Once again I got off to a late start. I left home around 8:30, which was just stupid on my part. Of course there was a ton of traffic because it's a work day, and then I got caught in construction - which was particularly annoying because as far as I could see they weren't actually doing anything. Just a few cops and a few construction folks putting down cones and acting important. It was 11:45 by the time I got to the parking lot, which is way longer than it should have taken! (I did stop to pee and get more coffee, which led to another stop to pee, so not all driving.) Thank heaven for books on tape. It makes the drive so much easier.
It was so pretty up in NH, peak foliage I think, the trees were all changing color. Lafayette and Washington even had some light snow up top! The trail at the bottom was covered in leaves, it was so crunchy and nice walking through. Of course, since I started at 11:50, I was worried about the time. The sunset is around 7, but it gets dark earlier in the woods, and it's hunting season. Not that hunters usually go near trails, but still, I didn't really want to be out in dusk. Book time was about 5 hrs and 15 min, with the first uphill part being 2 hrs and 20 min - to the top of Starr King Mountain.
I tried to book it as much as I could for me heading up. I was actually feeling pretty good for most of the hike - breathing heavy but still moving, feeling strong! The guide book broke the hike from the parking lot to a ridge and then from the ridge to the top of Starr King. The only thing was the ridge wasn't really clear from walking. According to the book, the ridgeline was about 1 hr 20 min, and the top of the mountain 2 hrs 20 min. I was thinking that the hike would be uphill but the kind of hike that you could walk to the ridgeline, and then a NH kind of hike to the top - which is to say someone just blazes a trail straight up pretty much, and you need to use some trees, rocks, etc to help you up. After about 2 hrs I hadn't reached the part I was expecting, where it really gets steep and I was worrying. Suddenly, though, I could see the trees getting thinner, and I was thinking, if this is the ridgeline I'm in trouble and may need to turn back. Ha! It was the top of Starr King! I was 20 min faster than book time!! That should help me get my confidence back :)
The top of Starr King was really nice. There were these birds, grey jays, hanging out. They will land on you and eat out of your hand if you feed them. I didn't feed them, though, I kinda don't believe in that sort of thing. There was also an old chimney from a cabin that had been there. The clearing up there had some nice flat rocks, and it was sunny, and warm. You could see the Presidential range, including Washington (and I felt impressed with myself again for having walked the Presi traverse.) There was one other person up there who was unimpressed that I hiked faster than book time. After he left, I had the place to myself for a little snack.
From Starr King it is a mile of ridge line to Waumbek. It took me about a half hour to get there. There's no view from the top, but .1 mile after there's a blowdown with an amazing view of the Presidentials again, where I stopped, ate a sandwich, and chilled. I kinda wanted to stay there forever, it was so nice! But, I did need to get back down. I swear I thought, "I haven't heard any hunters." and almost immediately after I started to hear shooting! But it was so much, it must have been a shooting range. I did at one point startle what must have been a wild turkey, it sounded like a really large bird, and it made a lot of noise taking off. Turkey.
Anyhow, by the time I finished eating my sandwich (three slices of cheese on a challah roll, and you can't believe how good that tasted) it was about 3 and so reluctantly I headed back. I stopped again for a short pause on top of Starr King and headed down. I went down using my poles, and trying to let gravity help me, instead of fighting it. The trail wasn't very rocky for a NH trail, and it was pretty gradual as well. But, it had rained the day before, and there were a ton of leaves, so it was a little tricky. I slipped on a couple rocks but didn't fall at all. As I was about half way down, a trail runner and his dog passed me going up! Ha! I wasn't the last one that day!!
I got back to my car around 5:30. I was a little tired, but not too bad. My feet weren't killing me, no blisters, and I didn't wonder why I had gotten myself into this crazy challenge. So, not a bad mountain! It took 2 hrs and 45 minutes of driving to get home. I've gotten into the very bad habit of stopping at the rest area just past Concord NH and getting pizza or a burger. So, it was about 9 when I got home. It was a good day, and I'm feeling good about the hike! Next time, something bigger!!
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