7/17/06 Monday: Lake in the Clouds Hut to AMC Pinkham Notch Joe Dodge Lodge

PICTURES:
1. 0659: Breakfast is served...
2. 0700: Reception counter with kitchen in the background
3. 0852: Picture just outside the hut on AT north to Mt. Washington
4. 0854: View northward of Mt. Washington just north of the hut..
5. 0857: View from Mt. Washington to Lake in the Clouds hut
6. 0935: View south of the Presidential Range from Mt. Washington
7. 0958: Passenger train service for non-hiker types...;)
8. 1010: Closer look at the unique train at the summit of Washington
9. 1033: Me posing at the summit of Mt. Washington... A beautiful day.
10. 1039: View north of the route to Mt. Madison... ROCKS!!!
11. 1057: Nice views of the valley along side the Mt. Adams
12. 1127: View north of the AT over Mt. Adams
13. 1305: View north of Mt Madison
14. 1326: Closer view of Mt. Madison withMadison Spring Hut at its base.
15. 1453: View north from Mt. Madison descending to Pinkham Notch...

Breakfast was served to the guests first but by 0800 the staff and us slaves...;)... got to eat some pancakes...AYCE...:) I decided to stay for the pancakes and by 0830 had consumed my fill and decided to head out for Mt Washington... I have had views of this Mountain for at least 3 days and now on a beautiful 75 degree sunny day I was completing its ascent... We had spectacular views from the top and chose to stay up there about an hour before continuing our trip north to Mt Madison and then Pinkham Notch for the night... The day would prove quite hot with not many options for water along the way... We all stopped at the Madison Spring Hut for lunch before ascending Mt Madison and finally descending to Pinkham Notch... As youll see from the pictures the footing all day was treaterous and the descent from Madison(5363") to Pinkham Notch (2050") in 7 miles was long and difficult... I arrived at the Lodge around 1845, missing dinner again. Protozoa must have run most of the way to arrive about an hour ahead of me...LOL... Be he was in there eating and enjoying himself while I took out another dehydrated meal for the night...LOL... Grinz... theres always breakfast...:).. It was a warm night but the comfort of the bedding helped make it pleasant...