch wrote:

Traffic Jam wrote:

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I can’t find it...

picture - top row, 2nd from leftjust below dead center

lol...I saw that but thought a Pine Marten must be a bird.

so did i...until i asked google.

Astro · Jun 23rd 2019, 8:04pm

max.patch wrote:

Traffic Jam wrote:

max.patch wrote:

Traffic Jam wrote:

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I can’t find it...

picture - top row, 2nd from leftjust below dead center

lol...I saw that but thought a Pine Marten must be a bird.

so did i...until i asked google.

I thought it was a weasel, till I showed the picture to the Zealand hut master and he told me what it was.

Astro · Jun 23rd 2019, 8:06pm

IMScotty wrote:

Took me a while to find that Pine Marten. Great job capturing a photo of him. I've been lucky enough to see a couple, but never fast enough to get a picture.

I was lucky to catch him, no time to zoom in.

Astro · Jun 23rd 2019, 8:12pm

Made it to Lake of the Clouds Hut. Beautiful (but windy) day on the ridge line.
Will try to post some more reports with pictures once I have more reliable service.

CoachLou · Jun 23rd 2019, 9:19pm

I love Lakes, I could look at that view all day

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 8:24pm

Day 4
AMC Highland Center to Mizpah Hut 6.4 miles
Got off to a later start than preferred since had to wait for AMC shuttle to get me back to the AT. Ended up being rougher than I expected falling multiple times including once 8 feet down a wet slate of rock. Nothing broken or torn. Just scrapes and bruises. Just too many wet rocks for me. Also some times I struggled with figuring the best way to get up the rocks. Put my poles ahead sometimes, and had to take my pack off a few times and put it over my head and then climb up. On Webster one time I felt like almost slipped and it would have been a ways down.

Rained some and pelted with hail on both Mt Webster and Mt Jackson. Only the size of tic-tacs so it didn't hurt that much, unless with a gust of wind it nailed you in face

Hade some good views. Also got a couple of mandarins from a day hiker.

Even though I was an hour later to Mizpah, they served me the best meal yet. It was like Thanksgiving with Turkey, mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy. And the bread was also the best. :thumbup:

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 8:30pm

More views from Day 4

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 8:52pm

Day 5
Mizpah Hut to Lake of the Clouds. 4.6 miles
Wonderful ridge walk on the Crawford Path
Although winds got up to 70mph and I lost another packcover, this time on Mt Franklin. On Mt Pierce a helicopter had dropped new bog boards. They need them. The day before my shoe pulled off in the mud. Fortunately I grabbed it before mud could go inside. Once I got to LOTC I put my shoes outside on the rocks. With the sunshine and strong winds I will finally have dry shoes in the morning. :thumbup:

Even though views were great, I probably took fewer pictures due to the strong winds. Sometimes hard to hold camera steady.
Interesting night with Croo since it was the hut masters from all the huts. So I saw a lot of people from previous nights. The hut master from Galehead was on the cover of this quarters AMC magazine. Zealand's hut master's picture is also in the magazine.

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 9:05pm

I definitely would not want to stay in LOC dungeon. My pictures do not do justice to the beautiful sunset. If you only ever stay in one hut, perhaps this should be it.

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 9:35pm

Day 6
Lake of the Clouds Hut to Mt Washington 1.5 miles
Climbed up Mt Washington finally. Now I can wear the shirt I bought when I rode the Cog Train up that says "This body climbed Mt Washington". While 1200 feet of elevation climb, the rocks were actually pretty well placed most of the time.
I was supposed to go onto Madison Hut today. But with more rain and thunderstorms coming tomorrow and all the trouble I have had with "easier" parts of the Whites, I know that it is best that I move on to Maine. While I may never get a 2000 miler patch from the ATC, I can hike at least 2000 if not 2100 miles of the AT by the end of the summer. I would have liked the patch, but with my balance (or lack there of) the Whites and rain and wet rocks are not a good combination.

I took the hiker shuttle down to Pinkham Notch and spending the night at the Joe Dodge Lodge. Washed clothes this afternoon and ran to Walmart to get some Cortizone 10 for what is either poison ivy or a lot of bug bites close together.
Will drive to Stratton, ME tomorrow and plan to slack pack Crocker Mt on Wednesday, and head north as far my body can stay together. If I make it to Katahdin, then I will try to knock out Rangeley to Andover.

Astro · Jun 24th 2019, 9:40pm

Day 6 Pictures

CoachLou · Jun 24th 2019, 11:08pm

Boy I hope I have that sky when I walk up to Madison on the 4th

StalkingTortoise · Jun 25th 2019, 9:23am

Nice view of the Omni Mount Washington Resort on Day 5. Did you get an air of superiority looking down on the resort guests?

Astro · Jun 25th 2019, 10:26am

StalkingTortoise wrote:

Nice view of the Omni Mount Washington Resort on Day 5. Did you get an air of superiority looking down on the resort guests?

_{Hey I had the better view, some things you have to earn, you can not just buy them.}

Astro · Jun 25th 2019, 7:30pm

Drove to Stratton, ME and staying at Stratton Motel & Hostel. Arranged shuttle to Caribou Valley Road so I can pick up where I left off last year and slack pack over Crocker Mountain. Took mail drop I had mailed here and bumped it to Carantuk to reduce what I needed to carry from here on Thursday to Monson. Took a picture on the way of Rangeley Lake.

max.patch · Jun 25th 2019, 9:22pm

i enjoyed the 2 nights i spent in stratton.

stayed at "the widows walk" a bed and breakfast in a large house on main street that was built in the late 1800's. the owners, jerry and mary hopson, were gracious hosts to hikers and other guests. their living room was our living room, and i remember watching the olympics with them. they sold "the widows walk" in 2006; i don't believe it is currently used as a bed and breakfast. if you're on main street you can't miss this house.

2 dinners at cathy's restaurant which i remember to this day becasuse they had a large salad bar which came with dinner.

edit to add: i just checked my journal -- the nightly rate, which included breakfast, was $15 for regular guests. appalachian trail thru hikers paid $10.

LIhikers · Jun 25th 2019, 11:47pm

With Astro jumping up to Stratton already I guess there's little chance of Kathy and I running into him.
We'll head south out of Monson on July 2nd.

Astro · Jun 26th 2019, 6:18am

LIhikers wrote:

With Astro jumping up to Stratton already I guess there's little chance of Kathy and I running into him.
We'll head south out of Monson on July 2nd.

I won't make Monson until July 4 or 5th.

LIhikers · Jun 26th 2019, 7:56am

Astro wrote:

LIhikers wrote:

With Astro jumping up to Stratton already I guess there's little chance of Kathy and I running into him.
We'll head south out of Monson on July 2nd.

I won't make Monson until July 4 or 5th.

OK then, keep an eye out for a couple in their 60s hiking with a large dog.
Sounds like well run into each other between Caratunk and Monson
I'm looking forward to meeting you, someone from the AT Cafe :!:

Astro · Jun 26th 2019, 10:25am

LIhikers wrote:

Astro wrote:

LIhikers wrote:

With Astro jumping up to Stratton already I guess there's little chance of Kathy and I running into him.
We'll head south out of Monson on July 2nd.

I won't make Monson until July 4 or 5th.

OK then, keep an eye out for a couple in their 60s hiking with a large dog.Sounds like well run into each other between Caratunk and Monson
I'm looking forward to meeting you, someone from the AT Cafe

I am looking forward to it also.

Astro on the AT 2019

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max.patch wrote:

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Traffic Jam wrote:

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max.patch wrote:

Traffic Jam wrote:

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