A Long Strange Trip...Through the Woods

I have recently set a new long-term goal to hike and summit the 4,000 footers. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, I’m referring to the group of forty-eight mountains in New Hampshire at least 4,000 feet above sea level. To give a better idea on geologic location and past history, all forty-eight peaks lie within the White Mountain National Forest and the Appalachian Mountain Club established and has maintained the list of designated peaks since the 1950s. The list ranges from the lowest peak in Mount Tecumseh (4,003 ft) all the way up to Mount Washington (6,288 ft), which is universally known for having some of the worst and unpredictable weather in the world. Currently, I have completed only 5 of the 48 peaks (a pathetic 10.4%).

Anyway, at the beginning of the summer I decided I was going to go on a solo day hike. I consulted with Dan during the week and finally decided on the Eisenhower-Pierce Loop. This hike would allow me to summit both Mount Eisenhower (4,760’) and Mount Pierce (4,312’) in a single 8.3 mile day. This was to be my very first major hike completed on my own and I was ready to take the challenge head-on. I thought it would be a good idea to bring a notepad and paper to pen down some of my thoughts during the hike as I already knew I intended to write at greater length about my experience at some point. Considering that my short-term memory is that of a goldfish, I’m glad I brought it along to capture and preserve what would have been lost memories in time and space. The following excerpts chronicle my trip.

Date: June 4, 2011

8:55AM. I leave my apartment. I am excited and refreshed. I went to bed early the night before and had a big pasta dinner for supper. All my gear is packed and I hit the road. All the way up Route 16 into North Conway, onto Route 302, and through Crawford Notch State Park.

10:47AM. I pull into the parking lot. There are quite a few cars. I get out and stretch my legs. For some reason I don’t remember it taking this long to get up here last time. It’s hot out. And extremely humid. I have a small headache. I blame the air conditioning and the sudden change in temperature as I exited my car. That happens to me sometimes. My body takes a minute or two to adjust environments and the headache goes away. I start to gather all my things (backpack, hiking poles, camera, water, knife, map, etc). I walk over to the kiosk and look for an envelope in which to deposit money for parking. I notice a sign on the information display board. It reads, “JUNE 4^TH IS NATIONAL HIKING DAY. PARKING IS FREE!” Sweet. I’m hungry. I sit down on the trunk of my car and eat a powerbar and drink some water. There are lots of small gnats, mostly likely due to the spawning season, so I put on a thick layer of bug spray. Ok. It’s time to get going. I enter the woods and fiddle with my backpack to make some last minute fine-tuning. I adjust the straps to displace the weight evenly over my shoulders and lower the backplate to rest on my hips. I look for my iPod. I can’t find it anywhere and I violently curse at myself. After realizing I forgot it in the car I turn around and go back. This frustrates me and I continue the verbal assault on my stupidity and carelessness. When I get back to my car I see my iPod sitting in my back seat. I continue to swear out-loud at my lack of detail. I viciously dig through my backpack to find my keys and unlock my car. I grab the iPod and my headphones. I need something to mellow me out. I scroll through my list of artists. Grateful Dead. I look down at my tattoo on my leg and smile. Bingo. Now I’m ready. I take a look at my map and head back into the woods. At the trailhead I see a sign that reads Edmunds Path – 2.9 mi.

11:30AM. I’m deeper into the woods now and the trail has begun to get steeper. The bugs from earlier have lightened up a little. The forest canopy has shielded me from the direct rays of the sun, but I am still already drenched with sweat. I remove my hat and can see that it’s almost soaked through. The climb has gotten tougher the last half mile or so. What began as a slow incline through a well maintained path has turned into a series of never ending stone staircases. I have passed a few groups that I saw earlier in the parking lot. I feel like I’m making good time. I’m not tired and my legs feel strong. I breathe heavy on some of the steep inclines but overall I feel fine.

