Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tuesday Trip Report: The Mighty Monadnock. July 31, 2012

White Dot, Cascades Link, Spellman, and Pumpelly Trails.

Monadnock was on our to-do list for months; everyone but us had apparently ascended this peak; it's the second or third most climbed mountain on the planet.  However, Mount Monadnock is as far from the Whites as you can get without leaving the Granite State, and I hate the idea of having to drive more than an hour to get to a trailhead.  Nevertheless, the girls and I boarded Max (no dogs are allowed on this mountain), climbed in the car, and drove toward Jaffrey, NH.

We decided to ascend via Spellman Trail, which is described as the most difficult and steepest way up the mountain; the girls and I always prefer a nice scramble to a walk-up.

We began on the popular White Dot Trail...



...then we took Cascade Link, which crossed this mossy stream.


We soon arrived at Spellman Trail.




Spellman was tame for the first one or two tenths of a mile...


...but then it got rocky, which is just what we like.  :)








The climb afforded nice views...


Before we knew it, we were finished with Spellman Trail, above treeline (on Pumpelly), and heading toward the summit. 



There were a few ledges to climb before arriving at the top...



Almost there!


Cool little summit lake with cotton grass, just a few yards from the summit...



(Alex took this picture) --


(Sage took this picture) --


Summit!


Touching the marker (which is not quite on the highest point)...


Views...



The weather was perfect -- sunny and dry, with just enough of a breeze to keep the forehead cool.  We hung about for a while and enjoyed our surroundings before descending White Dot.

White Dot Trail was ledgy and lovely.









Once back in the woods, we admired this wonderful tree...


...before returning to the parking area.


We enjoyed Monadnock -- I just wish it was a little closer to the Whites!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Thursday Things: Seek the Peak (in Costume)

Our next book presentation/signing is this Saturday, July 28 at the Littleton Public Library in Littleton, NH.  Hope to see you there! 

***

Last Saturday, our family participated in Seek the Peak.  Number 44 on our Thursday Things list is now complete, since Alex and Sage (well, mostly Alex) hiked in costume.  Our trip report can be found here.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Seek the Peak 2012: Mt. Washington via Lion Head with Alex, Sage, and Hugh. July 21, 2012

Last Saturday, my family participated in Mt. Washington Observatory's annual fundraising hike, Seek the Peak.  Many thanks to all who supported us!  The total amount raised by all Seek the Peak 2012 hikers was over $251,000!! 

Months ago, the girls decided they were going to do this hike in costume.  Alex therefore dressed as a girl pirate and Sage dressed as a boy pirate.  Sage's costume originally included a mustache and a different bandanna, but the mustache irritated her skin and the bandanna wouldn't stay on.  She gave up trying to fix everything early in the hike and decided to go as a boy-pirate-who-recently-shaved-and-lost-his-headgear.  That worked for us; we continued onward.

We began our hike at 6am.  Chris, a hiker friend, had agreed to give Hugh a ride down from the summit.  The girls and I planned to hike down and meet Hugh at Seek the Peak's after-party around 4pm.  This meant we couldn't dally on the way up, since I wasn't sure how long it would take for the girls and I to get down.

Here we are, at the start of the hike.  This, by the way, marked Hugh's first attempt to hike to the summit of Washington since his accident in 1982.


Tuckerman Ravine Trail was its usual rocky self...




We reached the intersection with Lion Head Trail about an hour after leaving Pinkham Notch.


A bold chipmunk begged for handouts while we ate a quick snack.


The girls mugged for the camera before we tackled the steeps.


Up we go...



View toward Boott Spur...




Ladder!



Ledges and rock scrambles -- good stuff!  This is the kind of terrain we love.  Thumbs up for Lion Head Trail.





We reached treeline...


There's the tip of Huntington Ravine's headwall...


...and the rock formation known as Lion Head.


Steps to Lion Head...


Alex takes a break on a boulder...


Sage joins her...


Up and over Lion Head...



Tuckerman Ravine...


The path before us...


Alex, Hugh, and Sage with the tip of Huntington Ravine's headwall in the background.


Heading up Mt. Washington's summit cone...


Looking back toward Tuckerman's and Boott Spur...


Looking south...


Almost there!



We crossed the Auto Road and climbed the steps (which always feel so torturous after coming off the trail!)...


The official summit...


Hugh approaches...


Sage, Hugh, and Alex on the summit of Mt. Washington.  This was the first time Hugh had hiked from the valley to the summit. 



View from the deck of the Observatory, looking toward Ball Crag and the northern Presidentials.



The Observatory allowed folks in for a tour -- this only happens during Seek the Peak.  We went inside and the best thing of the entire day happened.  A man -- I won't identify him by name since I haven't asked his permission -- came up to Hugh and said, "Welcome back."  This man was in a position of authority at the time of Hugh's accident in 1982.  His smile was genuine and his expression was warm. 

I could say more about Hugh's accident...but I won't.  I've been asked many times to put my opinion and my perspective in writing, but, honestly, that's not my place.  I did not know Hugh in 1982.  Alex and Sage had nothing to do with what happened.  That part of Hugh's life belongs to Hugh, and to the climbers that knew him then and who continue to know him now.  Therefore, out of respect for him and the entire situation, I will never publicly comment on Hugh's accident beyond what's written in Up.

As part of the tour, we were allowed to climb the tower.  Here's the deck from the top of the tower...


The summit from the top of the tower...


The girls on the tower of the Observatory...



Time was marching on...the girls and I began to worry that we wouldn't make it down the mountain in time for the party.  Luckily for us, Kevin, a hiker friend, volunteered to help us out.  Hugh would ride down with Chris, and the girls and I would ride down with Kevin and his wife, Judy.  Chris' car was at the summit and Kevin's was a mile or so down the mountain.  The girls and I left Hugh with Chris and hiked down Nelson Crag Trail with Kevin and his wife, Judy, until we reached the parking area near the old cow pasture. 



We crossed the cog tracks...



Looking back at the Adams Summit Building from Nelson Crag Trail...


Down...



The parking area about a mile down from the summit...


We made it down in plenty of time for the after-party -- thank you, Chris, Kevin, Judy, and Emma!

The girls and I will definitely do Seek the Peak again next year (maybe Hugh will too).  Good cause, good hiking, good food, good times.