Love the Whites - Aug 24

Pappy 12 and Best Wife have had some awesome days hiking lately. Although this hike has been mentally tougher than normal the past couple weeks, the rewards have been more than worth it. We are now in the middle of what most consider the most difficult section of the Appalachian Trail: The White Mountains and Southern Maine.

Until now, our daily mileage has been in the 13-14 range. In the Whites a 12 mile day is outstanding while 6 or 7 is the new norm. Although we sometimes feel discouraged, overall this hike is very satisfying. We will play the cards we are dealt.

18 year old Good Life sports this pink necktie each day. Always fun to mix it up with young hikers.

We had a great stay with my cousin Harriet Taylor in Framconia, NH. She picked us up at The Notch, fed is a killer casserole, gave us a bed and a hot shower, drove us to resupply food, and put us back on the trail. She is so much fun to visit. Can't wait to go back to Butter Hill to see her again.

There are eight huts spread along the AT through the White Mountains. None are accessible by vehicle. None have electricity except what they generate by solar or hydro. All are staffed by college kids who twice a week carry 100-120 pounds of food and other necessities for the 30-50 guests who pay $120 each night to eat dinner and breakfast and sleep in 4 high wooden bunks.

Since we don't shell out that kind of money, at the Gslehead hut we worked-for-stay. Best Wife's job was to clean a fridge while mine was to categorize and label the books in the library.

The wooden stump in the 11th picture is an exact replica of what animal?

Temps the past couple nights were in the 40s. Wind chill hiking up Mt Washington today was in the 30s. Our daughter Mackenzie shipped our winter sleeping bags to a hostel in Gotham, NH. Can't wait to settle in to some great cold weather sleeping coming up. Fall is right around the corner.