The Grand Adventures of Nano: Feeling Presidential

The past two days of hiking have included some fast thinking and some grand sights. We entered a very famous section of the AT known as "The Presidentials," since most of the mountains over this 20+ mile stretch of trail were named after…you guessed it…former presidents of the USA. This is a section of the AT that hikers anticipate with both excitement and a healthy dose of fear. Excitement because the Presidentials, like the rest of the Whites, boast stunning scenery, as well as a huge Trail milestone - the summit of Mt. Washington, the 2nd highest peak on the AT. The fear comes into play because this area is known for its incredibly volatile weather. As any local hiking enthusiast will tell you, hikers have been seriously injured and even killed in these mountains due to the extreme and often unpredictable conditions, even in summer. I think that Team Nano got a truly Presidential experience on our journey over the past two days, in more ways than one.

DAY 1
Living up to their reputation immediately, The Presidentials threw us a curveball before we even attempted the first summit. After spending the evening relaxing with Trail Angel, we awoke on the day of our planned Presidential Outing to rain. Lots and lots of rain. We were promised volatile weather after all. Nevertheless, after waiting out the rain for a bit we were able to hike about 7 miles and visit our first "Presidents": Mounts Webster and Jackson. Even in the cloudy haze, this part of the AT, lots of it above treeline after an initial ascent, is truly beautiful. We spent the night at Mizpah Springs Hut looked after by another wonderful crew and went to bed warm, dry and with a belly full of homemade food. The hut hiking life is going to be dearly missed after we pass through the Whites.

DAY 2

Day 2 of this outing had us meeting a few more "Presidents": Mounts Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin, Monroe, and one of the crown jewels of the AT - Mount Washington. The entirety of this hike was above treeline and we were blessed with a beautiful mountain day. The climb up Mt Washington took us over 6000 feet above sea level, and it was easy to see why hikers are warned so adamantly about this part of the Trail. Exposed, rocky, sparsely marked and both stark and stunning, it's not somewhere I would want to be trapped in a storm. Luckily, the Mountain put on a truly spectacular show for us and we enjoyed 360 views all day. After stopping for lunch at Lake of the Clouds Hut, we ended this stretch of time on the AT at the summit of Mt Washington, feeling very "Presidential" indeed. Overall this was one of my favorite sections of the AT so far, and I can't wait to be back. Stay tuned friends of Nano, the Grand Adventure will continue.