I always say that my most-recent hike is my favorite hike. I suspect that today's trip will remain my favorite for a while. Not so much because of the destination, although Cardigan is a treasure of a peak, but because of the company. Early this year, as some may recall, I did a lot of trips with my son who turns 5 next month. My daughter was not quite so gung-ho. For a while, however, she's been talking about taking it up a notch and going to Cardigan. Today was a nice day to do exactly that. We coined the acronym: DADDY - Dad's And Daughter's Day - Yeah!
This was her highest peak yet, and the first over 3000 (Kearsarge at 2990-ish was the previous highest.) In my experience, kids are not nearly so taken with views, as they are with the journey. Rocks, leaves, pine cones, sticks, streams, mud, toads, etc., are all more interesting. Today was different, and after we'd been on the exposed granite for a while, I told Amanda to turn around. She gasped and exclaimed how far we could see.
We took the easiest route, round trip by the West Ridge Trail, at 1.5 miles each way, 1250'. Book time: 80 minutes each way. We made it up in 50 and down in 45 (oh, to have seven year old knees again!) The foliage is well underway. Except for the wind, which pushed her 48 pounds around quite easily, it was great. Luckily, we found a sunny ledge on the leeward side on which to eat lunch. My wife and son were jealous, so maybe we'll go back soon. I highly recommend this trip for an easier, non-hiker, or kid-centric trip.
Views: Moosilauke, Cannon, Franconia Ridge, Osceola, Tripyramid, Sandwich Dome, Squam, Belknap, Ragged, Sunapee, Kearsarge, Monadnock, Ascutney, ...
Amanda (age 7) wrote this:
On Sunday my dad and I went to Mount Cardigan. I saw trees with beautiful leaves. There were a lot of people with dogs. It is the tallest mountain I had ever climbed. It was very windy at the top. We ate lunch at the top. We also counted the lakes there were seven. On the way down a puppy jumped up on me. It put its paw on my eye lid. It was 3121 feet tall. It was a lot of fun!
(So, if you see a 3121 foot tall puppy, be ware!!!
)
Photos are here:
Tim
&
Amanda
This was her highest peak yet, and the first over 3000 (Kearsarge at 2990-ish was the previous highest.) In my experience, kids are not nearly so taken with views, as they are with the journey. Rocks, leaves, pine cones, sticks, streams, mud, toads, etc., are all more interesting. Today was different, and after we'd been on the exposed granite for a while, I told Amanda to turn around. She gasped and exclaimed how far we could see.
We took the easiest route, round trip by the West Ridge Trail, at 1.5 miles each way, 1250'. Book time: 80 minutes each way. We made it up in 50 and down in 45 (oh, to have seven year old knees again!) The foliage is well underway. Except for the wind, which pushed her 48 pounds around quite easily, it was great. Luckily, we found a sunny ledge on the leeward side on which to eat lunch. My wife and son were jealous, so maybe we'll go back soon. I highly recommend this trip for an easier, non-hiker, or kid-centric trip.
Views: Moosilauke, Cannon, Franconia Ridge, Osceola, Tripyramid, Sandwich Dome, Squam, Belknap, Ragged, Sunapee, Kearsarge, Monadnock, Ascutney, ...
Amanda (age 7) wrote this:
On Sunday my dad and I went to Mount Cardigan. I saw trees with beautiful leaves. There were a lot of people with dogs. It is the tallest mountain I had ever climbed. It was very windy at the top. We ate lunch at the top. We also counted the lakes there were seven. On the way down a puppy jumped up on me. It put its paw on my eye lid. It was 3121 feet tall. It was a lot of fun!
(So, if you see a 3121 foot tall puppy, be ware!!!
)Photos are here:
Tim
&
Amanda
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