Old Speck, Sunday June 18, 2006

[amstony]

With most of VFTT apparently in or around the Presi's running or hiking, Alpinista and I figured someone had best go to Maine and represent VFTT in that state. So we figured it would best be us.....she needed Old Speck for the NE 67 list and I needed to continue rehabilitating my knee (by climbing 4K's? ) Alpinista also told me I was the official picture taker since she'd left her camera home.

We arrived at the trailhead at Grafton Notch State Park at 9:50 AM, geared up and headed up the Old Speck Trail. We did notice a good number of cars already at the trailhead, so we thought the trail would be very busy. It was warm day, but not as warm as last year (90's) when Stevehiker and I started on our climb up Old Speck on almost the same weekend. We started with a nice pace and were soon at the first waterfall, which was very nice and refreshing to look at. Once we made it to Table Rock it was time for photo ops and snacks.

By now we were under constant attack by bugs, black flies, mosquito's, and who knows what else . Despite bug spray it was still tough. The bugs were dieing on my shirt as they landed.......... The trail, at least the first half was very wet and had some areas with lots of mud.


At approximately 1:00 PM we were standing on the summit and climbing the tower, where the bugs only got worse! The views were very good, a little hazy but still you could see beyond Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Spaulding, Abraham, and deep in to NH. The Spruce Goose that attacked Stevehiker and I last year was still on the summit, I felt it best to leave the vicious animal alone

We ate some more snacks, drank more water and began a leisurely stroll down to the trailhead at 1:30. We passed hikers coming up to the summit while we were heading down and had some good conversations. The battle with the bugs continued all the way down.....

At 4:00 PM we were down at the trailhead where we headed back to NH! All told a nice day and a nice weekend! Except for the bugs, of which I counted 15 bites!

This was #61/67 for Alpinista and a redo for me since I'd been up there prior.

 

[amstony]

more pictures of Alpinista and AMSTony on Old Speck..............

 

[poison ivy]

Great to read that you two are out peakbagging for the 67 again! It sure was a hot one on Sunday... but Old Speck is such a great place to be, I'm sure you were able to forget about the bugs & heat for at least part of the trek!

- Ivy

 

[Tom Rankin]

Except for the bugs, of which I counted 15 bites!

Ouch! I noticed this past weekend that even on the fire tower at Balsam Lake (which is much higher) the bugs were finding me too! Unusual, I guess the little buggers must be really hungry!

Go Alpster!

 

[marty]

Great job Tony and Lisa!!!!!!! Great shots, too.

Glad Lisa is back in the peakbag hunt. Hopefully all three of us can finish the 67 and attend the FTFC Awards Dinner together.

SUGGESTION: Try getting Sawyer Broad Spectrum for black flies. It worked GREAT for three hours when Ray and I did the Kinsmans.

Best reards,
Marty

 

[alpinista]

SUGGESTION: Try getting Sawyer Broad Spectrum for black flies. It worked GREAT for three hours when Ray and I did the Kinsmans.

Thanks for the tip, Marty. I couldn't believe the swarm of bugs _ especially on the summit! It's was a veritable convention of bugs.

Every now and then, as we were hiking, they'd swarm near my head or mouth, and I'd start talking back at them, spitting at them _ only to have Tony ask if I was talking to him.

Tony _ you did great as the official hike photographer. You're hired!

 

[bunchberry]

Glad you two had a great day in Maine--it was really fun to catch breakfast with you on Saturday morning before our respective hikes! What a beautiful day...and don't feel too bad, we had our fair share of bugs in NH too!

-katie