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Every year when my grandsons come to stay with us in Maine I try to find them a new challenge. Now they are being more of a challenge for me. This blog entry is about Evan's 2011 challenge.
Mt. Washington via Ammonoosuc Trail is a popular trail -at times seemingly straight up- to the AMC's Lake of the Clouds Hut (5010'). It is a 3.1 mile hike to the hut with an elevation gain of 2400 feet. Just an easy 3 hour hike. It is our plan (that is Evan's and his PaPa's) on day one to hike to the hut and spend the night. The second day to continue on to the summit of Mt. Washington (1.4 miles and a gain of 1278'). We will descend using the 5 mile Jewell Trail. This being the Presidential Range we pass near peaks named after presidents. In our pictures we will show you Mt. Clay and Mt. Monroe.
Planning this trip we consulted four White Mountain hiking books. The first chapter in all four of these books was about their famous or infamous weather. There were lots of reminders that most injuries and deaths in these mountains are due to bad weather, followed by bad judgement, and not being prepared for the worst. We prepared for wet, cold, fog and high winds and that is what we got. It rained all day the first day. Fog and high winds plus 97 other wet hikers greeted us at the hut. We made it in 3 hours. After a great meal and a good night's sleep we awoke to a crystal clear cold windy day. At breakfast time the report from the top of Mt. Washington was 45 mph winds and 45 degrees with a chill factor at 0 degrees.
What follows is Evan's 155 word version of the trip.
The Time Papa & I Hiked up Mt. Washington
Twas a cold and stormy day, we got all sort-of-snug in our ponchos, wind breaker, and fleece and we headed out into the damp forest. We hoisted our heavy packs up on our shoulders and strapped up for the long climb ahead of us. After an amazingly long stretch of damp woods we slowly crept out into the unforgiving, slick, and rocky landscape. Unfortunately, we took a wrong turn at a twisted sign and got lost in a tunnel of wet branches and moss! Uh-oh, now our boots, clothes, and skin are even more soaked!!! Finally, we found the trail and climbed the last stretch to the hut, Hooray! We had a great 4-course supper and a good night’s sleep before the final day of our hike. The next morning we summited Mount Washington and, after seeing the 100-mile view, we began the long journey down.
As you can see the last mile is mostly in the waterway. Not so bad in the dry season. Click on pictures to make them larger.
These pictures are on top and on the way down. The hut pictures are from a previous hike. ( see Sept. 09). The first day and early the second the camera refused to cooperate. Click on pictures to enlarge.
3 comments:
Dud! I just figured out the story you sent was your daughter's. I thought you just found it somewhere. That makes it even more special.
The boy's writing has improved immensely. I'm so impressed with his comma's.
By the way, that's no tiny hike you took there.
These are great! Evan just read the blog again from home in Holden. We've been stuck inside all day hiding from Tropical Storm Irene. I keep thinking that if he can hike with you for three hours up 2,000+ feet elevation in the pouring rain then surely we can take a walk in the rain today. Nope. I guess he can only do some things with his pop-pop.
The packs must have been heavy indeed in order to be prepared for the weather that you had. It was quite strange to see people wearing so many clothes. I'm here in Austin, where it's a mere 108 degrees!
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