Mt. Moosilauke

I realized that I haven't really done a 4000 footer this year, which is OK, because mountains don't always have to be 4000 footers, but the only one I was on was a bust. So, I wanted to at least get in one this year. I've been wanting to rehike Moosilauke because it was the first 4000 footer that I did solo, it's been several years, and I remember liking it. But, because of Covid the lodge that overlooks the mountain is closed, and so there's an extra walk to get in, so I couldn't decide if I wanted to do it. And then I decided, fuck it, I'm going. And, I'm glad I did! Even though I had to park 1.6 miles from the trailhead! 

Once again I got a late start (around 7:30), but decided that was OK because it's not the longest hike. It's 3.7 miles each way, and even though it's one of the higher 4000 footers, it's not the most elevation gain. I think it starts pretty far up the mountain, and it's one that is uphill for most of the hike. In the end, I did 2913 feet of elevation gain and 10.42 miles in 7 hrs and 7 minutes, but only 6 hrs and 9 minutes of that was moving time. 

It's a really nice hike, except near the top there are A LOT of stairs that are pretty exhausting, and since I didn't get started until around 11 ish, I was really hungry. Which you can see from my splits, that I slowed down (or, that I need to take it slower from the start.) Anyhow, on the way up, a lot of people passed me, but I was in a bit of a bubble on the way down, and almost no one did. 

I wound up doing an out and back hike this time - I thought about the loop because I had liked it a lot the last time, but also the last time I was doing crossfit (and it better shape) and didn't have to hike an extra 3.2 miles, so I didn't. And, I really liked it this way too! The walk down was really nice, there were some steep spots where I had a hard time, but mostly stairs and rocks. My feet were really sore, and I was tired, but would definitely do again that way :)

At the top, it was a bit of a zoo, there were so many people up there. And, there were even people going up as I was heading back down. These two women asked me to take their picture, which I did, and then they offered to take one of me. I think it was a bit windy...

It's not quite prime foliage, but we are getting close, and it was so pretty up in NH. The trees are beautiful and there was a mist coming over the mountains. I was kind of tired and thinking about not going for a hike, but so glad I did, definitely a good way to spend the day!

Holt, Mowglis and Manning trails

 

I couldn't decide what to do today, and was sitting on the couch drinking coffee and thinking that it was perfect hiking weather, and where should I go? When I saw a facebook posting about the Holt Trail up Carrigan, with a couple pictures, and of course decided to go! Glad I did, it was super fun, though hard on the feet.

The trail starts out pretty chill and relaxing, it's even got a long stretch that's on an old logging road. As I was walking, this guy wearing loose jeans and trainers passed me. First I though "I'm so slow, newbie guy passed me." Then I imagined if the egg salad sandwich people had been there, because they are pretty "cotton=death." Anyway, when I got to the sign above, he was standing looking at it and asked if I was going up that way. I was pretty impressed with myself that I was, and a little nervous. He decided to follow me for a little bit, but then realized that it wasn't going to work and turned back. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself when I got to the first really hard climby part - a nice slabby crack. Of course, at that moment a group of three 20 somethings came along and this guy practically climbed over me (it was pretty rude, actually) and then offered me a hand to help me up. I gave him a look. Seriously. 

Anyhow, there were a few really sketchy parts on the hike, most weren't really that bad, though there was one point at the top that was actually probably about a 5.2 climb, no rope, bit of a fall, pretty far up.  I didn't take a picture because I didn't want to look down. It may not have been a long fall, not sure. I was thinking about going back, but decided I would maybe get a photo the next time. (The photo above and below were fun and not too hard - there were good holds and the rock was pretty grippy and had nice holds and foot spots)

Once I got to the top, it was really nice to sit and eat a sandwich - I had to buy one at the rest area, so turkey and cheese on white bread and cheese pringles. Even though the sun was out, it was pretty windy and I was kind of cold. I can't believe it's that time of year already.

After my sandwich and a short rest I went over to a second mountain called firescrew, which is a funny name for a mountain, but a very pleasant location. I sat up there and ate an apple and the last chips and looked at the fire tower on cardigan. I love the sign up there, it's so weathered. Reluctantly I had to head down since it gets dark around 7 now. And, I didn't write down directions to get back to the highway, so I was going to have to figure that out too - the lodge where the trail starts is about 20 minutes off the highway, on a dirt road. 

