Climbing Mt. Washington

Mt. Washington is part of the Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is the highest peak in the Northeast but it is best known for some of the worst weather in the world. Extremely high winds, cold temps and very little visibility are always a possibility. This is often the biggest challenge when you are attempting a climb to the 6, 288' rugged summit. The weather report for Sept.9th was for high winds with a chill factor in the low 30's but clear. So the trip was on. I packed my wool underwear, rain gear, winter hat , gloves and a coat.
There are many trails one can choose to ascend to the top. I wanted a loop trail and one that was easier terrain coming down than going up and also a trail that allowed maximum views going and coming. I chose to go up the west side using the Ammonoosuc Ravine and Jewell Trail Loop. This is a 9 mile loop and according to most guide books it should take 8-9 hours. ( I think the authors are all long legged and 25 years of age.)
In several of the pics you can see the famous Mt. Washington Resort in the distance. The hike up is along a very fast moving stream with several waterfalls. Every 50 feet you want to stop and take pictures. (Or is that my fast pulse and sore knees that are saying stop?)

This is the trail? Only for a short way. Better have good gripping boots.
The Presidential Range is known for its chain of hostels, each a day's hike apart. They are set up for dinner and breakfast. The largest of these is the Lakes of the Clouds Hut. I spent about 30 minutes here watching the helicopter bring in new fuel and food and take away the trash and empty tanks. Click on the video.


From this Hut the summit is about 1.6miles and 1200 more feet of elevation.

Above is looking back to the hut I am about 0.6 miles to the summit.
Nearing the top! 0.2 Wow what a view!
The Summit! Five hours of hiking in perfect weather. 50 degrees, no wind, 90 miles visibility. After lunch and a nap I headed back to the trail.
The trip down is less steep but a bit longer than the trip up. It will take me 5 hours to cover the 5.2 miles.

Along the way I crossed the Cog railway and saw a car going down and later one going up.

Much of this trail is above tree line allowing great views. This view is looking south to Mt. Monroe. The next one is looking north.

Now we are looking west. The bare spot way in the bottom is the base station where I'm headed. Still over 3 miles to go.

Back in the trees. We have to cross this stream then .3 miles to go.
That's my car. First in (7:30 AM) last out (6:30PM). Right above the tallest pine tree is the top of Mt. Washington.
What a great hike!

US OPEN/ Nolan and Clay

THE DREAM: Going to the US Open Golf Championship has been on my "some day" list for a long time. If you have played the game of golf, you appreciate the importance of the US Open. It is our National Championship. Professionals who have won it say "their lives changed forever." I not only dreamed of being at the Open, I wanted to do it with my son, Nolan.
When I learned that this year's tournament was to be played at Bethpage State Park, on Long Island, New York, I said this is the year. From Nolan's home it is about a two hour drive to Bethpage. I was able to secure tickets for the first day of the tournament; then it was just a matter of Nolan arranging his schedule. When you are the creative director of entertainment for a major theme park you can set your own schedule, so it is all go for the two of us.
THE PLAN: Stay the night before somewhere on Long Island so we have a short distance to travel early Thursday morning. Leave the motel at 6:00 AM for a 30 minute drive to the designated parking lot at Jones State Beach. There go through security and get on a bus for a 35 minute ride to the golf course. (It is already raining.) Upon arrival the first priority is breakfast and coffee. Second, check out who is on the practice range. (Who do we find there? The Tiger himself!) The third part of our plan is to get two to three holes ahead of Tiger (his tee time is 8:05), observe the groups ahead of him and his group then jump ahead again. And continue this until Tiger finishes and then watch as many as we can of the players who are to tee off in the afternoon. On our way to the #3 green it is really raining, the very hilly walkways for fans are muddy and slippery. But our plan is working - we are seeing some of the best players and a lot of Tiger. After we see them through #6 we head to the #9 green. While we are cutting through the woods the weather horn to halt play sounds. It is 10:30 AM. We are in a holding pattern. Now, there is no plan. Let's eat. Okay. Sit under a tree and wait. How long? There are 38,000 fans looking for eats, open merchandise, a dry place, rest room, & etc. About 1:00 PM we decide to head back the 2 1/2 miles to the club house. Play for the day is called off at 2:00. On our way out of the grounds we have the above picture taken and head to the bus. I hear one guy say to his buddy "this sucks," the reply is "it beats working and we saw Tiger." For Nolan and me it is even better than that. We really had fun. Next time maybe the sun will shine.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: If you have played golf on a limited budget, you may relate. Ever been out of tees with more holes to play or on the practice range with more balls to hit? If so, and if you are like Nolan and me, you looked around and found one on the ground, right? Well, we saw the #1 player in the world who earns millions of dollars do just that on the practice range in the rain. Nolan and I looked at each other and had to laugh.
Thanks Nolan for making the day very special.

