Mount Washington, NH

[VentureScoutNY]

 

Just returned from hiking up Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the highest point in the North East at 6,288 feet.

 

We camped in the White Mountains National Forest about an hour away from Mt. Washington. We arrived on Thursday night and got ready for the hike on Friday. As friday morning came everyone was filled with anticipation and we got our day packs ready ate our breakfast and set out. We began hiking at 2,000 feet at Tuckermans Ravine trail. The trail up to the summit is 4.2 miles. We were told it would take about 4 1/2 hours to hike up, and another 4 1/2 hours down.

 

That estimate surely was not intended for flat-landers like us(Long Islanders). The views were amazing and the Scouts had a great time. The Scouts especially liked discorvering Huge chunks of ice in July! We started the hike at 9:30, and with all the breaks and lunch we reached the summit around 5:30. Although everyone was exhausted we accomplished something special that day. All of us had achieved something most people could only dream of.

 

It was hot and overcast for the first few hours of the hike, with periodic rainfall, but cooler temps came about as we got higher and higher into the clouds. At the summit that scouts bought pizza and hot chocolate, rough to mix the two! They bought key chains and patches, and we hiked down the 8+ mile auto road down the mountain(not the wisest decesion) even though we were tired. Finally reached the campsite around 1am and crawled into out tents for a long awaited rest.

 

On saturday we toured Franconia Notch State Park. We visited the Basin, "a granite pothole 20 feet in diameter. It is believed to have been eroded 15,000 years ago while the North American ice sheet was melting. The Basin has been smoothed by small stones and sand, whirled around by the Pemigewasset River. Below the Basin is a water-eroded rock formation called the Old Man's Foot". We went to the site of where the Old man on the Mountain used to be, and also saw the Indian Head(a rock formation that resembles a native american, hmm...can we say racial profileing...?!).

 

On Sunday we left the Campesite. Everyone was tired and ready to leave but were all a little sad we would be leaving the beautiful mountain sceneary.

 

All in all it was a great trip. My advice to anyone considering the hike, TRAIN! I trained by running the track a few weeks in advance, but it was not enough. Hikers must be in very good shape to complete this hike. Although my legs are still screaming, it was worth it!

 

 

 

[silver-shark]

Sounds like great fun!

 

I can hear your enthusiasm shining through, even in your typed words!

[scoutingagain]

VentureScout,

 

Glad to hear you had a great time. Don't say I did't warn you about the climb though. Regarding the Old Man. A great quote attributed to Daniel Webster goes, "..."Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."

 

 

 

SA

[VentureScoutNY]

 

Great Quote SA! My Scoutmaster and I are considering framing the maps of the Mountain and trail, and highlight Tucks Ravine, to give to each person on the trip. That quote would look great on it!