My pace on mile three was very slow, though I believe it's counting the time I was walking around up top looking for a warm spot. The way down was slower than the way up, which is a little lame. My excuse is that my foot was killing me by that time, and I was a little hobbly. I got new boots hoping that they would help my feet, but they clearly didn't (though they were quite nice with the treads and stickyness). Anyhow, that made me way slower - that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I got to the parking lot, changed my shoes, and was doing my post-hike things when I saw a car with NJ plates leaving. So, I threw everything in, jumped into my car, and followed it! And, I was right to do so (I think that's a definition of white privilege right there). It definitely seemed that the car was headed back to the highway. At one point it turned into an old church and I kept going, and then I was like "this doesn't seem right." And I went back and realized that NJ had passed a turn - and I went that way too! Anyhow, I'm obviously home, it worked and I need to write down the directions home before I leave.

Two thumbs up, but hard if you don't climb!

Belknap and Gunstock

 

I'm actually writing well after the fact, I forgot to blog about my Mt. Belknap hike, which I realized was a mistake, because it was an awesome hike, one that I would definitely do again. I went on Saturday of Labor Day weekend - I can't believe that Labor Day has passed - and it was a great improvement over Owl's Head! I was thinking about different routes for the hike, and thought about trying to park in the same little lot as last time, but it was so small, I figured it would be full. Looking at a map, I realized that Gunstock ski resort wasn't far away at all, and of course they would have a ton of parking, so I planned my hike around that. There were a million people and a bunch of tents when I got there. It could have been a ski sale - maybe should have checked it out, but I just got new skis last year, and I don't think I need cross country. 

Anyhow, the plan was to do Belknap, which is the tallest mountain in the Belknaps, and then Gunstock. I had a cheese sandwich, pringles, and some nuts, and GPS with all trails. I did get a little carried away with my GPS, and went up this snowshoe trail, that I soon realized wasn't what I wanted to be on. Eventually I bushwacked to the actual trail. I managed to make a flat even walk in the woods into something difficult - good job me.

Some of the hike covered the same area as Klem and Mack, but then I turned off at a different trail to head up. I really liked the trail I took up, I took Birch to East Gilford which was the trail with a lot of elevation gain - E Gilford was not too steep, and was really slabby with opened sections and a few nice view points. I sat at one of the view spots and ate, and then went to the top and climbed the fire tower. While I was in the fire tower, these three guys came up, driving remote operated trucks. I was both impressed that their trucks made it all the way up, and annoyed at all the noise. Anyhow, I then took Blue trail to saddle to the top of Gunstock, where I sat at the top of the ski resort and finished my food. 

From there, I backtracked on saddle and headed down. There was a sign near the top of the ski mountain that said 1.4 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes walk, which I thought was a little excessive, but it messed with my head a little. In the end, it took me about 50 minutes, so the sign was wrong. 

According to alltrails, I did 7.37 miles with 1821 feet elevation gain and an average pace of 33:43 mph. Total hiking time was 5 hrs 2 min, with 4 hr 9 minutes of moving time, the rest was sandwich eating time! It gives you splits, which is nice - you can see where my first mile I was silly and got off trail and was pokey. And, you can see the uphill bits where things got slower. I'm looking forward to doing a longer/harder hike with alltrails to see what my splits look like!

Monday of Labor Day weekend I took the ferry to Provincetown. A friend of mine was staying there for a week and I'd never really been there. It was so nice! We walked around the cute shops, and then I went for a swim in the ocean (which was cold but not freezing). After, I walked on a jetty there, that's about a mile each way - it was a lot of fun, and very parkour. I was kind of dumb because I didn't bring water or a camera, but on the other hand, I wasn't distracted by getting the best photo. Definitely something to repeat, it was so nice, and taking the ferry made it very easy (except that I overslept and woke up at 8:10 for the 8:30 ferry - it was kind of a miracle that I made it). It would be really fun to walk out on the jetty and hang out on the beach for the day, there was really almost no one out there!