Appalachian Trail (day 80) - Mt Webster to Madison Spring Hut / mile 1871

Odd day in a good sense of the word.

I've left my cozy camp spot at the top of Mt Madison at 5 AM and went over the peak of a very climb heavy Mt Jackson. I've arrived at Mizpah Spring Hut before the breakfast scraps time, I was the only thru hiker here - I've been offered two pancakes, one sausage patty and a mountain of oatmeal. After this nutritious calories hit I've carried on walking towards Mt Washington, the main highlight of the Presidential Range, the highest mountain range in New Hampshire.

After climbing Mt Eisenhower the range has begun, ridge was running above the treeline for most of the day and the views were amazing. Weather had other plans though and after an hour it got cloudy, by the time I've reached Mt Washington there was very little visibility. Trail was really well maintained and quite easy on foot, there was plenty of day hikers going up and down the mountain.

At the top of Mt Washington there was a gift shop, canteen and a museum. "World's First Cog Railway" was taking tourists up and down the mountain, people were queuing to take picture with the "Mt Washington Summit" sign, even though they haven't climbed a foot of it. I've bought two chilli hot dogs and left the premises fairly quickly.

The Presidential Range continued and the clouds finally lifted presenting great views left and right. No matter where I pointed the camera there was a stunning landscape. I've had an idea at this point to shake things up a little and try "work for stay" program at one of the huts.

"Work for stay" was run for thru hikers that wanted to spend the night at one of the manned huts in exchange for two hours of work. I wanted to see how it looked like and since I wasn't in a rush anymore I gave it a go. I've arrived at the Madison Spring Hut at 3 PM and waited for an hour until I could officially ask for it, I had three other hikers waiting with me but there was only space for two. Since I've arrived first, Sierra girl who was in charge of the hut asked me if I wanted it and I accepted the offer, other person who got the job was a Hiking Granny from London. Did that mean I could say from now on that I've "worked" in US?

Next five hours were quite odd as we were not required to do anything until after the dinner time. Many other thru hikers arrived and stayed around for a while including Twilight who like me thru hiked the PCT in 2022, after a brief conversation we worked out the I've actually crossed the "Bridge of God's" from Oregon to Washington with him, I even had a picture of him walking in front of me. Twilight was finishing the AT for his triple crown this year. Milkman whom I also met at the hut, like Tum Tum was trying to thru hike CDT after completing AT this July and also shooting for that elusive triple crown achievement!

After the dinner for paying guests we got offered food as well, it was rice, chickpea curry, beans, kale and pea soup, very healthy and tasty menu. Our "work" has begun after that, Hiking Granny was assigned the task of wiping tables and sweeping the floor, my job was to clean the stove which I've done as a chef many many times so it took me fifteen minutes. That was the only thing we were expected to do. We set up our mattress and sleeping bags in the dining area of the hut way past hiker midnight while three other caretakers called the "Croo" were still prepping things for tomorrow in the kitchen.

It was quite impressive how those three young people were able to manage a hostel full of guests. They were cooking, cleaning and entertaining them throughout the day. I didn't expect to have much sleep tonight as the dining room was right between the sleeping quarters and the toilets but the experience of seeing how the "work to stay" program works was worth it.