Summer Vacation - Day 7

[up at 0730 and got ready for the Epic Hike - John had wanted to leave at 0800 (I wondered why) but we didn't leave the house until around 0845 - after getting gas, I drove John, his brother, Brian, and a friend, Eric up to Woodstock, NH (via I-93) - it took us about 2.5 hours (some traffic but not bad) - toll near Concord - we were about two hours early (1130) so we ate lunch at Landmark II (Greek) in town and walked down to the Pemigewasset River - then we drove back to the Interstate - I got a hiking map of the area at the National Forest Visitors Center (1245) and we took a quick look at the Hobo (Mountain) Railroad - we parked at the McDonalds (North Woodstock) and met most of the 31 guys going on the GuyWire men's group hike (5th year) - after everyone was together, we convoyed to Franconia Notch (Lafayette Place Campground) and (luckily) found a place to park - we started up the Lonesome Lake Trail at around 1420 (after a prayer) - I was using my new boots, backpack, reservoir, etc.) and felt very prepared - it was about a one and a half mile hike with 1000 feet of elevation - no problem with the climb (endurance, etc.) but I lost my footing and broke a hiking pole... - still got to the top of the hill around 1520, near the front of the group - the last 0.3 was AT (seemed anticlimactic)... - checked into the AMC Hut (~ 2800 feet) that overlooked a beautiful lake -the views across the Notch were tremendous - we got settled and hung out with the guys as they swam - saw a big family if ducks - walked around to take photos - snooped around in hut kitchen (intel on cookies, etc.) - journaling - talked to lots of the guys - turned out that a women's group that had been with the men last year was here - dinner was at 1800 - big production (family style, "rules", croo intros, singing, jokes, other rituals) - the menu was black pea soup, bread, couscous, lemon chicken, broccoli, rice, chocolate chocolate chip cookies - lots of conversation - convinced John, Brian and Eric to hike around lake (a little over one mile) - found books in hut (AMC hut volunteer day schedule, White Mountain hiking, "Winter Camping") and then read in my bunk until after lights out (2130) - light rain almost all night - warm with three blankets, though - lots of snoring by one of the guys: probably no sleep / around three miles of trail hiking today]