Today was a doozy. 14 mile hike to Mt. Colden and back through high winds, whiteout conditions and low temps. At times there were 65mph wind gusts. I passed some small old growth maple-beech forest on the way up. A highlight of the day was snowshoeing across Avalanche Lake at high elevation, fully protected from the elements as high winds rushed through the mountains like a wind tunnel.
On trail by 4:00 am, walking under pitch black sky and bright, scintillating stars toward Big Slide mountain - my 40th (out of 46) Adirondacks 4,000 foot mountains. Out of all the mountains I’ve claimed, this might be my favorite single peak hike. There were views all along the way, and giant sugar maple, ash, American beech and eastern hemlock virgin forest below on Phelps trail. I made it to Big Slide just in time for the sun to rise. What a day! I completed the hike in just under 4-hours.
This morning, I woke up in the trunk of my CR-V at the Slide mountain trailhead. Single digit temps and 6-inches of fresh snowfall was no match for my memory foam mattress, sleeping bag, and Sergo heat candle - I may never rent a hotel room again! I’m here in the Catskills to chip away at the Northeast 115 4,000 footers. This morning, I threw on my snowshoes and broke trail up Slide Mountain where I passed some old growth hemlock, black cherry and spruce-fir. To my surprise, the Catskills have many acres of virgin forest. Tomorrow, I’ll go north to hit Hunter mountain before finishing up the Adirondacks 46 and Northeast 115 this weekend. Those who know me know I love the northeast and its mountains. No mountain range is complete without sleepy, quirky mountain towns. Passing through these towns and helmets are like going through time. On this trip, I’ve added a new one to my list - Woodstock - which the famous festival was named after. Far out, dudes!
It feels like ages since I’ve peeled my eyes away from my computer, so it was nice to have a rare snow storm to distract me. The quietness and beauty of snow storms has always captivated me. I enjoyed a neighborhood hike down to Lambert’s Cove beach where I only saw a few people.
Today, I woke up in the parking lot for Piper Trail trailhead. After hiking Willard yesterday, I went south to Concord so I could take a free and much needed shower at the YMCA, then went grocery shopping. When I arrived here last night, it was gushing rain - I knew it would be a mild but soggy slog today, and it was. I’ve hiked all the 48 four-thousand footers in NH and I can confidently say that Chocorua is one of the best all around hikes. So if you’d like the views, changing forests, varying terrain, waterfalls and rivers, and whatever else a hardy NH hike brings- hike this mountain! Not to mention, it has some of the best old growth spruce-balsam fir forest I’ve seen anywhere. Today was the day my body and mind fully adjusted to being on vacation, and it feels good after a busy fall. It always takes a few days. So much to be thankful for this year. Great hike!
Another night camping in the white mountains. Today, I beat the midday rain by climbing Willard for a short 3-mile hike that packs a great view. I think it’s time I get some new boots. Today, I reflected on a busy fall of work. These hikes are a chance for “me” time- a chance for me to reflect, raise my heart rate, breath in nature, and recenter. Follow the process; careful wins.
Today, I woke up at 4am in the parking lot of a trailhead. I made a short drive to Glen River trailhead, and hiked up to Galehead today. It always takes a couple of hikes for my body to cleanse itself (which often results in a headache), and for my mind to disconnect. Today, a pair of gray jays by Galehead Hut reminded me to stick with the plan and store some away for later. I couldn’t have asked for better weather.
The busy fall field season has ended, and the northern hardwoods have reclaimed me for the week. Lincoln NH is quiet. I write from Pemigewasset parking area. It’s 4am, and I’m gearing up for Galehead today - a hike with a nice wilderness view. Yesterday, nimbus clouds kept me lower in elevation. I did Mount Pemigewasset and it didn’t disappoint. Soggy, foggy and drizzly - moody weather always recharges me.
The Tao Te Ching says to be like water; water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them. So - be like water, they say. In the valley, an emerald green stream nourishes plants and animals while rushing to find sea level; drizzle accumulates as a steady trickle from tree branches, as fog lifts from the earth to insulate the air. Trees transpire, and puddles slowly leach. My perspiration cleanses my body as I slip and slide on the first ice of the season - time for a water break. From summit, a gentle flurry reminds me to be graceful. Water is graceful, dynamic, and independent. It’s a magical substance which adapts to its environment well. But water can never be a mountain, or a bush.
10-mile paddle to Nomans Island and back. Nomans Island is 4-miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. It’s owned by the fish & wildlife service, and has historically been used for target practice by the US Air Force. What a beautiful fall day filled with feeding gannets, beached whales, seals and more! The bottom picture is from Squibnocket where we put in. It’s illegal to land on Nomans land and for good reason. It’s filled with dangerous unexploded ordinance, and pristine wildlife habitat. It may be the most wild stretch of land on the northeastern seaboard.
