Belknap Loop of Competitions (NH), 04/11/09

[rocket21]

Belknap Loop of Competitions, 04/11/09

While we had originally planned to have our second annual Blue Hills April Hike, the Massachusetts rain forecast led us to move our plans to Southern New Hampshire.

The participants and their struggles:
Mike - Struggling because he cannot consume chametz (bread, cake, booze, Pudding Pops) due to Passover
Paul - Struggling to enjoy his last months of freedom, as he popped the question a few weeks ago
rocket21 - Struggling to not burst out laughing at Mike and Paul's struggling

Starting at the Carriage Road, our first objective was to reach Gunstock Mountain.

Unfortunately for Mike, he was walking behind Paul, who had had a generous serving of Fiber One for breakfast.

Paul, being the gentleman he is, decided to start shouting 'Fire in the hole!' warnings, to give Mike a chance to run for cover.

While there was bare ground down low, we were dealing with ice and snow by the time we neared the summit.

The summit provided decent views, despite the clouds. Mt. Washington was easily seen in the distance.

Of course, to keep the toilet humor theme alive, Paul couldn't help but pose with the disgusting port-a-pottie, left over from ski season.

Hungry, Paul decided to have a sandwich. Mike, not being able to eat bread due to Passover, was envious.


Competition 1: Mountain-Top-Cosby-Dance-Off
-Objective: Do the best Cosby Dance



Continued...

 

[rocket21]

...continued


Our next stop was Belknap Mountain, via the Brook and Saddle trails. It's a bit of a rocky start:

Soon, the trail reaches a nice set of ledges, were sun usually shines. Not today.

Competition 2: Marshmallow-Peep-Eating-Contest
- Objective: Stuff the most marshmallow peeps in your mouth.

I went first and managed to fit four.

Mike went second:

Result: 3 peeps

Paul went third:

Result: 5 peeps

Not to be outdone, Mike tried again:

Result: 5 peeps

Continued...

 

[rocket21]

...continued

Our final peak of the day was the ledgy Piper Mountain.

Using the bride-to-be-sense, Paul's future wife somehow knew to call and check up on him while he was ingesting copious amounts of sugar in the form of marshmallow peeps.

Mike was annoyed that his wilderness experience was being ruined by cellphone usage.

The White Trail is actually quite scenic, with multiple ledge views along the way.


Competition 3: Reese's-Peanut-Butter-Egg-Hunt
- Objective: Find as many hidden Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs on Piper Mountain as possible.

I introduce the final competition of the day by telling Mike and Paul that there were half a dozen Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs hidden within 100 feet of the Piper Trail sign. I told them I'd give them a 15 second head start, since I had hidden the eggs.

I ended up giving them more like a minute head start, as I couldn't help but laugh as a family nearby looked in confusion at Mike and Paul searching through rocks and bushes.

Neither of them found any, because I had 'hidden' all of them in my backpack, which was a few feet from the sign (thus I wasn't lying when I told them there were half a dozen eggs hidden near the summit). Thus, I won and they were perturbed.

The descent was a little bit icy near the top of Piper. We made it down, however, though Paul was clearly wiped out, much to Mike's amusement:

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

A wild and crazy report and pictures. Cosby dance-off ; a virtual tie. No jelly beans???

 

[zman]

Blue Peeps?????? where's your sense of tradition-???? Yellow Peeps are the only real ones...all the rest...imposters...pretenders

 

[Tom & Atticus]

Evidence you are still an 0-for... when it comes to Cosby dancing.

 

[rocket21]

No jelly beans???

Not a fan of jelly beans. I actually wanted to get Cadbury Eggs, but the Rite Aid in Meredith was sold out.

Blue Peeps?????? where's your sense of tradition-???? Yellow Peeps are the only real ones...all the rest...imposters...pretenders

I believe the Rite Aid only had blue, pink, and green. The blue appeared to be more appetizing. In the end, it was not appetizing at all.

Evidence you are still an 0-for... when it comes to Cosby dancing.

In fairness, I didn't get to study up or practice ahead of time...I sent Mike and Paul a YouTube link the day before so that they could spruce up their skills. Paul studied Bill Cosby, whereas Mike erroneously studied Theo Cosby.

 

[TrishandAlex]

What a great set of TRs. That shot with all the blue peeps stuffed in his mouth...

Excellent video.

 

[1HappyHiker]

Jeremy, just when I begin to think that you couldn’t possibly create a more creative Trip Report, then what do you do?? . . . you out-do yourself with a TR that’s even more creative than your previous report. So, in other words, I’m beginning to think that you go from one sub-peak to the next (false summits, if you will), and your climb to the final peak is a long ways off!!

 

[rocket21]

Jeremy, just when I begin to think that you couldn’t possibly create a more creative Trip Report, then what do you do?? . . . you out-do yourself with a TR that’s even more creative than your previous report. So, in other words, I’m beginning to think that you go from one sub-peak to the next (false summits, if you will), and your climb to the final peak is a long ways off!!

Don't you worry, my trip reports are bound to 'jump the shark' at some point...hopefully when they do, it'll be in style!