Granite State of Mind

Well the day finally arrived; July 17, 2011.   Weather for the weekend was fantastic on Saturday and forecasted to remain the same, but slightly warmer for Sunday (no rain, 60’s on the higher summits and 80’s in the valley).  The "traverse" was on!!  

Dave picked me up at 5pm Saturday and we headed to Lancaster, NH to spend the evening with Duck and her husband.   The skies were so clear as we drove thru the Notch and continue north on Rt3, one could easily see the towers atop of Mt Cannon and Mt Washington.  

Once at Duck’s house, we organize our gear, studied the map and set a plan.   Plan A was to run the ridge from Madison to Eisenhower.   Gary would drop us off in Randolph and pick us up at the designated trail head on Rt302 around 6pm Sunday.    

Our trip kicked off at 5am and wrapped up on schedule at 6pm.   However…Madison did not happen because we were so focused on getting to the top of Adams.   By the time we arrived at the summit of Mt Washington around 1pm, Duck was feeling really ill.  It took almost everything she had to even make the summit.  The weather today was about as perfect as we could have possibility been dealt.  A summit bid had to happen and we were especially grateful to our Mom (Duck’s running nickname), for working through her pain!

Personally, I had no interest in coming back at a later date to hike Mt Washington. 
Mt Washington is not the prettiest or most spiritual of summits (this time of year).   For me, it is also far too industrialized/populated.  First time I had the opportunity to hike Mt. Washington was almost 10 years ago.   The friends I was with opted for a ride down.  To complete the hike today, felt as if I finally got that proverbial monkey off my back.

So…not about to abandon our Mom, once at the Lakes in the Clouds Hut, as a group we chose to take the low goat path thereby avoiding the summits and ridge line between Eisenhower and Monroe.  Dave initially suggested that I summit Monroe since it was staring us in the face;  while he photographed me from below.  As thrilling as that idea sounded, I declined his suggestion and stayed with the team.  Monroe and Eisenhower can be accessed easy enough as an out and back ….I will do them another time; with or without companions.  

Best investment:  a camelback

Mistake: not changing my socks ½ way thru the hike