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Check it out:  Life After 48

After I decided to turn around and forego a third summit of Lafayette, I  realized how wonderful it is to be able to do that.  No more "must have" summits.  I can come and go as I please.  Well, I am in pursuit of the NE67 and NE115, but in New Hampshire. I am done.

I am enjoying the freedom that finishing a list brings.  Let the real adventures begin.

Coming soon to a trailhead near you

Please don't shoot the messenger

Since I had Saturday off, I decided to head up to the headquarters of the White Mountains National Forest to do a little training.  Yup, you may see me at some of the most popular trailheads as a Trailhead Steward.  What do we do?  Well we provide information about the hiking trails and other areas of interest.  But we also provide vital information on the HikeSafe Program and Leave No trace.  You can find info on these important programs below:

Leave No Trace

Hike Safe

10 Essentials and then some

There was a lot to learn: how to deal with certain personalities, what if people have weapons, how to handle emergencies.  For the weapons piece, we follow state firearm laws, but you cannot carry in a federal building.  We also learned about other opportunities available to us.  It is a grant funded volunteer program, so you might want to hit up your Congressperson to fund it permanently.  It is a possible lifesaver.  Just convincing one person to change their plans could prevent a SAR situation.  Plus you can ask us how to rent bear barrels.

So what else could I do on a warm Saturday.  Hike the AT to the Ethan Pond Shelter of course.  Granted I wanted to know what the trail was like for my backpacking trip in June, so it was a no brainer given the time.  But man, it was hot and humid.  I did not like that.  And it is a steep trail.  1450ft in 2.6 miles.  It really is not bad, but the heat makes it seem horrible.  Luckily the clouds came out so it was not sun fueled heat.  And there are bog bridges after the Willey Range Trail.  Like a city of bog bridges.  Like “OH LOOK, another set of bog bridges.”  Or “let me guess another set of bog bridges.” And “WOW OMG. more bog bridges.”  Did I mention there were lots of bog bridges?  And that was just part of the trail.  And there were some places that needed them, but did not have them.  Hello mud.  

But wait, there's more

Finally made it to the junction for the side trail to the shelter.  One of the nicest side trails.  Some a quite steep and rough, but this was nice.  When you get to Ethan Pond, you have two choices to cross.  I used both, one coming in, one going out.  It is a nice shelter, just interesting to get up.  There are also several tent platforms, many look brand new.  Of course there is a privy and bearboxes.  Please do not sleep with your food.  Please.  There is also a cooking/dishwashing area.  Pretty nice.  I can’t wait to stay there.  Made it down in good time, but no service, so I could not figure out where I would spend the night.  Found service and the location.  Passaconaway Campground.

You can go this way

Or this way

Ethan Pond

 I belong to a group of awesome hikers and backpacking and just awesome outdoor enthusiasts.  We have had several campouts, but I was never able to join.  Someone posted they would be at the campground and several of us showed up.  I was not well prepared, but somehow having paper towels made me like a goddess.  Oh and Fireball.  And a water container.  It was not grassfed burgers, chicken or steaks, but you know, paper towels.  We even had bacon and cinnamon buns for breakfast.

Yummy

 We just hung out.  And we waited for the rest of our group who was doing a Tripyramid traverse the hard way.  After some worrying, they returned and well, the more the merrier.  Lots of hiking discussions, planning, and plenty of shenanigans, especially by the canines.  Little Bella kept trying to escape.  Baron was begging for food.  Elizabeth barked and whined.  Molly wanted everyone’s attention.  By the way Round midnight, when it was just getting good, it started to rain.  So off to the tent I went.  I stayed dry, but the condensation was lousy.  I will be getting another tent as this one has lousy ventilation, and it is heavy.  I mean it is a car camping tent, but man.  You get what you pay for.  Less $$, more lbs.

Baron, the master of begging

Bella, the Princess

Baron, the master of the nap

After not much sleep, I decided I was  going home.  The first night in a tent is always the hardest.  Had breakfast, hung out with some more people, a few more popped by too.  It was a great impromptu trip.  I will miss the next planned one because of the backpacking trip.  I am a co-leader, so I have to show up.  I am excited for the summer season.  Not the heat, not the bugs, but hanging out with friends.  It is much better outside than in some stuffy bar or function hall.  Just add nature.  I am already having withdrawals.  

On the way home I crossed into Maine

Twice, but this time, the road went back into NH

Yeah, I-95 will just have to be reserved for Maine trips

#HikeLAG for Atticus

So I took Friday off with the plan to hike.  Maybe Franconia Ridge, stay at the hut.  Thank you pollen for the nauseating headache.  And Saturday was supposed to rain, so I felt like I lost the whole weekend.  But the weather lied.  Saturday was wonderful.  Hot, but mostly sunny.  So many choices, so I went with Mt. Agamenticus in York, ME.  I have hike 4 mountains in Maine;  Katahdin, Bradbury, Gorham, and now Mt. A.  Everyone has had an awesome ocean view.  After Gorham, Mt. A is pure awesomeness.  And with 3 fewer hours of driving, it is my go to Maine destination.  Plus, it is close to Ogunquit.  How can you go wrong with that?

Mt. Agamenticus used to be a ski area.  Imagine riding down the slopes with the ocean right in front of you.  Ok, it was not as like that, but you can still see relics of the ski area.  There is a ice loop around the mountain with several trails up to the summit and different roads.  There is an auto road.  Short, steep, and BOOM views.  Yeah, kinda took the road by accident, but got a map (donation) and planned my climb.  Hot and buggy,  Welcome to May in Maine.  Just keep walking, or they will devour you.  

The trail is not too long and skirts the summit.  I choose the Fisher Trail up.  Good choice.  The views to the west were great, even with the clouds.  It was nice to say HI to my White Mountains.  Maybe next weekend.  It is a nice summit for not a whole lot of work.  Mountains on one side, the ocean on the other, best of both worlds all in one.  There is a platform and lots of old ski equipment.  And some wonderful smelling flowers.  Definitely worth the toll.  The views are just great all over Mt. A.  It was just a great day to be out.  Plenty of time to get the mothballs out of the summer equipment and test your trail legs.  When I got there, it was not that crowded, but I can see a conga line in the later weeks.  

So what do you do after a hike like that?  Hit the Hannaford’s produce department of course.  Seems to be a theme lately.  Stock up at Market Basket, feed hiker hunger at Hannaford’s.  It’s all about the wing bar.  But I really went to get some BBQ goodies.  Carol got a nice cabin at Pawtuckaway.  So she has a BBQ.  It was good to see one of my partners in crime.  Yes, shenanigans were planned.  Great fun, met new friends, and ribeye to boot.  Yes, this is what life is about.  Hiking and friends.  I hated driving home, but I left my sleeping bag at home and Willy was not feeling well.  

I have a long way to go to get back to my prime hiking shape.  I have goals, big ones, I do not know if I will reach them all this summer, but I will try.  The hiking world lost Atticus Friday.  His adventures with his human partner Tom show the true potential of all beings.  Their ability to be one with nature was just amazing.  And how they took Will into their home to help him live out his final earthly days was just heartwarming.  With Willy being sick, his passing was never far from my mind.  So far Willy is the oldest cat I have had.  Well second, but he is mine.  With so many changes and more on the way, I cannot lose anymore.  I am still working to be the person I want to be.  It is a hard road.  Hopefully I can have some good, happy adventures.