Unoman
New member
As my good friend Pete (JWalker) and I drove to Dunkin for coffee, the skies looked promising for a great hiking day. Based on our hiking history, we fully expected rain!... We arrived in Conway Friday night, staying at a friends cabin and made a full weekend out of this special hike with our wives. After a hearty breakfast and alot of coffee, we headed for the Sawyer River Trailhead. The parking lot was filling up fast at 8:15am and alot of hikers were heading up the Signal Ridge Trail. After the first 2 miles of flat hiking, we began the long ascent to Signal ridge, full of both short and long, broad switchbacks that afforded good, dry footing most of the way.... and best of all, no bugs...Great temps for hiking ...All along the way, we leapfrogged many groups...As it turned out, most of them were hiking to join a mutual friend on top who was climbing Carrigain to finish his 111....
As I ascended towards Signal Ridge, I began thinking about my hiking experiences. About 10 years ago, while enjoying a summer cottage on Winnepesaukee, my wife would often come up with things to do with our children. After a few hikes with them to Arethusa, Ripley, Mt. Major, she came up with the idea of hiking Mt Washington via Tucks. She managed to drag me away from Salmon fishing to go along. It was an awe inspiring hike. As a boy growing up in PA, I did alot of camping and running around in the woods, but nothing as spectacular as this. Over the next year or two we hiked Lafayette and did a hut trip to Lonesome to hike North Kinsman (of course in hindsight, S. Kinsman would have also made sense!). In '99, I was diagnosed with cancer and had major surgery. In recovery, I picked up the AMC guide and read about the 4k's. It was then that I set a goal to allow this list get me out and see the all of the White Mountains from different perspectives. Back then I had no idea that this long road would lead to so many great times and experiences...multi day backpacking trips, long day hikes, hut to hut adventures with family and friends, sleeping under the stars on Isolation with my son....not to mention meeting and conversing with so many fellow hikers out on the trails....So many stories to tell...There have been many hikes in between the 48 and many repeats along the way...I consider myself a hiker, not a peakbagger, but nonetheless, this was a very rewarding goal to reach.
Well, soon enough, we hiked out of the scrub and onto Signal Ridge, surrounded with great views. Looking ahead we could see our final goal, the fire tower topped with quite a few hikers admiring the view. After a long,broad switchback we approached the summit and could see the base of the tower ahead of us. It was than that I felt the joy of this accomplishment....after 7 years... I heard that 4 or 5 hikers also finished their 48 on Carrigain this day and I was able to exchange congrats with the gentleman who finished his 111...I counted 3 bottles of champagne opened (including ours)..and I might add Pete and I quaffed a pint (can) of Guinness to satisfy our desire for some celebratory carbs needed for our descent. Thanks to Pete for his companionship and look forward to many future adventures.
Tapping the marker on the summit with my wife was the best. I was elated that she was there with me on this day...and I will never forget it...Here's to you, Collette....
I am an AMC board regular and new to VFTT ....I look forward to meeting you on the trails
K
PIX HERE:
http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=553532734&security=IsFgbR
As I ascended towards Signal Ridge, I began thinking about my hiking experiences. About 10 years ago, while enjoying a summer cottage on Winnepesaukee, my wife would often come up with things to do with our children. After a few hikes with them to Arethusa, Ripley, Mt. Major, she came up with the idea of hiking Mt Washington via Tucks. She managed to drag me away from Salmon fishing to go along. It was an awe inspiring hike. As a boy growing up in PA, I did alot of camping and running around in the woods, but nothing as spectacular as this. Over the next year or two we hiked Lafayette and did a hut trip to Lonesome to hike North Kinsman (of course in hindsight, S. Kinsman would have also made sense!). In '99, I was diagnosed with cancer and had major surgery. In recovery, I picked up the AMC guide and read about the 4k's. It was then that I set a goal to allow this list get me out and see the all of the White Mountains from different perspectives. Back then I had no idea that this long road would lead to so many great times and experiences...multi day backpacking trips, long day hikes, hut to hut adventures with family and friends, sleeping under the stars on Isolation with my son....not to mention meeting and conversing with so many fellow hikers out on the trails....So many stories to tell...There have been many hikes in between the 48 and many repeats along the way...I consider myself a hiker, not a peakbagger, but nonetheless, this was a very rewarding goal to reach.
Well, soon enough, we hiked out of the scrub and onto Signal Ridge, surrounded with great views. Looking ahead we could see our final goal, the fire tower topped with quite a few hikers admiring the view. After a long,broad switchback we approached the summit and could see the base of the tower ahead of us. It was than that I felt the joy of this accomplishment....after 7 years... I heard that 4 or 5 hikers also finished their 48 on Carrigain this day and I was able to exchange congrats with the gentleman who finished his 111...I counted 3 bottles of champagne opened (including ours)..and I might add Pete and I quaffed a pint (can) of Guinness to satisfy our desire for some celebratory carbs needed for our descent. Thanks to Pete for his companionship and look forward to many future adventures.
Tapping the marker on the summit with my wife was the best. I was elated that she was there with me on this day...and I will never forget it...Here's to you, Collette....
I am an AMC board regular and new to VFTT ....I look forward to meeting you on the trails
K
PIX HERE:
http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=553532734&security=IsFgbR
Last edited:
MMMMM.....Guiness..... You guys picked a fine one to finish on (and have an awesome taste in beer)...
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