6 Miles From Mt. Washington

I've just gotten off the phone with Matt on this beautiful Thursday evening. He reports that all is well in the White Mountains and that he is a mere six miles from Mt. Washington. For many of the hikers, tomorrow represents one of the most anticipated moments of their adventure on the AT. From the sound of it, Ewok sounds ready for the challenge ahead!

He reports that he has safely made it to the Mizpah Spring Hut approximately six miles from Mt. Washington and is spending the evening doing a "work-for-stay," cleaning up after dinner at the lodge in order to receive a free meal and room for the night. Matt noted several times that he was "really looking forward to a warm bed" tonight.

A few notes from the Trail:

• The weather, though cold in the evenings (40's), has been fantastic during the day.

• He continues to travel with Lightning Jack, Traveler and Soul Man. Crazy Beard has fallen behind, though Matt hopes to reunite with some of the others, including Houdini, in the not too distant future.

• The White Mountains have been spectacular. The views above the tree lines have been "unreal," with sheer drops on either side of the Trail and panoramic views throughout. The hikes have been extremely challenging, often involving a hike straight up and straight down with little break between.

• Rocks and roots have been a constant challenge. While the Trail in the south was often fairly smooth on dirt trails, he has found himself following the white blazes on rocks and trees with hardly any sign of a traditional trail.

Matt claims that he will call from Gorham, NH, after successfully completing Mt. Washington, and suggests that this will happen in the next three or four days. Check back in soon for more details.