In the 2012 hiking season, I am thankful for everyone who does a good job maintaining trails. Thank you - you make our hiking possible. In a similar vein, I am thankful to Steven Smith and Mike Dickerman for their very helpful 4000-Footers book, which I enjoy reading and is good preparation for hikes of the biggest White Mountains, and also to Mr. Smith and Greg Daniell and to the Appalachian Mountain Club and all who have contributed to the White Mountain Guide, which, with its maps, is a big help for hikers. Similar praise and thanks is in order for authors of and contributors to the several hiking guide books that help me and countless others prepare for successful hikes across New England. Thank you!
I am pleased to have summitted 4000-footers six times, two of them repeats - Washington and Lafayette - and two others, Moosilauke and Lincoln, the latter with its taller neighbor to the north. Moosilauke on a crystal clear day May 5, the day of the Super Moon. It was a treat, as dusk fell, to drive down the Ravine Lodge road, then on the highways through Glencliff and on to I-91, catching nice views of the big moon over the big mountains on the way. Memorable day. This photo of the main summit area from South Peak is one of my favorites from that day:
Likewise, the hikes up Washington were deeply enjoyable and memorable. Slogging up the beautiful Jewell and Gulfside Trails on Father's Day to ever-expanding views, the excitement and relief at traversing those last yards up the THC, the rare luck of having no wind and almost no line at the summit, meeting two people who reminded me of my late mom, who is one of my inspirations, at the summit and the memorable descent of Crawford Path, and being pleased to have the mental strength and concentration, body very tired and totally taxed, safely to descend the dry-but-still-treacherous Ammo Trail. This photo of the summit cone from the Gulfside on the west shoulder of Mt. Clay is one of my favorites from that day:
. What a day - even included my first time camping solo the night before, at the Franconia East camping area on the East Branch of the Pemi, which I found beautiful and took a few snaps of - here's one:
The trip up Tuck's and back down Lion Head five weeks later was even more beautiful, if that is possible, and though less ground-breaking, it further expanded my highest climb in one day. Also exhausted after that trek, but deeply satisfied. Here's a view I liked from that day, looking back down at the Tuckerman Trail from on the headwall:
It's been a fine year of hiking, and I am thankful to have enjoyed it and to have been able to share it with friends, family and others, in person and on the web, here and elsewhere. As a parting shot, I'll share another photo I especially enjoyed, from a trip up the Ammo Trail on May 12, a windy day where I turned about at the hut, though I did get this photo and a few others near the Crawford Path's junction with the north end of the Monroe Loop:
. For this moment and many others, and for the many people who helped make it possible, I am pleased and most thankful.
), my hiking friends, the many great folks I have met along the trails, the spirits that have kept me safe, and the Whites, Baxter State Park, The Tetons,etc, for continuing to provide incredible views from the top.
