Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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September 2, Mizpah Hut - mile 1829.5

The difficulty of today's hike nearly blows my mind. I am so grateful that I did not have to scale these rock faces in the rain, because I'd probably be lying out there with several broken bones and a concussion. I'm also very glad that the bout of vertigo that bothered me all morning passed by the time I had to rock climb. I wish I knew what caused and/or cured it, because it's a real pain in the arse when I get it. Not only is it an unpleasant feeling, it also slows me down to a crawl when I get it - yuck!

Besides those things, today was absolutely gorgeous. The views from on top were the clearest I've yet seen. I kept Mt Washington in my sights nearly all day . It's a bit of an eyesore, really, with all the buildings and antennas sprouting out of the top, plus billowing clouds of black smoke that puff up and down the mountain as the cog railway runs. It's a coal-burning, steam powered engine that still chugs hundreds of tourists up to the peak. I even have to admit that it would be a fabulously fun way to go up there, but it doesn't look very nice from a distance.

Tonight I have the pleasure of again doing work-for-stay at a hut, This one is larger, with about 60 guests but strangely enough, the work they're asking us to do is less than the last one. Here we only have to do table set-up and clean-up for supper and set-up in the morning. We also have our own bunkroom to sleep in tonight, which will be REALLY nice.