Day five begins the south to the north portion of the White Mountains hike, starting from the Valley Way trailhead. A shuttle run by the AMC takes trekkers from the Lodge to the trailhead so that they can begin their hike back to the Lodge, the departure point for the trail. Like day one, today’s hike is shorter and starts off on relatively level ground, getting steeper as you near the Madison Springs Hut. Total ascent is just over 3,500 feet (1,067 meters). The 3.7 miles of this stretch can take 3 to 5 hours, depending on hiker experience, due to the rocky trail. Hiking poles are recommended. This is also the first day of hiking in the Presidential Range, which comes into full view at the end of the stage. Forest gives way to the alpine tundra above the treeline, where you can spot some of the flora characteristic of the area. Madison Springs Hut sits above the treeline and has a direct view of Mount Madison. Weather permitting, it’s possible to summit Madison from the hut to enjoy the view of the greater Presidential Range.