Grey Knob, New Hampshire

Just stepping out onto the deck at Crag Camp, we get a better view of Mt. Madison (5,366') rising up beyond King Ravine below.

Meggen and I climbed up the night before in the rain and woke to an amazing sunrise from within Crag Camp. This is one of the cabins I maintain.

Hiking from Crag Camp to Gray Knob Cabin, we get a glimpse of Gray Knob Cabin from a high point in the trail.

High on the mountain, above tree line, carins like these show the way. They are close together because whiteout conditions are not all that uncommon making it easy to get lost. The White Mountains have claimed many lives because people lost their way and were subject to some of the harshest weather in the US.

Meggen stops to take a photo on our way up to Mt. Adams (5,799') above the clouds to take a photo.

Along the Appalachian Trail, a carin marks the way and a whisp of cloud pokes up from King Ravine on the left.

Gina is the Naturalist over at Madison Hut, my closest neighbor. They have a staff of five and each take turns as cook for the day. At Madison, they give you a bunk, a mattress, a blanket, 3 meals and an evening program all for the bargain price of $80/night! Or come take care of yourself at Gray Knob with me for $12.

Lots of rock work went into this portion of the Appalachian Trail to make it smooth and easy going. The green Map Lichen carpets the path.

Hikers approach Madison Hut that sleeps up to 52 people a night.

Madison Spring Hut, at the base of Mt. Madison as seen from the slope up to Mt. Adams.

Nice light on the trees along Gray Knob Trail as I make my rounds towards The Perch.

This hardy Mountain Ash starts to blush red while surrounded by the evergreen Balsum Fir in the Alpine Zone.

As the temperature starts to drop, I head out around back of Gray Knob Cabin to the wood shed to start splitting wood to stay warm. I won't use any of this fire wood... it's being stacked inside to cure for a year. The fire wood that will be used by this winter's caretaker is in the door to the left and was split by last year's Fall Caretaker.

Another project was to build this rack to hold the solar shower so I can try to have a rinse now and then. Now I just need the sun to shine! But, it does hold the radio to provide music in the shower!

The next morning, the sunrise was anything but subtle. This taken from the door at Gray Knob.

After my day off, I hiked back up to Gray Knob Cabin and washed my sweaty clothes and hug them out to dry while I had a refreshing cheese and cracker break with some orange Crystal Lite. Mmmm.

Off to Mt. Washington for the day. It's six miles away along the ridgeline. This big sign says I'm entering an area that has the worst weather in America. Many have died there due to exposure and I should turn back now if the weather is bad. Looks good... we move on.

No, it's not a massive pile of snow left over in September... it's a huge outcropping of quartz from the super-heated remnants of the ancient sea floor that was subducted into the earth 450 million years ago then mashed together, cooked and spit back up in the forms of mountains. Then scoured by glaciers and this is what survived. Mt. Jefferson in the background.

From the summit of Mt. Jefferson (5,716') looking to the towers of Mt. Washington (6,288'), my goal for the day (half way mark, really).

Looking Northwesst from the ridge trail into Castle Ravine. Bowman on the left.

From Mt. Jefferson, looking back the way I came, Mt. Adams on the right.

On the south side of Mt. Jefferson, a grassy spot they call Monticello Lawn.

Some of the colorful plants along the way.

Working my way up the slope of Mt. Washington, looking back: Mt. Adams (5,585') in the middle and Mt. Madison (5,366') on the right.