Saturday, September 16, 2006

# 18 Mt. Pierce

9/16/06 - Hiked with Gwen. Trailhead is across the street from the AMC Crawford Visitor Center on 302. Started around 9:30 on the Crawford Pass. The oldest constantly maintained trail in the White Mountains. We passed these 2 old ladies who were from the South doing parts of the Appalachian Trail. Gwen said to them "I hope were like you when we're your age, not that you're old!". It seemed like most people on the trail were headed to the Mitpah Hut. Once we passed the intersection to the summit of Pierce, we hardly saw anyone. The trail was really mossy with babbling brooks and just idealic. I told Gwen I want to move to this trail when I retire and live with the trolls and gnomes. She said she would live just down the trail at the next idealic spot. The summit was in an exposed alpine area so there were warnings to be prepared for storms. We ate some food and the fog lifted for about 2 minutes, long enough to get a quick shot of Washington. We were back to the cars at 3:45 and we joked about going outlet shopping because we never do anything but hike when we're in the whites.



Saturday, June 17, 2006

#16 & 17 North & South Hancock

6/17/06 - (Hiked w/Gwen) Met Gwen at the trailhead which is at the hairpin turn on the Kancamagus. There was a couple guys starting at the same time as we were (8:15). They both had dogs heavy with gear (and booties!). We started out before them. About an hour later we had stopped for water at a river crossing. I heard really loud music (Cum On Feel The Noise) and thought we had come back to the highway or something, when those 2 guys came out of the woods. One of them had a boom box in his backpack and as they passed he said "how's it looking?". So much for the peace of the mountains. We never did see them again, but we'd occasionally hear music through the trees and start running to get away from them. There were several river crossings and the trails got confusing so I think we lost them there because their car was still in the lot when we got back. It was super buggy at the summit and we could hardly stand still for our traditional summit photo. Back to the cars at 4:30