A finished my Presidential Traverse (Lots of Pix)

[YankeyMCC]

through the Presidential Range in NH White Mountains - What a fantastic time I had, glorious weather, interesting people, inspiring sites, mind focusing physical challenge...all around just what I needed

I ended up finishing a day ahead of schedule.

Unbelievable weather!

viability on the second day (the one on which I crossed over the main ridge from Madison to Lakes of the Clouds) was about 130 miles! I've been up on Washington 4 or 5 times and all of those past times visibility was essentially zero but not this time.

I did have a bit of a weather issue at the end. I stayed at Madison Hut the first night (the hike up to Adams, and I also bagged Madison), that first day's hike was beautiful although the afternoon was VERY windy up on the summits. I truly thought I was going to get blown off the summit of Madison a couple of times. :)

But it was dry and clear that first day, visibility over 100 miles.

The next day, from Madison to Lakes, was also beautiful weather. I had to keep stopping to add or remove a layer as I came in an out of the wind but that just goes with the territory.

But the forecast for the next day (today) was bad, heavy rain, high winds at the summits and likely t-storms (all of which came to pass by about 9am so I was smart I guess to head the forecast).

So instead of staying at Lakes, which I reached by about 1:30PM, I pressed on to Mizpah Hut, another 5 miles further on. Along the way I bagged Monroe and Eisenhower. I made Mizpah about 5PM. So I did about 12 mile (maybe 14, I have to recheck my gps and map) day - but man did it feel good.

The night was outstanding, like being up among the stars. I made it most of the way down to Highland center before I got rained on and I didn't mind at all getting rained on for the short time I had left at the end. If I wasn't for the excitement of sharing the stories with my son (who will come with me when he's 13) I would've found it difficult to keep from continuing on along the trial.



Durand Ride aka Knife-edge on Air Line Trail


Star Lake with Mt Madison in background


Looking across Great Gulf - towards Washington , you can see the auto road


Lake in the Clouds Hut - Where I was supposed to spend the night but I decided to beat the bad weather coming the next day and hoof it to Mizpah Hut - 5 miles further on :)


A Lake in the Clouds



Crawford Path goes on southward - My Trip Continues

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My Trip ends in the rain