Mt. Kearsarge, Pt. III
The 3rd try was successful. After being turned
back by ice and snow, then icy rain, Rick and I finally managed to hike all 4.7
miles to the top of this mountain.
The weather wasn't prefect by any means but the rain held off until we were on the peak. Then it started and we decided to camp out in the fire tower on the peak rather than hike down a mile or two to make camp.
We had eaten dinner by 6 pm and were just hanging out watching the clouds move in around us when, just before dark, some other backpackers come up the stairs. There were two couples and a giant dog, all soaking wet.
Rick and I watched in amazement as they unloaded their giant backpacks. They carried gallons of water, including one gallon jug. They had 3 stoves. Full changes of clothes. They cooked tortellini and cut from a block of cheddar. They had brie as well. And then pudding. It was all carried 3 miles up the side of mountain.
My backpack, by comparison, weighed just 18 pounds fully loaded. That gallon jug of water alone weighed over a 3rd of that.
In the morning, we got up and hit the trail pretty quickly. After 3 hours of some tricky stream crossings and a bushwhack around a pond, we were back at the cars with soaked, muddy feet.
Photos:
Every mushroom covered tree we saw had tiny little mushrooms, except this one.
Rick flying the pocket kite in the wind and rain
The Trillium were out everywhere
There are photos of me but Rick took them. If he ever gets them developed, I'll look into getting them posted here. [Yes, that's a not-so-subtle hint Rick]
The weather wasn't prefect by any means but the rain held off until we were on the peak. Then it started and we decided to camp out in the fire tower on the peak rather than hike down a mile or two to make camp.
We had eaten dinner by 6 pm and were just hanging out watching the clouds move in around us when, just before dark, some other backpackers come up the stairs. There were two couples and a giant dog, all soaking wet.
Rick and I watched in amazement as they unloaded their giant backpacks. They carried gallons of water, including one gallon jug. They had 3 stoves. Full changes of clothes. They cooked tortellini and cut from a block of cheddar. They had brie as well. And then pudding. It was all carried 3 miles up the side of mountain.
My backpack, by comparison, weighed just 18 pounds fully loaded. That gallon jug of water alone weighed over a 3rd of that.
In the morning, we got up and hit the trail pretty quickly. After 3 hours of some tricky stream crossings and a bushwhack around a pond, we were back at the cars with soaked, muddy feet.
Photos:
Every mushroom covered tree we saw had tiny little mushrooms, except this one.
Rick flying the pocket kite in the wind and rain
The Trillium were out everywhere
There are photos of me but Rick took them. If he ever gets them developed, I'll look into getting them posted here. [Yes, that's a not-so-subtle hint Rick]
Posted: Mon - May 23, 2005 at 10:11 AM |
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM