Between Mts.
J: Made it to Pinkham Notch camp for an early lunch. Met Belinda from Austin, TX. Sold her the thru-hiker story - she wants to hike someday. A graphic designer, not sure what to do now with the career, so took some time off to hike and carcamp. She gifted a 9 yr old bottle of Silver Oak Burgandy, loaf of bread and miscellanous food. Trail magic happens.
Three hours later, started up Wildcat. Made it up to the ski lift in under 2 hours. Oh -- so THAT's what we saw from Madison. Up top, I'm alone and back in cloud cover, damp, colder, breezy and threatening. Footsteps ahead -- it's Getoverit, Seuss and Big John atop the ridge. They were staying in Gorham, slacking southbound to the notch.
I kept walking. No views from being socked in, but it was a strenuous and wonderful day's walk overall. I made the Carver Hut in the early evening, catching up with Ski who I met at Mt. Washington. The weather outside deteriorated all afternoon into a cold blowing rain. I could hike on, or I could stay here and work a Hut. No reason to push hard on to Gorham just to sit in town for the P.O., so I'll play a game of chess with Ski here.
Last Hut of the system. While I initially derided the AMC system, I have new respect for the Huts, the croos and what they are trying to maintain. The number of people who use the wilderness would quickly trash the region (lovin' it to death). Now, it does invite a lot of folks up here with limited skills and attitudes, but the ecological damage is far less than the Smokies and Shennies -- less trash, less trail damage evident. The weather becomes more severe more quickly, too. What I've experienced, anyway. I admit it: I like this system, as I can't think up a viable alternative.
The trail is a kind of microcosm of the larger world. Out there, we have yellow blazers, blue blazers, purists, etc. People who find it easier to take a free ride or a road than a harder walk. Blueblazers will take an easier route when available, but don't feel the same need to lie about it, still working some of the way. Purists are driven to follow one path, regardless of terrain. Not always the smartest, not the most direct, but they go the path as they see it. Just for the sake of the path. Slackpackers are a different breed. While they walk the blazes, they don't carry their own packs. The other world seems replete with all of the above. Others who would get by without carrying their weight, those who would take the easy way without facing challenges, content to ride the miles, those who cut corners but walk most of the hike, and those who stubbornly follow their particular white blazes. At which stages of life have each of us been what kind of hiker? No straight answers.