Time to say goodbye
The Perch to Carter Notch hut
Distance: 16.1 miles
Ascent: 6246 feet
Descent: 7578 feet
Just after packing my tent away the rain began. I thought we might be in for a heavy downpour but that was not the case. After 10 minutes I removed my poncho and felt the freshness of air blowing against my skin.
Today would be my final day hiking with Martin. He had friends bringing him a resupply and had planned to hangout with them. It was time to sat goodbye.
But before we went our separate ways we ate left over pancakes from Madison Spring hut. I was asked if I wanted to enter the pancake challenge but quickly declined. Drinking black coffee and eating 3 x small pancakes drizzled with a healthy amount of maple syrup and avoided feeling sick. I swept up the dinning room floor to show my gratitude after eating.
It was just after the climbing the 4K footer Mt Madison that I said to Martin that I would push on ahead and wished him farewell. Our paces were different and so deliberately slowed down to hike a while with Martin. It was a small comprise to share a few days hiking with someone who became a friend.
Onwards and upwards. Hiking alone again felt nice, I was free to make choices without compromise, freedom. Not that I didn’t enjoy Martin’s company because I did, just I came out as an individual and it felt good to be so again.
After hours of rocky downhill I arrived at Pinkham Notch visitors center. I ate soup, drank a huge Dr Pepper, drank a beer I had found in a trail magic box. I had been during 2019 with “Gun section” and “Wrong Way”. I ran the entire Presidential Range as training. Gun section had made me a sandwich and so dropped it. I ended up eating Wrong Ways. Nostalgic memories.
I resupplied 2 days food and headed out the door to the Pinkham notch center. Not before I pretty much broke my toe by kicking a rock whilst barefoot. Ouch… that really hurt. (My toe is now covered in purple bruises).
Crossing the road and turning right brought me to a crystal clear running river. Of course I’m following the smiles over miles so I stripped down and swam for a whilst. A hiker named Analog turned up just at the point I was redressed and ready hike up Wildcat Mountain.
We chatted on the way up, Analog is from Texas and so so asked many questions about the bbq and smoke houses. He told me of a friend who visited the 50 best smoke houses in Texas over the period of 1 year.
At Carter notch hut (where I’m writing this) I was invited into the kitchen and ate a turkey dinner, homemade gravy, mash potatoes and to top it off a ginger cake. Then A hiker named Show Pony told me 2 peoplet had cancelled a room reservation and he was told he could stay in the room. Show Pony asked if I could stay also and the hut crew where cool with that.
Only thing is did already pitched my tent in a stealth spot 0.3 miles on tuff rocky trail. But this was too much an opportunity to miss out on. And do I write this from a warm bunk bed.
Goodnight
