Bubbles Days 108-120 (Wednesday, July 13 through Monday, July 25, 2015)
White Mountains
The White Mountains are unlike anything I've ever experienced. The beauty is almost indescribable. I walked into the Whites afraid and worried I wouldn't be able to do it and walked up and over the last mountain in the Whites knowing, I now have a new goal. I want to hike the 48 - four thousand and above - peaks of New Hampshire.
The fear and self doubt diminished the second I was on top of Moosilauke. Looking out over the mountain ranges I would be hiking, and looking back into Vermont and the mountains I had already hiked, took my breath away. It was a surreal feeling and a moment that will be clear in my memory forever. My love for the Whites grew with every mountain I summited. I realized that I would be hiking slower than my already slow pace, and I'm okay with that! We were lucky also because we had pretty spectacular weather!
Franconia Ridge
Franconia Ridge was one of my favorite days of hiking to date. It looked like something out of a movie, Lord of the Rings or something of that nature. It was a weekend so it was swarming with day hikers, but that didn't bother me. I did feel bad for a few hikers who clearly weren't prepared for the weather on top of the mountains. Wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and a pair of Nikes isn't the proper attire for hiking mountains 4000 to over 5000 feet in elevation. The White Mountains are known for their beauty, but also for their unpredictable weather. It was warm one minute and cold and gusty the next. The weather was cloudy, but when the clouds would break, the views were something from out of this world. I took pictures, but no picture comes close to witnessing the beauty in person.
We met some trail maintainers from Maine who were working on their 48's (summiting all 48 peaks higher than 4000 feet). We sat and chatted with them for a little bit. I really appreciate all the trail maintainers and volunteers who make this trail what it is. I wish I lived closer so I could help maintain the trail myself. My appreciation for this national treasure has grown tremendously since beginning this hike. The lovely couple gave us little hiker goodie bags. What a kind couple.
It's really a different feeling being able to see where you are hiking next. Being above tree line is different hiking. You walk up, up, and up but it doesn't feel like up because your adrenaline is pumping and the excitement makes you forget about the climbing. Being able to look back and see where you've come from too is incredible. We hiked over little Haystack (4800ft), Mt. Lincoln (5089ft), Mt Lafayette (5263ft), and then Garfield (4458ft).
We decided to stay at Garfield Campsite. We had to pay for that night, and it was HORRIBLE. I didn't think it would be different from any other campsite we have stayed. However, I didn't expect to be crammed onto tent pads with three other tents! It was so crammed that we couldn't put our rain fly out properly. Worse than the extremely close camping quarters was the puke all over the privy in the morning. It was disgusting. It was the worst privy I've seen and we had to PAY for it. We decided we would be stealth camping through the Whites from now on instead of paying to be uncomfortable.
View from the trail
So beautiful!
Me with Jack
A warning sign about the fragile vegetation
Another great view!
See how the clouds cover just the top of the mountains?
The hike literally goes from being able to see everything to be able to see very little!
Above tree line
Going up!
Awesome rock formation
Sprout and I enjoying the views
360 degree view of Mt. Lafayette
Whiskers and Sprout
Sprout and I on the summit
Me coming down the mountain!
South Twins Mountain
The climb up the Twins was grueling and very steep, but it was incredible to be able to look behind me and see where we had come from and see the Galehead Hut getting smaller and smaller where we had left. The summit is very rocky and open. We sat up top and gazed off to the presidential range. We knew we would be getting to them soon. Excitement is an understatement for the upcoming presidential range!
Sprout and I waking up this morning
Mufasa and Sprout hiking on the trail
Sunbeams shooting through the clouds
Tracking a bird on the trail!
Pictures from South Twins to The Presidential Range
Morning on the trail!
Sprout
Sprout and I together
Lunch at the Zealand Falls Hut
Logs at the Zealand Falls Hut
The trail today
Stream
Sprout looking ahead on the trial
Pemigewasset Wilderness!!!
Webster Cliff Trail direction sign
Happy on the trail
Stealth Spot
Enjoying the sunset tonight!
Dusk
The Presidential Range
The presidential range was another one of my most memorable hikes. We were going to try to stay at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and then wake up early and hike all of the presidentials in one day, but there were a lot of hikers that passed us and planned on staying at Lakes of the Clouds. The Lakes of Clouds Hut lets three hikers do work-for-stay and then they have room for six hikers to stay in the "dungeon". I heard one hut worker say, "You couldn't pay me to sleep in the dark, dreary, usually wet dungeon." Thru hikers have to pay 10 dollars to sleep in the dungeon.
