Amicus
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We picked this date way in advance for our hike to Jay and Big Jay in the Northeast Kingdom, then dithered as the forecast deteriorated throughout the week, especially since today was supposed to be (and is) nice. I finally concocted a half-baked compromise - we would stick with Sat. but delay our start to midday, in the forlorn hope we'd miss the worst of the rain and maybe even get a few late afternoon views. Hah! 
I couldn't have asked for better company than Poison Ivy, Steve(Hiker) and Christa - the first two have hiked more of the 33 peaks that distinguish the NEHH with me than anybody, and Ivy allowed the rest of us to skip our homework, since she did this loop just last year, as her own NEHH finisher.
We took the Long Trail north from VT 242, a little west of the Jay Peak ski area entrance, in dank and dismal mist that alternated the rest of the day with steadier wretchedness. Even dank and dismal woods have their charm, however, and we had fun as always.
The bare summit of Jay, where near-gale winds whipped us with wintry mix, did not encourage rumination, so we fled to the warmth of the summit lodge. I was surprised to hear the tram motor running on such a day, and we were soon joined by a natural history class from the community college in St. Albans. I couldn't help but wonder whether the young scholars wouldn't have learned more by schlepping up, like us.
The herd path along the ridge SW to Big Jay is easy enough to follow, but a muddy morass for much of its length. Fairly close to the Long Trail end near the ski area, we saw what might be that felonious bootleg ski trail - a clear-cut swath about 12 feet across and filled with the slash.
We met another group in the lot, when we finished around 6:15, and I recognized Pamola, who did good work on our Scar West hike in July. He was on a two-day 'whacking binge with some luminaries, including One Step and Neighbor Dave. (I hope we hear about their adventures.) Steve, I should note, reached #87 on his quest for the NEHH, while Christa swears she wants no part of it. (We'll see.)
It wasn't a great day for photography, but Ivy took some anyway, and so did Steve . I took a few myself.
We celebrated with some decent refreshments afterwards, at Bernie's in Montgomery Center, where the bartender mixed his first martini. (He did good.) The TV entertainment couldn't have been finer - Sox 10, Yankees 1.
I didn't exactly race through the NEHH, starting with Sandwich back in the Summer of '84. That was a family hike led by an esteemed older in-law who was working on his NEHH. He soon finished that list and had collected half of the NE3Ks before he had to stop hiking. He is my hiking inspiration, and flatters me by taking an interest in my little adventures. So, here's to you, Senior Hiker!
I couldn't have asked for better company than Poison Ivy, Steve(Hiker) and Christa - the first two have hiked more of the 33 peaks that distinguish the NEHH with me than anybody, and Ivy allowed the rest of us to skip our homework, since she did this loop just last year, as her own NEHH finisher.
We took the Long Trail north from VT 242, a little west of the Jay Peak ski area entrance, in dank and dismal mist that alternated the rest of the day with steadier wretchedness. Even dank and dismal woods have their charm, however, and we had fun as always.
The bare summit of Jay, where near-gale winds whipped us with wintry mix, did not encourage rumination, so we fled to the warmth of the summit lodge. I was surprised to hear the tram motor running on such a day, and we were soon joined by a natural history class from the community college in St. Albans. I couldn't help but wonder whether the young scholars wouldn't have learned more by schlepping up, like us.
The herd path along the ridge SW to Big Jay is easy enough to follow, but a muddy morass for much of its length. Fairly close to the Long Trail end near the ski area, we saw what might be that felonious bootleg ski trail - a clear-cut swath about 12 feet across and filled with the slash.
We met another group in the lot, when we finished around 6:15, and I recognized Pamola, who did good work on our Scar West hike in July. He was on a two-day 'whacking binge with some luminaries, including One Step and Neighbor Dave. (I hope we hear about their adventures.) Steve, I should note, reached #87 on his quest for the NEHH, while Christa swears she wants no part of it. (We'll see.)
It wasn't a great day for photography, but Ivy took some anyway, and so did Steve . I took a few myself.
We celebrated with some decent refreshments afterwards, at Bernie's in Montgomery Center, where the bartender mixed his first martini. (He did good.) The TV entertainment couldn't have been finer - Sox 10, Yankees 1.
I didn't exactly race through the NEHH, starting with Sandwich back in the Summer of '84. That was a family hike led by an esteemed older in-law who was working on his NEHH. He soon finished that list and had collected half of the NE3Ks before he had to stop hiking. He is my hiking inspiration, and flatters me by taking an interest in my little adventures. So, here's to you, Senior Hiker!
