cbcbd
Well-known member
I love going up to the big range mountains of the Adirondaks and the Whites... but nothing beats my home turf whenever I need a moment of reflection...
Had some personal issues to sort out last week and I figured I needed some good alone time in the woods. In addition to that, I had not done any hiking this Summer since I was still working with my plantar fasciitised feet. Now that that is almost gone (although other problems have surfaced) I could finally get out.
I worked Saturday during the day and already had my things packed ready to go. Procastinated a little bit and got to the trailhead to the Undermountain Tr in Salisbury at 9pm. Started out in perfect weather with plans to get up to the AT, head south and pick one of the shelters to crash (and hopefully not wake anyone up in the process).
10 minutes into the hike I see a pair of headlights coming down the trail... a couple and their dog were heading down after missing the Paradise Lane campsite and decided that they'd just try to hitchhike to their car parked at the Lion's head trail trailhead - at least 5-6 miles away I think. After talking to them a little bit we headed on our ways and then after a couple minutes hiking up I stopped and thought - I would have arrived at my shelter in less time than it would probably take them to get all the way to their car. They also had a dog, not facilitating getting a ride. I wasn't in a hurry and these guys would've really appreciated a ride after hiking in the dark for so long and being on the trail for a couple of days. - So I headed back and caught up with them. Needless to say they were very appreciative and I'm glad I got to help them out - I can't imagine having to do the walk they were going to face.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture004_resize.jpg"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture004.jpg"></a>
After dropping them off I got back to the trailhead and started up again at 10pm. Night hiking is such a neat thing. I used to feel uncomfortable hiking into the night but now that I've gotten used to it it feels so peaceful...
Fast forward... It took me 1 hour to get to the Brassie brook lean-to and when I got there it was empty! Good, I really didn't want to annoy sleeping folk with my light and cooking. Someone left some Harry Potter in the shelter and it was perfect for some enjoyable pre-bed reading!
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture005_resize.jpg"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture005.jpg"></a>
I swear, I had never slept so well in a shelter like I did that night. I attribute that to: not going to bed too early, perfect temps, and sleeping on my side with a "pillow" (stuff sack) between my knees - I usually get some pretty sore hips when sleeping on my side, not this time.
The next morning I read some more Potter while enjoying some tea and breakfast and then headed to Bear to complete the classic Paradise loop. Talked to some folks there including a gentleman with an ice axe - he was checking out the sizing of it to see if he liked it - he was preparing for another trip to Iceland for some glacier walking.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture007_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture007.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture010_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture010.jpg" border="0"></a>
Started heading down north and on Paradise and down Undermountain... what a gorgeous day it was.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture013_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture013.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture011_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture011.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture014_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture014.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture015_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture015.jpg" border="0"></a>
On the way home I stopped at Mcnroes Farm Market on rt 22 and got a sandwich and their own melon yogurt, Yum!!
Did I mention it was a beautiful day?
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture018_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture018.jpg" border="0"></a>
-Doug
-pics to follow someday
Had some personal issues to sort out last week and I figured I needed some good alone time in the woods. In addition to that, I had not done any hiking this Summer since I was still working with my plantar fasciitised feet. Now that that is almost gone (although other problems have surfaced) I could finally get out.
I worked Saturday during the day and already had my things packed ready to go. Procastinated a little bit and got to the trailhead to the Undermountain Tr in Salisbury at 9pm. Started out in perfect weather with plans to get up to the AT, head south and pick one of the shelters to crash (and hopefully not wake anyone up in the process).
10 minutes into the hike I see a pair of headlights coming down the trail... a couple and their dog were heading down after missing the Paradise Lane campsite and decided that they'd just try to hitchhike to their car parked at the Lion's head trail trailhead - at least 5-6 miles away I think. After talking to them a little bit we headed on our ways and then after a couple minutes hiking up I stopped and thought - I would have arrived at my shelter in less time than it would probably take them to get all the way to their car. They also had a dog, not facilitating getting a ride. I wasn't in a hurry and these guys would've really appreciated a ride after hiking in the dark for so long and being on the trail for a couple of days. - So I headed back and caught up with them. Needless to say they were very appreciative and I'm glad I got to help them out - I can't imagine having to do the walk they were going to face.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture004_resize.jpg"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture004.jpg"></a>
After dropping them off I got back to the trailhead and started up again at 10pm. Night hiking is such a neat thing. I used to feel uncomfortable hiking into the night but now that I've gotten used to it it feels so peaceful...
Fast forward... It took me 1 hour to get to the Brassie brook lean-to and when I got there it was empty! Good, I really didn't want to annoy sleeping folk with my light and cooking. Someone left some Harry Potter in the shelter and it was perfect for some enjoyable pre-bed reading!
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture005_resize.jpg"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture005.jpg"></a>
I swear, I had never slept so well in a shelter like I did that night. I attribute that to: not going to bed too early, perfect temps, and sleeping on my side with a "pillow" (stuff sack) between my knees - I usually get some pretty sore hips when sleeping on my side, not this time.
The next morning I read some more Potter while enjoying some tea and breakfast and then headed to Bear to complete the classic Paradise loop. Talked to some folks there including a gentleman with an ice axe - he was checking out the sizing of it to see if he liked it - he was preparing for another trip to Iceland for some glacier walking.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture007_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture007.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture010_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture010.jpg" border="0"></a>
Started heading down north and on Paradise and down Undermountain... what a gorgeous day it was.
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture013_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture013.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture011_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture011.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture014_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture014.jpg" border="0"></a>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture015_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture015.jpg" border="0"></a>
On the way home I stopped at Mcnroes Farm Market on rt 22 and got a sandwich and their own melon yogurt, Yum!!
Did I mention it was a beautiful day?
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture018_resize.jpg" ><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/ourbuddies/bear916/Picture018.jpg" border="0"></a>
-Doug
-pics to follow someday
Last edited:
