Mt. Washington Report by Blake's Dad

I am posting this on 3July05 but the events described happened on 2July05. Mike, Blake, Keith, and Lisa (Don King, Super T., Gills, and Samoa) summited Mt. Washington on 2July exactly 4 weeks from the day they left Baxter State Park, Maine. Distance traveled was 332.4 miles at an average pace of 11 miles per day. There were some zero days in this total, so the actual hiking average would be higher.

Blake called from atop Mt. Washington at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to report that all four members of "Joe's Hole Posse" were at the Summit Building. Blake and Mike arrived ahead of Lisa & Keith because they had hiked 21 miles the previous day and stayed at the Madison Springs Hut (hired on as "workers" in order to get their free dinner, lodging, and breakfast at the hut. That's an $80.00 per person savings). Their work consisted of washing dishes and the like. DAD'S QUESTION: How come Blake is never seen around the kitchen sink at home?!? As many of you may know, there is a cog railroad that lugs tourists to the top of Washington. A thru-hiker tradition is to greet these cog-railers with an appropriate sign of greeting. This was done by Gills, Don King, and Super T, with Samoa as the photographer. I am a little fuzzy on the details but the three "Moons-over-Washington" faced backwards away from the train as it passed by crowded with tourists. I leave the rest of the "greeting" to your imagination!

Lisa and Mike caught up with Mike & Blake atop Mt. Washington and all four left the summit in the late afternoon for the trek down to the Lake of the Clouds Hut where they spent Saturday night. Through some negotiations with the Madison hut crew, all 4 were assured of jobs at Lake of the Clouds, so again they got two good meals as well as place to sleep for free. Keith's dad -- in a Sunday a.m. email to me -- reported hearing from them early Sunday morn. Their job was to clean the bathrooms at the hut in exchange for free room and board!

They had incredible weather -- just about cloudless skies -- on Mt. Washington with unlimited views in every direction. More later. Photo of Joe's Hole Posse was taken at Andover, ME a few days ago. Photo from Keith & Lisa's camera.