Pictured above is the Crag Camp Shelter.
Seldom visited by AT long distance hikers,
it nonetheless gets my nod as the best overall official AT shelter.
('Official' because it is listed in the AT guide book,
best overall because of its architecture, roominess, cleanliness, and setting/view.)
Operated by the Randolph Mountain Club, it has three bunk rooms,
costs $13 (in 2012) to stay, has a caretaker and a killer view:
Sitting on the north slopes of Mt. Adams, the view from the picture window
overlooks the upper reaches of Kings Ravine with Mt. Madison looming behind.
Believe it or not the Kings Ravine trail climbs straight up that headwall!
General Impression/Theme: The heart of the White Mountains - the Presidentials.
People: Like the previous segment, this one was saturated with people, so I rarely had in depth conversations with anyone. Talked with the Crag Camp Shelter caretaker for half an hour. Ran into Beth 'Patches' for the third time on July 25 on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail (not even on the AT). She had finished her thru-hike on July 13th and was just hiking around her adopted home grounds for fun - an amazing chance meeting. The only other identifiable long distance hiker I met and talked at length with was 'Talks-a-lot' (who does). She was on her way to Katahdin, doing a big chunk of the trail this year to finish the whole thing.
Supply/Overnight: The AMC Highland Center (3 nights), Trailhead parking lots, the Gorham/Berlin Wal-Mart.
Worst Memory: The only time in my entire 270 day-hike adventure that I got turned around and hiked the wrong way. It happened as I was descending Wildcat Ridge toward Pinkham Notch. I came out on a rock outcrop and lost the trail momentarily. When I thought I had found it again, what I found was the way I had just come down. Fortunately it didn't take too long to realize that if you're going down toward Pinkham Notch you shouldn't be doing an extended gnarly climb :-/
Inca-trail-like stone work, slopes of Mt. Adams |
I'm glad you took the time to visit Crag Camp. It's so beautiful. It's sister, Gray Knob, is also wonderful but doesn't have the view that Crag does.
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