OWLS HEAD # 32....

2019 has been a wet spring and a busy summer so I didn't really get a lot of hiking in until August.  Richard and I did hike in the Charlevoix Region of Quebec which was beautiful!  On August 10th I returned to the 4000 footer list with a hike of Owls Head with my hiking partners Christine and Gio...fun was had by all although we all had our moments of wondering what we signed up for .....

The second half of this summer has been tough for me due to some health issues ......time in the forest with caring friends who bitch a little and laugh a lot is appreciated more than you will ever know!

Would you mind coming with me, Piglet, in case they turn out to be Hostile Animals?

A.A. Milne

The road walk at the end was LONGGGGGGG........a mental challenge!

Osceola and East Osceola

#30 and 31

East Osceola & Osceola 

October 21, 2018

It was cold - below 0 windchill above tree line

I will hang up my hiking shoes up until spring

We did conquer the Chimney on the way up Greeley Pond Trail - we used the bypass on the way down but all felt it would have been easier to come down the chimney

Gio did have a wardrobe failure...the tape we had worked but duct tape will be added to the packing list

Love the laughs and forest bath!   Looking forward to next spring  - thanks alls for being part of my journey!

#29 Mt Isolation.....Not Easy but Amazing views

#29 Mt Isolation

Direttissima -> Glen Boulder Trail -> Davis Path -> Spur Trail to Isolation -> Return via Davis Path -> Boot Spur Ling ->  Boot Spur trail Boot Spur Trail -> Tuckerman’s Ravine Trail 

Total Miles: 13.1

Total Elevation: 5144 ft

Average  Moving Speed: 1.5 mph

Moving time: 8:38:58 

 Amazing hike of Mt Isolation on Sunday 9/16/18 almost a year after starting my 4000 footer journey with a One Day Full Presi Traverse on 9/17/17 .  This year we began our drive to the mountain at 4:00 am last year we began our drive from our North Conway at 2:30.  Last year  above treeline the views were amazing with clear skies and 60 degrees; a bit unusual for September.  This year  the views were amazing with clear skies and it was even warmer at 75 degrees.  Last year I shared my hike with my friend of 15 years Sarah Elia. This year I shared my hike with two newer friends Gio Boggero and Christine Genard. Last year Sarah was suffering on our descent, as her boots were a poor fit, resulting in her wearing flip flops to the gym for the next month. This year Christine and Gio had sore knees and  during the descent were plotting pushing me off the next outlook.  Last year we finished at 7:30 PM, meeting Richard a bit later than expected, and could not wait to take our shoes off . This year we finished at 5:00 PM,  could not wait to take our shoes off, and headed to Starbucks.

Isolation 9/16/18

Sunrise on Madison 9/17/17

To all my friends I have brought along just remember the famous words of Winnie the Pooh:

You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes. 

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING IN MY JOURNEY....

 Glen Boulder

Split Rock 

View from Mt Isolation

The Path to Isolation

The Path to Isolation

Mt Washington in the clouds - Boot Spur

Tuckerman's Ravine & Mt Washington - Boot Spur 

#25, #26, #27, & #28 

North Twin, South Twin, Galehead & Garfield

and #1, #2, #3, & #4 for Reid

I sit in my living room with my tired feet up enjoying a rum a tonic after a great day of hiking a bit over 15 miles, 4888 ft of elevation with 1.9 mph average speed to add 4 more peaks to my list.  This time my neighbor and friend Robyn Powley and her son Reid joined me.  All I can say is Reid is a mountain goat...it was great fun and looking forward to more.  In the great words of Reid "I like to hike because it is just quiet".  As I have said before whether I summit all the 4000 footers in my 50th years does not really matter - my intention was getting back to something I enjoyed and connecting with friends doing it - it has been a great journey so far. 

Why does my hair always look so bad in hiking selfies....

North Twin 

 South Twin 

 Galehead

 Garfield

 4 Peaks 

Some how this meant 28 

Great Fun...more to come 

HALFWAY POINT

MOUNT CARRIGAIN

The Journey Continues....August 11...Gio, Christine and I started out at 4:00 am to beat the rain, the bugs and it is some much more enjoyable to being descending the mountain and saying hello to others ascending rather than the other way around.  Also..another reward for getting up early is this view on the drive: 

My year long adventure of enjoying hiking along with connecting with both old and new friends.  Today was an awesome day spent laughing, talking and hiking.  Thanks Gio and Christine for joining me...and sorry about the small little bit of extra mileage: 

We did  beat the rain and got great views - although it was definitely a bad hair day for me: 

Fun Times !

Having Fun 

Over and Out!