We looked for stealth spots to camp and when we didn't see any close to a stream we got water and walked back 0.7 miles to a stealth spot we found on top of Mt. Pierce (Mt. Clinton) which is about 4200 ft up. It was a windy night, but we were so happy to be hiking the presidential range, it didn’t matter. Before we went to sleep, Whiskers (part of our trail family) said, "guys get out of your tent now and check out the sun". We all got out and watched the sunset together. The colors were so beautiful and vibrant. I felt emotional standing next to my husband and such a great friend, as if we were all supposed to be here together, enjoying this moment with each other.
Fernando with a mushroom!
Sprout hiking up!
Mitzah Spring Hut
Mitzah Spring Hut
Whiskers and Sprout on the trail!
Sunset
In the morning we quickly packed up camp and set off over Mt. Eisenhower. Disclaimer ** we aren't purists.** A purist is a hiker who hikes every step on the AT. They don't do spur trails or if they do, they turn around and walk back the way they came so they don't miss a foot of the AT. I was like this up until the Presidential Mountain range. I decided that I was hiking more for the experience than to say "I hiked every step of the AT" I did originally tell my mom I wasn't going to miss or skip any of the trail because I am hiking for her, but I realized my mom would want me to have the experiences more than the "elitist title" of a purist.
We summited Eisenhower instead of taking the Appalachian Trail around the summit. At the top was a HUGE rock cairn and we all got our photos on top. The wind was so powerful we could barely stand up straight.
We went down Eisenhower and then took the spur trail up Monroe Mountain. By the time we summited Monroe it was completely socked in. No views, but the experience was cool. We got down to Lakes of the Clouds Hut and warmed up and got ready to summit Washington. I was really really looking forward to summiting Washington. Washington is the highest mountain in the Northeast. It is notorious for its erratic and somewhat scary weather. I think upwards of 150 people have died from exposure on the mountain. It was a scary thought because the mountain was in a cloud and pretty windy. We hiked to the top and I was elated that we made it to the summit of MOUNT WASHINGTON, 6288ft!! The highest mountain I've ever hiked. I felt so proud of myself.
We made it! Not sure if you can tell but it was WINDY!!!
No worries! I've got this!!! STOP
THE AREA AHEAD HAS THE WORST WEATHER IN AMERICA
MANY HAVE DIED THERE FROM EXPOSURE, EVEN IN THE
SUMMER. TURN BACK NOW IF THE WEATHER IS BAD WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST
We went into the building on top of the mountain and had chili, hotdogs, Gatorades, and hot coffee. We charged our phones and hung around for a couple hours. We had planned to take the cog train down Washington, but when we found out that it cost close to $50 dollars for a one way ticket, we knew we had to press on. We went back out to hike down off Washington and the wind had picked up, a lot. I was scared. I went back in the building to talk to people working there and the train conductor told us as soon as we started going down the mountain the wind would die down and we would be ok.
I twisted my ankle hiking down off the windy Washington and knew I couldn't go too far. We ended up stealth camping between Mount Clay and Jefferson, which really isn't allowed. We camped where people had clearly already camped and tried to leave as little trace as possible. The alpine vegetation is very fragile. You are supposed to camp 200 feet off the trail, but we camped really close to the trail and set up our campsite at dusk and woke up around 4 in the morning. Someone had made a fire close to where we were camping and we thought that was crazy. What did they burn? There is no firewood up that high.
Whiskers and I warming up after hiking today
In the morning we got up and quickly packed up camp. The sunrise was beautiful. We finished off the presidential range by hiking over the peak of Jefferson and Madison. We stopped at Madison Hut before climbing over Madison. When we finished the presidential range I was sort of sad. I wanted it to last longer. It was so beautiful being above tree line and looking off into the sea of Mountains.
Sunrise
Sea of Mountains
You can see the Summit of Mt. Washington!
Mt. Jefferson
Going down!
Before finishing off the White Mountains my sister picked us up from Pinkham Notch. She came to get Flying Dutchman. We stayed in Gorham and got ready to tackle the Wildcat and Carter Mountain ranges.
On the way to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
Moss covered rocks
Flying Dutchman, Smudgy Cheeks, Whiskers, Sprout, and Bubbles together again!
Time for a Chinese Buffet
Smudgy Cheeks and I eating!
The Wildcats were my hardest climb to date and I struggled a bit, however, we made it to the top of Carter Dome and we stealth camped at the top. We finished off the Carter mountains the next day. I limped into camp in tears because I really thought I may have been walking on a broken ankle. The pain was consistent and had worsened since Washington. I couldn't get comfortable in my tent. I was beyond worried. I didn't eat dinner. I got in my tent immediately and whimpered myself to sleep. I woke up and my ankle was still swollen and hurting, but not like the day before. We walked back into Gorham and I realized, I conquered the White Mountains and I had fun doing it!
No comments:
Post a Comment