 (Home) |
White Mountains, NHCamping and Hiking TripOctober 12th - 16th, 2013 |
|
click photos to view full size (in new window) 
Driving north it rained the whole way, but skies suddenly clear as the eight of us arrive in the White Mountains for four days of adventure.
We get a beautiful glimpse of the peaks through a break in the trees.
|
Despite our advance inquiries, we learn upon arrival that our campground has been closed due to the federal government shutdown.
But through a lucky turn of events we instead got to live in the solitude of a nice open-air shelter perched on the side of Pine Mountain.
|
From our shelter, the Sunday morning Pine Mountain sunrise was amazing!
|
Rise and shine! We wake up at dawn and prepare to hike Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeast!
|
| Welcome to Middle Earth! Despite a shroud of fog, spirits were high as we begin our Mt. Washington ascent along Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. It wasn't long before we rose above the fog, giving us our first scenic views through the trees. |
|
|
At 5000 feet we pass Lake of the Clouds.
|
|
Our final slog toward the Mt. Washington summit pays off! After sprinting the last 100 yards we wanted to pass out, but caught our breath in time for a group photo at 6,288 feet. |
|
|
Lunch tastes better at 6,288 feet, not to mention the fact that we'd worked up quite an appetite by now.
|
|
From the Mt. Washington summit we begin our long descent on Jewell Trail. At a scenic spot, Danny takes a moment to contemplate the universe. 
|
As we reach lower elevations, Sasha considers an alternative lifestyle as a river hermit.
|
Following a night of rest and recuperation from our Mt. Washington adventure, we set our sights on Mt. Madison, our Monday destination.
|
A perfect snack spot en route to the Mt. Madison summit.
|
Mugsy (our mascot) gets to climb Mt. Madison too!
|
From the summit of Mt. Madison at 5702 feet, we were wrapped snuggly in clouds and couldn't see much further than our hands.
|
We begin our Mt. Madison descent. Going down doesn't mean it's easy! Our feet are getting a little sore by now.
|
Dropping below the clouds, things look and feel a bit more civilized. Tasos and Andrew step their way down the trail without the extra
layers we had donned up above.
|
Too cool for words! You'll need to dream up your own caption for this one.
|
Sadness as we leave the beautiful White Mountains behind on our 200 mile trek back to Clark. We all wanted to forsake civilization and
make the Whites our home.
|
|
View photos on Facebook |