Mt. Washington

More than 10 years ago, Hansel, Gretel, Two Bad, Mom and I climbed Mt. Washington for the first time.  Mt. Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast and it is notorious for its dangerously erratic weather.  When we climbed it, we ascended the mountain in a hail storm and fog so thick we had to hold hands so we wouldn't lose one another.  We would never have known that we had made it to the top if Mom hadn't tripped over the sign.

Now was the time for Hansel and Gretel to battle Mt. Washington for the second time.  Although it is not technically required as part of the Appalachian Trail, they felt they would be remiss if they skipped over this giant of a mountain.  This time, they faced Washington in the rain.  Being that high was quite an experience because there were times when they were not completely in the clouds, but they could see the clouds everywhere else.  In some places they could see where it was raining miles away.  Everything looks blurry in the rainy spots and you can actually see lines in the sky where the rain is streaming down.

At the top of the mountain, Hansel was able to replace his "This Body Climbed Mt. Washington" t-shirt. He was very excited about this, which is a little bit humorous.  Here the kid has hike over 18 hundred miles and summited hundreds of peaks, and yet he is all jazzed up about climbing this one mountain.  Not to belittle the Mt. Washington accomplishment.  It is certainly a very challenging climb and the weather can be quite treacherous.

The rest of the day was also not an easy one.  The rain, as always, made the trail slick.  At one point Hansel took a hard fall, striking his hip on a rock.  It hurt so bad he saw stars when he opened his eyes.  The trail was slow going.  They had plans to go all the way to Pinkham Notch, but when they rolled into Madison Hut at 3:30, they knew they weren't going to be able to pack in the remaining 7-8 miles to get to Pinkham safely.  That messed with their schedule a bit and the rain also put a damper on the day (pun intended), but the staff at Madison Hut lifted their spirits and refueled them for the coming days.

Happy Trails!

Hansel is pointing his pole at Mt. Washington

Gretel is framing Mt. Washington with her poles

Two Bad!

Introducing the newest, short term, member of the Jabeccawalk Team: 

Dad!

Around 9 this morning, Dad stuffed his pack and a small suitcase into the trunk of a cab headed for the airport (since you can’t take knives and fuel in your carry-on bag, he will have to mail the empty suit case home after he reloads the off-limits items into his backpack).  Around 3pm Dad met Hansel and Gretel at their hostel in Catawba and they started their march back into the woods. 

One problem: they weren’t nearly as far as they thought they were yesterday after tumbling down the mountain.  Very quickly, their 3-mile hike to the next shelter turned into a 6-mile hike.   So much for easing Dad into the Appalachian experience! 

I was wrong before when I said there was only one problem.  It also was raining, so they all got wet.  Good thing Dad came prepared with rain gear.  And then we have the problem of age.  As Dad was hiking he reminded the young and spry Hansel and Gretel that he was doing this hike with “two bad hips, two bad, knees, two bad feet, two bad…”  He continued to repeat all of these problems as they hiked until Hansel interrupted him.  

“Well Dad, I think you just got your trail name,” Hansel declared.  “Two Bad!” Isn't that too bad?

And so, Hansel, Gretel, and Two Bad have begun their week together!

Happy trails!

Who needs an alarm clock when you have a rooster?  This little guy woke up Hansel and Gretel this morning!

A Hostel Friend

Gretel making an epic breakfast!

Hansel with his plate.  They picked the eggs right out of the nest!

Also, does anyone else thing that Hansel's hair is getting rather fro-tastic?