Mom Made Me Do It (Lafayette: 20-Aug-2009)

[1HappyHiker]

The folks in the photo below are my Mom and her companion Bill who have been visiting us for the past several days. The two of them standing on a boulder is their version of climbing Mt. Washington!

Both Mom & Bill are 80-something years of age. Mom is originally from the north central part of PA, and Bill is from upstate NY. But now, they both live in KY (which explains the “UK” on Bill’s shirt). Mom has always been a very strong and athletic woman, and she still does a 2 mile power walk several times per week. However, mountain climbing is no longer in her repertoire.

About midway through her visit, Mom asked if I was missing my hikes in the mountains while she was there. I made it clear to her that “Mom time” was more important that “mountain time”. I think she was pleased to hear that. Her visit ended on Thursday, and as she was leaving she asked with a twinkle in her eye if I’d be hiking today. With a twinkle in my eye, I said I might. She said she’d be disappointed if I didn’t, and she added “go out and make it a good one”.

By the time we’d said our final good-byes, and she & Bill were on their way, I had just a little over 6 hours to hike and be home in time to pick up my wife from work. I did some quick calculations and figured there would be just about enough time to do Mt. Lafayette. Mom has always admired the beauty of the Franconia Ridge during her many visits to our home in Bethlehem. So, I felt that a hike to Mt. Lafayette would meet her criteria of doing “a good one”.

Just for something a little different, I opted to forego the Old Bridal Path and instead use the Greenleaf Trail for the entire hike. It was early afternoon by the time I arrived at the trailhead. By that time there was more cloudiness and haze than there had been earlier in the day. Nonetheless, it was still a relatively good day. During the course of the hike, I took the customary photos for a Lafayette hike that have been posted frequently by many others. But, I’m still posting a few “déjà vu all over again” photos anyway.

VIEW FROM EAGLE PASS

VIEW OF FRANCONIA RIDGE

VIEW FROM SHORE OF EAGLE LAKES

VIEW TOWARD GREENLEAF HUT

So there you have it. That’s my brief report for the hike that Mom “made” me do. Gheez! The things we sometimes “must do” to keep our Moms happy!


1HappyHiker

 

[TrishandAlex]

Your Mom and Bill look great! Love their climb up Washington!

Nice report.

 

[smitty77]

Wow, they look great for their age! And Kentucky would be my second retirement choice (behind the Whites) - beautiful country down there.

Nice pics and trip report. I'm am suffering from a serious bout of mountain fever. I need to find a job where I work winters and have summer off, that pays 2x that of a teacher's salary.

 

[Jabberwalk]

Great photos!! Your mom is a very astute woman - telling you to "take a hike"

 

[rocket21]

Both Mom & Bill are 80-something years of age.

A gentleman never discloses a lady's age

Nice trip report!

 

[zman]

Great picture of your Mom and Bill-they both look great and very happy!!!
I'm so sorry I missed them again-

As usual, great pictures on a relatively haze free day-

 

[1HappyHiker]

Thanks everyone for your kind remarks. I know that the folks in the photo at the top of this report will be very appreciative of the positive comments about them. They work hard at staying youthful, and it shows!

 

[Waumbek]

Good thing you got the hike in yesterday. Starting around 2.30 p.m. today, there was a torrential downpour and t-storm.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Great TR, the type that should make your mother proud. I hope she has internet access. She and her companion look very spry and many years younger than their calendar ages.

A gentleman never discloses a lady's age

Not necessarily so. I am not exactly sure where the threshold is. But at some point many women seem to be more than eager to reveal these details, and further they have no problems with others disclosing their age either. My 91 year old mother always beats me to the punch in volunteering her age when she is asked. And most people cannot believe she is more than 70.

 

[forestgnome]

another great TR from another great hike...so...what your resting heartrate...34bpm?

happy trails

 

[1HappyHiker]

another great TR from another great hike...so...what your resting heartrate...34bpm?

If you reverse the order of the 3 and the 4, then you’re just a few bpm away from being right on the money!

A gentleman never discloses a lady's age

Not necessarily so. I am not exactly sure where the threshold is. But at some point many women seem to be more than eager to reveal these details, and further they have no problems with others disclosing their age either. My 91 year old mother always beats me to the punch in volunteering her age when she is asked. And most people cannot believe she is more than 70.

Mark, I think your comment is absolutely correct. There is a “turning point” somewhere along the way where folks begin to be proud of their accumulated years, just like when they were very young.

When you ask young kids how old they are, they will hold up their hand and proudly display the number of fingers that represents their age. It seems to me that this pride of accumulated years continues until somewhere in the early to mid 20’s. Then, there is this long period that lasts for 50 years or so when a person’s accumulated age seems to be an “issue”. But then, beginning around age 70, things seem to revert back to early childhood and once again the accumulated years become a source of pride. Go figure!

 

[Laurie Maynard]

things seem to revert back to early childhood

Ha! ha! Isn't THAT the truth!

 

[Barkingcat]

She said she’d be disappointed if I didn’t, and she added “go out and make it a good one”.

What a great mom you have, 1HappyHiker...what a great mom.

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

1HappyCouple

Such a tender story about an incredible mom. It is so good to hear of folks in their 80's who can still be active and happy despite certain age related "aches and pains". My 84 year old father has a very postive attitude that keeps him going.

And very fine "deja vu" pictures of your hike.

Little D

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Great Tr, John!

Be thankful you still have her and she's in such good shape! At 86 we have trouble getting my mom out to the supper table. Despite the difficulty of watching her decline I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank goodness we have a nurse who comes to help her everyday now. It was certainly difficult before that. She was a big hit at our anniversary party last weekend, but boy was she exhausted after!

When we head to the mountains she says, "Will you be staying overnight? You can you know. I'll be fine."

Here's to yours, mine and everyone's mom!

KDT

 

[WOWSER]

Love the picture of your mother!

Hi John -- What a great trip report! I love your mother! And how cool is that that she still exercises?! Like mother like son. Thanks for the touching report, John.

Wowser