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| My favorite campsite at Zealand Campground |
After my Michigan vacation in early July I began fine tuning my plan. I consulted with a friend who has hiked the 4,000 footers in NH, he recommended that I get a waterproof map and gave me some trail suggestions. I picked up the map at EMS and created a route similar to the one suggested to me. The weekend of July 12th I had no races scheduled and put my plan into motion. I busted a move to get up to Twin Mountain on Friday so that I could reserve my favorite campsite at Zealand. I was psyched that it was still available and excitedly set up camp. It was going to be an early bedtime for me since I was planning to be up at 3:30 with hopes to be on the trail around 4:30. Everything went as planned and I had dropped my bike off at the Castle Trail and found one of the last official parking spots at Appalachia trail head. I was on the trail by 4:45. It was a chilly morning and I dressed in layers but less than 5 minutes up the trail (which was runnable) I started shedding. I headed up Valley Way
trail. I soon heard water and was delighted to be hiking along a flowing mountain river. I took a side trail along the water then made the decision to take Watson's Path. From what I read it was the most direct route up to Madison. I couldn't see hiking to the hut, up the mountain then back down again so the direct route up it was. Watson Path was an aggressive trail, I was careful to not make any wrong moves...a wrong step could have led to a not so fun tumble down the mountain. When I got above tree line it became a little more interesting and was definitely a new experience for me. I was hiking up what looked like a boulder field. Boulder after boulder...up, up, up. Thank goodness for the cairn rock piles. I stopped to turn around to enjoy the view several times. So beautiful! It was still pretty early when I reached the top of Madison. There were a couple people already up there including a female AT through hiker. She was super nice and super hairy. That convinced me that I could not be an AT hiker. ha ha |
| So. Many. Rocks. |
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| I present Mount Washington |
I took a bunch of pictures and moved on. Hiked down, down, down past the hut. Hiked around Star Lake and hiked up the Star Lake trail to Adams. The trail had a great view and the hike went much faster than I thought it would. The last little push up was a little tricky but fun. The peak was a little crowded but I met a couple groups of people-a group you teenaged/college boys and a group of 3 middle-aged men. The 3 men were nice, one of them took a picture for me since I am embarrassed to do selfies in front of other people. They shoved off before me so guess what? They were my targets. Hiking up there was more difficult that I thought it would be. It was all rocks and boulders. I passed by some more through hikers with big ole packs on and it really didn't look like they were enjoying themselves on these rocks. At the next intersection I caught up with the men and we all took a break, had a snack and I listened as they engaged in some smack talk. There was another group of guys taking a break as well. They too had big ole packs and were hiking the presidential range-for 3 days. My men took off and I got my pack on and was on the chase again. I made a ity bity mistake and was hiking with my head down, missed the cairn or blaze and found myself somewhere I didn't want to be. I could see the men above me and the boys below me but I was not on the trail. I thought I could cut over to the trail next to me. No can do, the pine shrubs were too thick. So I back tracked back down and was on my way again. I thought to myself...so that is how hikers find themselves lost. I met up with the men again at the top of
Jefferson. Dang the bugs were so bad up there! I threw my buff over my hat to keep the nasty things off me. They were unbearable and no one stayed up there for long. At this point the men and I went our separate ways. They were heading to Washington where a ride would be waiting for them below. I needed to get back to my bike.
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| Bugs! |
1/2-3/4 mile was a blur. I did have to stop for a quick potty break and wouldn't you know it, 3 seconds later I ran into a couple guys on the trail. That would have been embarrassing! I made it back to my bike and with a big ole smile on my face I rode back to the Appalachia trail head. Finished around 1:30pm. I downed a coconut water then cracked open a cold adult beverage. I had my whole afternoon ahead of me, it was great to be done. I was feeling BAD ASS!
Scared to death for this pic!
I can't think of a better way to kick off my mission to spend more time in the White Mountains!
