CANNON FOR #48!!

I started this journey on July 29th, 2017 with a hike of Lafayette and Lincoln.  I hiked this with Grace before she left to start her college journey on the west coast.  I finished today October 12th, 2019 across from Franconia Ridge on Cannon with Richard and and 8 great friends.  Some of my words as I started this journey:

Next year we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We are so excited to see all of our children begin their independent adults lives.  I feel like this is a great time for new beginnings.  I have always loved hiking but have not always had the time to climb as much as I would like.  Now I have the time!  I have decided to make a goal of hiking the 4000 footers.  I am beginning with just simply - climb all the peaks.  I will let other goals such as, when or how quickly naturally develop overtime.  For now I simply begin. 

During the 2+ year journey I have done the following: 

• Hiked with 13 different friends
• Hiked with each of my immediate family members except 1 - Conor you owe me 💗
• Hiked 10 peaks solo
• Completed a Single Day Presi Traverse
• Completed a sunrise hike
• Completed a sunset hike
• Saw a black bear - but not when hiking but when driving of rt 16 to the trailhead

So here are some photos from today. This has been and awesome journey.  For a while I will simply hike and now worry about lists. I will not call this an end but instead a beginning.

COMPLETION

AHHH #47 CABOT

CABOT

I have to admit that on Friday night I was not that psyched about squeezing my hike up Cabot into this fairly busy weekend.  Probably had a lot to do with the busy and emotionally draining week of finishing up my last days at my job of 10 years.  However looking ahead I knew this Saturday was the only time to get it done before my final group summit of #48 next weekend. I was unable to find a friend or family member who was available to hike so I was going solo.  I woke at 4 am to get an early start as I had plans with friends in the evening.  I was a bit slow getting out of the house leaving at about 4:45am on Saturday October 5th....my daughter's 20th birthday. 

This is a lesson that sometimes when you don't feel like doing something you can be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself once you get started.  The long drive to the trailhead was a bit of a negative but because this mountain is farther the foliage seemed to be peaking.  This was a beautiful hike in the forest on a brisk fall day which allowed me to process my thoughts about finishing up at Exeter Hospital yesterday.  I know this was absolutely the right decision every with my apprehension about what the future holds.  I had an awesome, quick hike, running down much of the descent.  Fall is definitely the time to summit Cabot 

The picture does not capture the peace of the woods...the quiet, the light and the sounds of the stream along the route 

Little bit of ice at the toward the top - was 32 degrees most of the hike 

Fire Warden's Cabin

View from old fire tower location

Love the reds

Was able to keep a good pace to get a workout!

Moriah #46

September 21st 2019 - Mt Moriah on a beautiful day with great company. We missed Gio who was home working - will catch her on the next one.  Pretty good TREE in the trees.  This journey has been so fun and rewarding.  It really has very little to do with completing a list but rather time spent with friends old and new, time spent exercises in the outdoors and experiencing the beauty of the White Mountains.

We met Moriah the dog on Mt Moriah

We were surprised when we reached the end of the hike.  It was moderately difficult but went by quickly...likely because we were chatting most of the journey.  I would definitely do this one again.

The Hancocks for #44 & #45

 September 12, 2019 likely my last solo hike....the Mountain forecast let me down as it said nothing about rain when I look at it last night.  The rain started just as I parked my car at the trailhead.  It now does say rain but not sure when the change was made.  It is not always about the views!  It was quiet in the woods except for my bear bell which I used a lot as  I did not see another hiker until I was halfway through the return trip.  Although overall a moderate hike I was surprised by the steepness much of the elevation is in the loop of the trail. 

View from North

The Foliage change is just starting....

The greens in the forest were beautiful - the wet conditions almost made them more so 

I was able to move right along on the flats making this a pretty quick hike 

The sun did come out right as I returned to my car...but overall it was a good hike.  Any day in the forest is a good day 😃 

North and South Kinsman #42 & #43

September 10th, 2019 decided to do another solo hike of the Kinsmans via Lonesome Lake Trail and Fishin Jimmy.  It was a beautiful day and had more energy than  last month.  I have been able to eat a bit more which has been helpful.

Lonesome Lake

Relaxing on the Lonesome Lake Bridge 

The moss on Fishin Jimmy was beautiful

Oh and then there were the Views - the photos never capture the views particularly the 360 views on South Kinsman

View of Kinsman Pond from the ledge near the top of North Kinsman

Mt Tecumseh for a bit #41

Richard finally joined me for a hike on August 30th, 2019...he didn't hate it.

Also Downloaded Peakfinder - which was pretty cool - should have gotten this at the start of my journey to have a better understanding of location of peaks relative to one another.

Is it still a 4000 footer?

The hike was a bit slower than with Angus or Grace but it allowed be to really enjoy the forest - which is beautiful and quiet on this hike