Well, HALF a trip anyway....

[volksdragon]

This was our New Hampshire hiking trip weekend! Hooray!

Saturday's Hike-In from Zealand Trailhead to Zealand Falls was pleasant. 2-2.5 hours of easy hike in with Ms. Widget, nemomori and Father-In-Law. We got up there, hung around, and I HAND-CAUGHT SNAKES. There were some LARGE garter snakes sunning on the rock cliff just outside the hut, and they were slow enough that you could reach down and GRAB one gently behind the head, which I did. I was telling the kids there a little about the snakes, (it was a BOY Garter snake), and one of the parents asked me how I knew so much about snakes. I explained we had one, and then they saw the bottom of the snake tattoo on my arm, and seemed to realize I was an enthusiast. Being good and friendly garter snakes, aside from trying to twist around to bite my finger (which he couldn't), he didn't musk me too badly, and I eventually but him back on his rock.

At this point, I decided that going up to Mt. Hale (2.5miles from Zealand Hut) was a good idea. Dropped the pack, grabbed a water bottle, rain jacket (it was heavily overcast) and a bag of trail mix, left Widget with F-I-L and nemo, and took off.

Man. That shizzle was STEEP in some sections, and after already hiking in 35lb of goodies (clothes, food, a bottle of pear cider, etc) for 2.8 miles, I ended up stopping PRETTY often, especially on the steep sections. I almost turned around when I felt a few raindrops, but at that point, I was on a flat section, less than 1/2 mile from the summit, and What The Hell, ya know?

I made it to the top of Mt. Hale, which afforded no views, apparently having relatively recently filled in with trees (recent guides still talk of good views!), but there are the remains of the old fire tower, and I found huge water tank off in the woods about 100 yards down from the summit. Sadly, I did not bring the camera, or I would have snapped a picture of the now OMINOUS DARK GRAY SKY when I arrived at the summit. There was another couple up there taking pictures with a tripod, and getting ready to head down who mentioned it looked like rain. Yes, yes it did.

I sat for a few minute munching granola, and had just decided to get up and explore the summit when a HUGE gust of wind came in and then a heavy shower immediately started with pretty much no lead-up. :) I scrambled off the summit, and decided to take the hint to get back down, as I had 2.5 miles of moderate terrain to go, and I was obviously a little tired. I huddled under a tree just down-summit to put on my rain gear (read: fucked up rain slicker :) ) and stash the map and then started back down.

I have long legs and decent knees, so I down-climb pretty well. I made a lot better time heading back down, since I don't get winded going down, so I just kept plodding on, avoiding slippery rocks and roots. I had passed a total of 10 people going up, most in the first mile, except for the one mid-age woman and mother in her 70's at about mile 2.1 in. They were all heading down earlier, and so I only saw one group of three "kids" in their mid-late teens or early 20's heading up when I was going down. It was definitely the most quiet hike I've ever been on, and a lot of guides say Mt. Hale is a much more peaceful hike than a lot of more populous trails in the Whites. I think the guides are right.

The rain wasn't bad under the trees, and the slicker worked well enough to keep me mostly just MOIST, but I was putting out enough heat that moist didn't really matter, and I made it back down before the HEAVY rain started. Round trip was 5.4 miles (1300ft elevation in 2.7 miles each way) (on top of the 2.8 in that I had already done with a pack) making for a nice 8.2 mile day, a damp Scirocco, and someone VERY READY for a lovely Zealand Hut Dinner.

We stuffed ourselves at dinner (after I changed into some dry clothes) and Widget played card games with Lydia and Charlotte, two girls she met and made friends with up there. Lights-out was at 9:30, and just as I had predicted, the sky completely cleared by 9pm! STARS! Lots of them. Nemomori and I hung out and talked by Whitewall Brook next to the Hut, and then decided to move inside when we saw what looked like a little lightning to the South, to get some sleep.

The kids in our bunkroom (including Widget) were awake BEFORE 6am, WHISPERING in that ridiculous little kid whisper that's like 50 decibels. So, I didn't get to sleep in too much, but hey, whatever. Again, just as I predicted, the clear night had given way to MORE DAMN CLOUDS, and 20 minutes after we got up, it started RAINING. Bleh. Breakfast was hearty, but the weather report disheartening: Rain, and WIND of 45-50mph on summits and ridges, temp in the 50's, low cloud covers and a "perfect hypothermia day" as the hut "Croo" put it. Bleh, I say. After surveying our gear, including the factor of Widget, and the planned 7 miles across a ridge to Galehead Hut, RAIN, we decided to curtail our trip and hike out the way we came in, back to my car. :(

The hike out was damp but tolerable since we were in tree cover. Hannah got some chilly hands, but never complained about the damp, and did great, both going up the day before and heading down today. Our wildlife sightings were essentially nil, but we made it out alive, and decided to spend the afternoon at FUNSPOT! Funspot has SURPRISINGLY good food in their cheesy arcade restaurant, with GOOD fish and chips. :)

So, that was our abbreviated weekend. A good time, but too short.

Comments

[metalliman502.livejournal.com]

for some strange reason that particular hike(Zealand to Galehead to Greeanleaf or in reverse) seems cursed. Dad and I tried the section between Galehead and Greenleaf twice and got rained out both times and the last time i was at Zealand two years ago the weather was shitty too.

[armandae.livejournal.com]

Ya know. I see kidlets scampering all over the rock gym. Think Ms Widget is too young to start climbing? Kids are part monkey after all :) My father couldn't get me out of trees. I used to drag a book (or five) up there to read.

We have a lot of trees in oregon ;p Was funny to watch my father walking around to the base of all the trees trying to find me *chuckle* It is still my intention to go climbing tomorrow. I'm not sure about technoluddite after his ahh.. misadventures in montreal.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

I believe the minimum age for the climbing gym is eight years old. She wants to try it when she's old enough. :)

hiking

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

If you're ever interested in company for hiking with Hannah, do let me know!

Re: hiking

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

I am contemplating a Monadnock hike in Mid-september. I'll let you know what's being planned!

Re: hiking

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Awesome. I don't get to do nearly enough of this stuff.
Let me know when you do, since depending on what exactly you've got in mind, I may need new gear.

Re: hiking

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

Monadnock's just a day trip kinda thing. Hike in, bring lunch, hike back down. It can be done quickly, but with Hannah, it'll be slower. Still, it doesn't require much (really, any) gear.

Re: hiking

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Yay!