We're down!

The sun is behind the mountains, but the trail was not dark yet. We hit the end of the trail at 6:25, taking a total of 5 hrs and 15 minutes (no speed records broken here today!). There will be a lessons learned entry coming soon.

Now, back to the most beautiful campsite at Lafayette Campground with our first 4000+ ft peak in the bag!


(sent from the parking lot at Saco Lake, near the Webster-Jackson Trailhead)

Timing again

Coming down as fast as we dare, but we're not speed demons!
We hit the 'split' at 5:45, leaving us with 1.2 mi to go.
We're racing the sun down!

Summit of Mt Jackson!

We reached the summit at 4pm.
(sent from the top of Mt Jackson)

Timeline

Just past the split between Webster and Jackson trails at 2:25. That is 1 hr and 15 min into our hike. 1.2 mi down w/ 1.4 to go to the top!

We plan to add 1.2 mi and do Webster too. Will it get dark before we get back to the car? Dark abt 6:30 here?
(sent from the trail on Mt Jackson)

The Big Picture

"What is the point of climbing a mountain if you just focus on getting to the top and don't see any of the beautiful things along the trail?"

This is what my daughter said as we started the climb on Mt. Jackson our first 4000'+ peak in New Hampshire.

Of course she is absolutely correct and her mother thinks this must be a sign that she is intelligent enough to know to enjoy all aspects of life and not rush through to reach goal posts.

However, this might just mean that she is happy to look around on today's hike, and that she thinks we won't make it to the top?

Which are her weaknesses and objectives, and which are mine?

Blue skys shinin' on me

As we pull away from the house the skys are blue. I know that 100s have been hurt or killed by Ike this weekend, but here the weather is lovely and we are ready for a great day on the trails.

RAIN!?!

Now, we have to decide how determined we are. There is rain scheduled for our first mountain's weekend. I think we'll skip camping tonight and decide in the morning whether the hike is a go.

This is pretty disappointing, not in the least because we had our favorite campsite in Franconia Notch reserved (and we NEVER get that site!)

My daughter is fine - she wanted to attend the High School football game anyway. This may be a sign. There will always be alternatives to heading out for a weekend of camping and hiking - hopefully she will grow to consider this as much fun, albeit in a very different way, as teenage social activities. Inviting friends (hers and mine?) along might be our answer!