amstony
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- Apr 24, 2004
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Although not the most challenging hike in the Whites, ChanelGirl and I had planned this hike out like the Normandy invasion, including the ride up 93 north, overnight sleeping locale, the hike route itself, medical issues, etc. Franconia falls has a special place with the Mrs and I....... the last time she did it in mid 2004 - the next day she had an emergency appendectomy !-
- after I had given her a hard time about not being tough - pushing her out to the Widerness Trail/Bondcliff trail junction and that old bridge and back ((she didn't feel well that Sunday before the docs yanked her appendix. (wonder why) brilliant husband strategy)). Talk about a husband with a real guilty conscience- although I did not know about the appendix issue- and a need to refocus on lifes priorities and relationship strategies.......! So when she said she wanted to go again to the Falls and do that route I rolled over and immediately agreed to whatever she wanted and I said "OK...
remember the last time" and she said she felt fine and I said "lets go." So truly delighted to charge into the Whites via Lincoln Woods, and after a really great evening and overnight at the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock (duh), - highly recommended by the way- we headed out to Lincoln Woods, the Route 128 of White Mountain trailheads for a mid-morning into late afternoon hike.
The trailhead was packed with cars, for the first time in ages I actually had to cruise the lot and squeeze ChanelGirls big SUV into one of the few available parking spots. I totally forgot this was near the maximum leaf peaping time....... After suiting up for the hike we headed out, talking to the hikers heading out to Franconia Notch for an overnight and wishing them luck and lots of fun. Once we hit the Lincoln Wood trail past the Osseo Junction we were so happy to be in the woods and out of the rat race.
Noise dissapeared, except for the Pemi rushing by and it was extremely relaxing. And then once you went further in the noise of the Pemi even vanished. All you had was pleasant conversation between myself and ChanelGirl, discussing all sorts of stuff, from hiking to politics to whatever. Then before we knew it we were at the Bridge over the Pemi past the Falls.
ChanelGirl decided to push on into the Pemi Wilderness and have some fun. After searching around the Woods we returned to the bridge, ate some Clif bars and drank some water, took a pic, and headed back towards the Franconia Falls. The three tenths of a mile trail to the Falls was MUD city, having ChanelGirl reminisce about the time I took her through mud 2 feet deep in 2004 (yeah, brilliant move...). The stay at Franconia Falls after wading through the mud was very pleasant, just a nice time. It was just nice to wander around, smell the flowwers, watch the water, etc. The views of the foliage were just awesome from the Falls area.
So after a while ChanelGirl wanted to head out. I suggested a short bushwack off trail and she agreed. So after a half hour of beating back the bush and exploring, we were back on trail and headed back to the Lincoln Woods trail. The trip back to the lot was nice and pleasant, temps in the high 40's to low 50's and lots of smiling people on the trail.
After that we did the rt 3/302 rounds by car, ending up at the MT. Washington Inn for a couple of glasses of Pinot Girgio and we got to watch a really cool wedding at the Inn with a horse and Buggy and all! The views of the from there into the Presi's was just magnificent
. Then we went back to Lincoln Woods TH and a nice dinner at Gordi's in Lincoln, which capped a great hike and a beautiful day in the Whites!!This is very close to peak leaf peeping time in this area, so I'd recommend heading up north in the next week if you want to see the change in seasons!
Pics will be up later, the battery died inthe camera and I could only take a few!
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