[at-l] Pt 9 Pittsburgh is HIKING!!!

[kahley7 <kahley7@ptd.net>]

new england hike - day 9 - madison springs hut to pinkham notch

the day started out ominously for me.  as an added touch, the croo put bits of
apples in the pancakes.  a nice homey gesture on their part, but devastating for
me.  eye am allergic to apples, they bring on migraines.  eye noticed right away
the chunks of apple, and did not eat any, but it was a foreboding start to a bad
day...

it was raining from our first step up mount madison, and it didn't stop for a
good bit of the day.  the rocks were slick, and i tumbled almost immediately,
banging my precious knees.  this started a series of slips and falls that
emptied me of all humor...

to my dismay, there were no good side trails for escaping my misery.  eye had to
put my head down and just hike.  the descents were extreme, made worse by the
slickness of the rain.  as we ventured below treeline, a new nemesis appeared,
ROOTS.  if you have ever seen a slapstick comedy where the comedian goes
airborne when his feet are flung out from under him, then you know the danger of
roots.  eye went airborne more than once...

once attaining the mount washington auto road, eye turned left and forsook the
trail for pavement.  hiking on pavement is generally undesirable, but in this
case, preferable.  after a bit, a kindly couple in a pick-up gave me a lift in
the bed of the truck.  eye was very grateful...

we have added a straggler to our little group, a section hiker named 'double
nickel'.  he is 55 years old (hence the name), and is an 8th grade math teacher
from decatur illinois.  we have been in the huts together for the last few days,
and have gotten chummy.  he will be enjoying a supported hike for the next 5
days...

our support 'croo' was at pinkham notch, where timmy, shamrock, and double
nickel hiked out.  eye had left word with them that eye would be coming down the
auto road.  they pulled in as eye arrived in my chariot (pick-up truck).  we
found accommodations in gorham new hampshire, had showers, made phone calls, and
ate pizza.  a marvelous end to a miserable day...

pittsburgh


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