McRat
New member
Though my schedule went through many frustrating changes for the weekend, I did manage to get in a hike, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day than July 4th. I left my house at 8:00am and dashed up the heavily patrolled I-93.
This was to be another Fool Scout Ice Cream Sandwich Patrol, and fellow Fool Hikerfast had brought along one of his co-workers, Selva. This would be Selva’s first hike, and to start on the Presis on such a gorgeous day, possibly the beginning of a larger adventure.
Like many new hikers, Selva started out a bit fast, and though we beat book time to the Mizpah cutoff, the cumulative elevation gain was tiring to unaccustomed legs. We took a long break and proceeded at a better pace. I scurried ahead eager to unload my pack – which, with six-dozen sandwiches and dry ice, weighed in at 67lbs at the start of the day. This would be a good leg workout.
As I arrived to the lookout just below the Pierce summit, temperatures were comfortable and views seemed endless. I dropped pack, offered weary and wary travelers free ice cream, and waited for Bob and Selva who arrived shortly after.
Pierce was my first NH4K, and as soon as I took in the view, I had a feeling I would be back soon. I wondered if Selva felt the same way, and from the look of wonder, I suspect he just might.
While hanging out on the Pierce Summit, several people came along and before long we had over a dozen people eating ice cream sandwiches and enjoying the day. People are funny. Heading up the trail, several people politely refused our offers, but once people saw others enjoying one, several changed their mind. One apologized for “not believing me earlier” and I smiled and told them, “these things taste better above treeline anyways…”
Moments after I had passed out an ice cream sandwich, I got quite the pleasant surprise. A fellow with a thick accent asked, “We’re you the guy making ice cream sundaes on Lafayette last August?” We officially had our first repeat customer! I find it amusing that this fellow had flown to America twice and ran into me both times, above treeline. I imagine his stories back home will give people a skewed impression of what hiking in the Whites is about.
We attached a flag to my hiking pole and posed for pictures before I headed up the Crawford path, wishing Hikerfast and Selva a pleasant descent.
The walk up and over Eisenhower was as enjoyable as I remember. Gentle breezes and smiling hikers encouraged me along my way and by the time I reached the Edmands Path I was down to my last two-dozen sandwiches. I decided to walk a little further in hopes of meeting Mats Roing and his Presi Traverse crew.
I handed out ice cream sandwiches and had almost given up hope when I ran into Drewski, Sherpa John, Sherpette, and a nice guy from Derry whose name I have forgotten. They assured me that they were heading down from Monroe by now, and would be easy to find in festive red, white and blue. We were down to the last two ice cream sandwiches and Drew insisted I deliver his to Mats. You can’t say no to Professor Drewski, particularly if you are using an official limited-edition Drew-signed custom hiking stick/impromptu flag pole.
While it would be a longer day than planned, I consider the Crawford Path between Monroe and Eisenhower a candidate for prettiest mile in the Whites, and scurried along the gentle open ridges. When I saw a large group on Franklin and saw several had brightly reflecting hats, I figured I found my group. I unfurled the flag and marched on up to the summit.
It was a large group, and I felt awkward only having two sandwiches… but after I found out I just missed the end of the beer, I felt validated. Adamiata shared the last of his beer, which was a great moment of trail magic to enjoy before heading back.
The trip back was fairly uneventful and I decided to head back via the Crawford Path while most of the group went on to Jackson.
When everyone got back to Barnes Field we enjoyed the bonfire and each others company until one-by-one, those who did the Presi traverse went to bed, and eventually I set out my sleeping pad and fell asleep staring at the milky way.
I slept great - so well, in fact, that I think some mice made off with my glasses in the night. PM me if you found any. They were a cheap pair, but much better than my sunglasses for driving at night. I drove home that day with good memories, a great tan, and grateful for knowing so many nice people in the hiking community.
Friday’s 72 ice cream sandwiches delivered brings the total to 264 and counting. If you haven’t gone out of your way to perform a random act of kindness for a complete stranger, I highly recommend it.
