I've only had time to load 6 pics from Jackson to the "Flags on the 48" site, I'll post a link and load more tonight. This was my first "Flags on the 48" and my wife and boy's first NH48. We drove up friday afternoon to the KOA and started meeting participants right away. (I just started to try to list everyone and I'm afraid I'll forget somebody, so suffice it to say... it was great meeting everyone !) I even made a long overdue beer delivery to Tom Rankin and Laurie !
Saturday we met Paradox, Chips, Zippy, Ron and 'Liv and got to the trail head by about 8:45. We immediately met Gram and Peter (lurkers here I'm hoping to help join) and a number of other hikers, both particpants and non ("my that's a large hiking staff you're carrying !"
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Jackson reminded me of an Earth Science teacher I had in high school that used to take a group of us hiking and climbing. The guy was not too tall and wore a beard to cover years of acne scars. He probably got beat up alot as a kid and didn't have a sparkling personality. But he was tough as nails. He'd do finger-tip pull-ups on the steel door frame and one-arm push-ups between classes. He didn't warm up to anyone quickly but once he did you were "in" for life.
We all summited at various times before 11:30 and got both flags flying. We spent the next couple hours (like everyone) meeting others, resting, taking pics and trying to pick out flags on other summits. At about 1:45 we got some rain so we all broke down our rigs and headed down. It was on and off rain and sun for the hike down. It took us about 2 hours to hike down the 2 1/2 miles
due to the scrambles, rocks, roots and mud. My boys (10 and 11 1/2) and my wife did great, I'm really proud of them. My boys have been given the challenge to be the first to do all 48 peaks for the annual "Flags on the 48" memorial. That'd be awesome, but I bet there's a few out there that have that goal in mind already.
A violent rain and lightning storm moved through Franconia Notch and Ridge as we drove. We were back to the KOA by about 4:45 as the sun came out and other participants began to arrive. We were happy and relieved to find everyone had gotten out safely. Saturday night was a great evening of camp fires and socializing. A great Memorial, thanks to the organizers, and a great weekend meeting and hiking with everyone !
