Empty Nest 4000 Footers: One Day Full Presi TraverseOne day - 23 miles give...

Empty Nest 4000 Footers: One Day Full Presi TraverseOne day - 23 miles give...: One Day Full Presi Traverse One day - 23 miles give or take depending on your path and summit the following peaks: Madison-Adams-Jeff...

One Day Full Presi Traverse

One day - 23 miles give or take depending on your path and summit the following peaks:

Madison-Adams-Jefferson-Clay*-Washington-Monroe-Franklin*-Eisenhower-Pierce

(*Not on 4000 footer list due to precipice rule)

The weather could not have been better lower 60s, clear with light winds.  We still prepared for the worse in terms of gear but completed most of the hike in tank/short sleeve shirts.  We begin at 3:30 am with headlamps and finished with headlamps on the Crawford path descent which at times seemed endless. My very patient husband waited for us at the Highland Center with champagne.  We arrived at 7:30.

My hiking partner was Sarah Elia a great friend who unfortunately due to the daily commitments of life I have not spent much time with in recent years.  I feel like reconnecting with friends is a big part of what this empty nest hiking quest is about - not so much about bagging peaks.  Sarah pushed though the pain of blistered feet - not sure I could have pushed through like she did.  I am sure her hiking boots are in the trash this am. 

Thank you Lynn Campbell Fitch for sharing your great home allowing us to be a bit closer to the trailhead for our planned 3:30 am start.  We limited ourselves to one glass of wine the night before - enough to help us get some sleep before our 2:00 am wake up 

We hiked Valley Way trail up Madison in 3 hours to catch the sunrise.  We were only afraid a few times  by both the large toads on the trail and a few bear shadows.  When we arrived Madison was in the clouds but then cleared just for us :) - the first of many great views!

A great hiking partner

Mt Adams was the only peak which was clouded in during our summit.  The sun just needed a bit of time to burn off the clouds 

As we approached Jefferson the clouds began to lift...

Lifted a bit more...

...and the rest of the day looked like this....   

Amazing view from Mt Jefferson - Peak #3

Peak #4 - Some hikers will skip Mt Clay, as it is not one of the 48 4000 footers.  This is not about peak bagging for me but rather spending time doing something I love, with people I care about in the beautiful outdoors.

Peak #5 - Washington - it is a little weird to see so many people and cars 

Also Mt Monroe 

After the hike down Washington to the Lake of the Clouds hut our feet (especially Sarah's blistered feet) were feeling in on the rocks. 



The quick ascent up Monroe (#6) was a nice relief

We thought this was Mt Franklin - not a president I know but on our path - however this really may have been the second peak of Monroe.  We do know at some point we traversed over the small precipice of Franklin (#7).  Our growing fatigue is visible in this photo.

Looking toward the hike to Eisenhower and Pierce - that peak looked larger than I wanted it to be 

Mt. Eisenhower - the hike up was not as bad as it looked from afar.  Actually going up was preferable to stepping down the rocky paths as our feet and legs were screaming.

FINALLY - MT PIERCE!  Now we just need to get down.  This was not as easy as we hoped.  The trail was quite wet and rocky and felt much longer than the stated distance.  We had to put our headlamps back on toward the end. 

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My loving husband not only sat waiting in the Highland Center Parking lot for 3 and 1/2 hours but also brought us champagne to celebrate our finish.  We did not open it last night as Sarah had to drive herself home.  Richard and I opened it today to celebrate.  Sarah we will have to have a celebratory night out soon!!!!

This was an awesome day! There were moments of pain, fatigue and frustration but the weather, views, and company made it all worth it.  Thanks Sarah 

Last Week there were no 4000 footers as we were too busy enjoying ourselves with Friends at Camp Kabeyun Family Camp- the weekend was made better with a sunrise hike of Mt Major 

Getting back to the 4000 footers: Today I completed my first solo 4000 footer hike - Out and back via the Liberty Springs trail checking off Liberty and Flume.  I was able to complete the hike in about 5 hours and 30 minutes starting at 7:00am this morning.  I did not meet anyone on the trail until about 45 minutes into hiking - quiet and very green - so rejuvenating.  Although most as the ascent was sparsely populated I encountered many hikers ascending during my descent.  

When I first summited Liberty it was clouded in 

however one of the advantages of and out and back hike is there is an opportunity for a second look - which was amazing

Flume was clear on the summit as well - a bit of a steep drop off as well

So this weekend was the first chance I had  to begin my 4000 ft quest.  The initial plan was to hike Mt. Tecumseh with Conor but unfortunately he was unable to join me due a school project.  With a bit of prodding Grace was excited about a going away White Mountain hike  prior to her departure to the West Coast. The forecast was so nice today we decided to tackle the Lafayette loop allowing me to check off Mt Lincoln (5089') and Mt Lafayette (5249').  Little Haystack (4760') was the first peak reached although not on the list of 4000 footers as it prominence to adjacent mountains is too small. It is not often in a New England July you get clear 70 degree weather for a hike.  The views were amazing but unfortunately my photographic skills do not do it justice - despite using my new selfie stick !

It was a great day...I only slowed Grace down a little... the day ended with Richards wonderful homemade pizza 😍

Please reach out if you are interested in joining me.  I will hike on weekends as I have this thing called work which gets in the way of hiking during the week!

In a little less than seven weeks I will start living my 50th year.  In three weeks we leave to drop Grace, our youngest, off to begin her college career.  Angus, our middle,  is spending his summer working on the shores of Winnepasaukee at Camp Kabeyun.  He will return home for just a few days before leaving to start his second year at Hobart William Smith Colleges.  Conor, our oldest, continues to work toward his college degree while working part time at a veterinary practice.  He has recently purchased his own car and we are seeing less and less of him.

Next year we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.  We are so excited to see all of our children begin their independent adult lives.  I feels 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 am simply beginning.  The first will be Mt Tecumseh. Climbing the shortest seemed to be a good place to start.