Pine Tree Paddle/2009

Wow! What a great day for a kayak trip. Perfect weather (blue sky, light breeze, 70 degrees) , great cause (Pine Tree Camp fund raiser), fast water (between 7000 and 8000cfs) . Just to compare, when we left Texas the Guadalupe was flowing at 55cfs.
For you history buffs, the Kennebec is the river that Benedict Arnold took over 900 men and supply's up stream on his way to fight the Brits at Quebec City. The section we paddled is some of the same area they went through in 1775.
This was the 12th annual paddle for Pine Tree Camp, a fund raiser to help kids pay for camp tuition. This is Clay's 4th paddle and Carol's 3rd. All together (thanks to family and friends) we have been able to raise nearly $1000. This event takes place the first weekend of June. If you paddle kayak or canoe you should put it on your calendar for next year. It is a really well organized event and you will meet some very nice people as well as help a kid go to camp. The food and entertainment at the take out is worth the trip. Within 1/4 mile of the take out you can smell the barbecue and hear the music.
This year's event attracted 213 boats of all shapes and colors. It takes some time to get us all on the river and it is quite a sight to see.
Click on the video to see some of the highlights. Be sure your audio is on.

Cibolo Nature Center

"What do you do?" That is the question that comes up repeatedly. The answer depends on where we are living at the time. When in San Antonio I volunteer at the Cibolo Nature Center- a 100 acre preserve that contains several types of Texas habitat from woods to prairie, marsh lands (before the drought) to the wonderful Cibolo Creek which runs through the property. I am involved with the outdoor classroom program where elementary students experience and explore the natural world. We get kids from schools all over this part of Texas, and, I must give a shout out to the great job our public schools are doing. Whether they are from the intercity or little towns, these kids are very sharp.
Most of the activities that I help with are in the marsh or creek looking for the little critters who live there and doing our best at identifying them.
Hearing the students squeals and seeing their eyes light up with excitement when experiencing something new makes it very rewarding for me.
The pictures in the video were shot by Carol last year when we still had water in the marsh. Since the drought has set in, the springs that feed the marsh are not flowing. But this only serves as another lesson about our water supply. Pray for rain.

We have more influence than we think....

Get your copy now!

Well, she's done it! Ella Gilman Conger has published her first novel for young teen girls.
Indian Summer, set in rural Aroostook County, Maine, during the 1930's, tells the story of a half Native American teen girl coming to terms with her identity. This is a charming story not only of a young girl on the cusp of independence, but of depression era rural Maine. The author captures those times with memories of annual potato harvests, schoolyard bullies, spiritual searches, social and racial class differences, and county fairs. It is an enduring story of family bonds and personal growth. For Mainers from the "County", it is a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Click on the title to read a sample - search for Indian Summer by Ella Gilman Conger.

Also, a children's story, Caty's Shoes, written by Ella and illustrated by her grandson, Nolan, will be available soon. Look for it in May.

822 and Counting!

Their wedding was the day after Thanksgiving. So they have always considered that day their anniversary even though it is not the same date every year. That day was chosen because it was the day after football season was over. The actual day was 41 years ago this past Monday or tomorrow if you are into traditions. They take advantage of both days.
For their wedding flowers they had one yellow rose on the altar. Except for one year (that's another story) Clay has presented Carol with a rose for every year that they have been married. According to Carol that is 822 yellow roses. Do you know how many dried rose petals that is? In one of her down sizing modes Carol finally threw all but the original ones away. "They took up too much space."
Monday morning, the 24th, before sunrise Clay headed downtown to his favorite wholesaler. When he returned with 41 long stem yellow roses Carol acted surprised. That's one of the tricks to making a marriage last. Treat the traditions as if it were the first time each time.
Tomorrow, the day after Thanksgiving, the couple will head downtown and stay at a hotel to celebrate their marriage and watch the lighting of the Riverwalk for their 41st Christmas season together.