But then again, I’m just a Fool.
(pics soon)
This was to be another Fool Scout Ice Cream Sandwich Patrol, and fellow Fool Hikerfast had brought along one of his co-workers, Selva. This would be Selva’s first hike, and to start on the Presis on such a gorgeous day, possibly the beginning of a larger adventure.
Like many new hikers, Selva started out a bit fast, and though we beat book time to the Mizpah cutoff, the cumulative elevation gain was tiring to unaccustomed legs. We took a long break and proceeded at a better pace. I scurried ahead eager to unload my pack – which, with six-dozen sandwiches and dry ice, weighed in at 67lbs at the start of the day. This would be a good leg workout.
As I arrived to the lookout just below the Pierce summit, temperatures were comfortable and views seemed endless. I dropped pack, offered weary and wary travelers free ice cream, and waited for Bob and Selva who arrived shortly after.
Pierce was my first NH4K, and as soon as I took in the view, I had a feeling I would be back soon. I wondered if Selva felt the same way, and from the look of wonder, I suspect he just might.
While hanging out on the Pierce Summit, several people came along and before long we had over a dozen people eating ice cream sandwiches and enjoying the day. People are funny. Heading up the trail, several people politely refused our offers, but once people saw others enjoying one, several changed their mind. One apologized for “not believing me earlier” and I smiled and told them, “these things taste better above treeline anyways…”
Moments after I had passed out an ice cream sandwich, I got quite the pleasant surprise. A fellow with a thick accent asked, “We’re you the guy making ice cream sundaes on Lafayette last August?” We officially had our first repeat customer! I find it amusing that this fellow had flown to America twice and ran into me both times, above treeline. I imagine his stories back home will give people a skewed impression of what hiking in the Whites is about.
We attached a flag to my hiking pole and posed for pictures before I headed up the Crawford path, wishing Hikerfast and Selva a pleasant descent.
The walk up and over Eisenhower was as enjoyable as I remember. Gentle breezes and smiling hikers encouraged me along my way and by the time I reached the Edmands Path I was down to my last two-dozen sandwiches. I decided to walk a little further in hopes of meeting Mats Roing and his Presi Traverse crew.
I handed out ice cream sandwiches and had almost given up hope when I ran into Drewski, Sherpa John, Sherpette, and a nice guy from Derry whose name I have forgotten. They assured me that they were heading down from Monroe by now, and would be easy to find in festive red, white and blue. We were down to the last two ice cream sandwiches and Drew insisted I deliver his to Mats. You can’t say no to Professor Drewski, particularly if you are using an official limited-edition Drew-signed custom hiking stick/impromptu flag pole.
While it would be a longer day than planned, I consider the Crawford Path between Monroe and Eisenhower a candidate for prettiest mile in the Whites, and scurried along the gentle open ridges. When I saw a large group on Franklin and saw several had brightly reflecting hats, I figured I found my group. I unfurled the flag and marched on up to the summit.
It was a large group, and I felt awkward only having two sandwiches… but after I found out I just missed the end of the beer, I felt validated. Adamiata shared the last of his beer, which was a great moment of trail magic to enjoy before heading back.
The trip back was fairly uneventful and I decided to head back via the Crawford Path while most of the group went on to Jackson.
When everyone got back to Barnes Field we enjoyed the bonfire and each others company until one-by-one, those who did the Presi traverse went to bed, and eventually I set out my sleeping pad and fell asleep staring at the milky way.
I slept great - so well, in fact, that I think some mice made off with my glasses in the night. PM me if you found any. They were a cheap pair, but much better than my sunglasses for driving at night. I drove home that day with good memories, a great tan, and grateful for knowing so many nice people in the hiking community.
Friday’s 72 ice cream sandwiches delivered brings the total to 264 and counting. If you haven’t gone out of your way to perform a random act of kindness for a complete stranger, I highly recommend it.
But then again, I’m just a Fool.
(pics soon)
