Hale for Geneva's 23rd NH48

[chinooktrail]

After a late start heading out Geneva & I headed to the North Twin Trail to hit North and South Twin to get her closer to her 48.

We made a stop in Holderness to get provisions for the day, and it took a LOT longer than expected, and then after heading up 93 the dark clouds appeared... I am begining to wonder if that only happens when I am in the notch.

We finally got to the North Twin Trail and headed up the trail a little after noon.

Once we made it to the first river crossing we hung out on the rocks a minute, looked around, and decided to go for Hale from the Hale Brook Trail instead. For whatever reason, I just wasn't feeling like we were going to make it all the way to South Twin, and really wanted to get a peak in today.
So we headed back to the car and decided that was just a little hiking warm up.

By the time we drove 'around the corner' and started up again it was just after 1. We made it to the summit just before 2:30 after crossing paths with more people than I have seen on the trail in a very long time. I stopped counting after there were 12 people. I like this trail, and I had not been on it without snow in many years. I especially love the last few hundred feet, where you look up the forested trail to the 'light at the end of the tunnel'!

We popped out onto the summit and touched the top of the massive cairn and looked around a bit. It was chilly and starting to rain, so we didn't hang around long. Someone had built a small inuksuit which was pointing into the woods, not quite sure if that was intentional or not!

We were back in the car and ready to head out by 3:30.

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling, and I am glad we changed to 'plan C', and made it to a summit that is just as beautiful in the fog and rain as it is on a sunny day!

Geneva didn't seem very impressed when I put another pin in her map, I don't think she much cares where she hikes, as long as she gets to go hiking, she is a happy little dog!

 

[audrey]

Congratulations Geneva! You are a lucky dog.

Is inuksuit the plural of inuksuk?

 

[chinooktrail]

Yes, she and Leo are both lucky little fur suits!

I think that inuksuit and inuksuk are used the same, or just translated differently? Not sure, but it was nicely built and if I could figure out how to load a picture into a post I would post it!

With a name like 'chiniook trail' you would think I would know more about the Inuit!

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Once we made it to the first river crossing we hung out on the rocks a minute, looked around, and decided to go for Hale from the Hale Brook Trail instead. For whatever reason, I just wasn't feeling like we were going to make it all the way to South Twin, and really wanted to get a peak in today.
So we headed back to the car and decided that was just a little hiking warm up.

Congrats to Geneva on her 23rd NH4. Did you consider and reject the Fire Warden's Trail up Hale on your retreat on the North Twin Trail? I think that the FWT, which begins from near the highest part of the bushwhack route on the east side of Little River about a mile from the trailhead, is a much nicer route than the Hale Brook Trail, but as you say, Geneva probably would not have cared about that.

 

[chinooktrail]

I did consider it, but I had hiked this trail a few weeks ago and took the bushwhack on the way back, looking for the FWT and didn't see it.

I have been on it twice in winter, and probably had old snowshoe tracks to follow...

I was wondering if the little Inuksuit (inuksuk?) was pointing the way for people, but after walking around the summit 'field' a bit I believe I found the FWT and no, it wasn't pointed there.

I am really starting to believe Geneva could care less about the 48, as long as she gets to go hiking when I do. Maybe she knows she can't do all the 67 or the NEHH?

I would try to disguise her as a seeing eye dog to get into BSP, but I know she would have me walking into things just for a laugh... Plus the Rangers would wonder how she managed to help me drive there!

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I did consider it, but I had hiked this trail a few weeks ago and took the bushwhack on the way back, looking for the FWT and didn't see it.

I have been on it twice in winter, and probably had old snowshoe tracks to follow...

Agreed, the bottom of the FWT is really difficult to see in non-winter conditions, but the top much easier to find at the SW corner of the summit clearing. Not that Geneva cares, of course.