12:00PM. I have reached the Alpine Zone. The trees are starting to clear a bit. And the trail has transformed into giant slabs of granite outcroppings. The sun beats down. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. My hat is now totally soaked and no longer functions as my own personal sweat sponge. It is completely saturated and beads of sweat fall from my brim. I stop at a small waterfall. I dunk my head underwater and submerge my hat as well. I wring it out and place it back atop my head. The cold water runs down my neck and it feels wonderful. I take out my camera and take this picture. It is the first signs of reaching the top and the views are incredible. I take a few minutes to soak it all in before I pick up again.

12:42. I have reached the top of Mount Eisenhower. I feel accomplished. There is a large group of boy scouts with their team leaders gathered at the top. I reluctantly sit next to them and open my backpack. I eat some trail mix and another powerbar. It’s much colder at the top. I put on my long sleeve shirt and pull the hoodie over my head. I enjoy the views. I take out my iPod and turn it off for a minute. I write down the names of the songs I listened to on my way to the top. They were:

Box of Rain; Friend of the Devil; The Music Never Stopped; Franklin’s Tower; Ramble on Rose; Brown Eyed Women; Mississippi Half Step; Truckin’; Bertha; Next Time You See Me; Beat it Down the Line; Bird Song; Dark Hollow; Second that Emotion; Me and My Uncle; Cumberland Blues; Good Lovin’; Drums; Good Lovin’ Part 2; Sugar Magnolia

I can feel a blister on my right foot that has been forming for the last hour or so. I remove my boot to take a look at the damage. I’m in need of a band-aid. A woman asks me to take a picture of her and her family. I kindly oblige and ask is she has a first aid kit. I’m in luck. She does and provides me with a band-aid and some neosporin. I thank her.

1:10PM. I leave Mount Eisenhower and begin the short climb over to Mount Pierce. I keep my long sleeve on for a little while longer. The wind gusts are strong. As I make my way down the side of Eisenhower I pass a few groups that are making their way to the top. A few of them ask how much further. I answer them with a smile and some small encouragement, “You’re almost there.”

1:51PM. I summit Mount Pierce. I am not overly impressed with the view. Eisenhower was much better. There are kids everywhere. This annoys me. I write down the songs listened to. They were:

Loser, Ain’t it Crazy (The Rub); El Paso; I’m a King Bee; Ripple; Me and Bobby McGee

I don’t stay at the summit for very long. I leave Pierce and begin to make my way down Crawford Path to the parking area.

3:21PM. I reach Mt. Clinton Road. From here it’s still another 2.3 miles to the parking lot where my car is. My legs are a little tired and I’m almost out of water. I write down the songs I listened to on the way down. There were:

Uncle John’s Band; Turn on Your Lovelight; China Cat Sunflower; I know You Rider; It Hurts Me Too; Sing Me Back Home; Hard to Handle; Dark Star

The bugs are ridiculous. I swing my arms around my head wildly. I look and feel like a lunatic. It doesn’t help. The gnats, mosquitoes, and black flies all have a field day. After 20 minutes or so I have red welts covering my neck, arms, and legs. I start to jog back to the car.

3:53PM. I reach my car. I’m exhausted. I change into a clean tee shirt and take my hiking boots off. I peel off my socks and slip into my sandals. Amazing. I take a moment to write down the songs I listened to. They were:

St. Stephen; Not Fade Away; Going Down the Road Feeling Bad; Not Fade Away; Morning Dew; New Minglewood Blues

I drink the rest of my water knowing I can stop for a Gatorade once I get back on the road. I finish packing everything in my backseat. I grab the rest of my trail mix. Dried apricots, M&M’s, peanuts, raisins, and almonds. Delicious. I have half-melted chocolate all over my hands and face. I am satisfied.

6:10PM. I arrive back at my apartment. I gather up my gear and stand outside for a minute. Seems like a minute ago I was leaving here to embark on my journey. I decide I am going to go inside and reflect.

Now I don’t really consider myself a religious man, but I found there to be something spiritual about this hike. Maybe it was my inner being speaking to me (at least that’s what my mother would think). Maybe it was the challenge of doing it alone and not having someone there to push you past your limits; to keep going when you want to quit. Maybe it was the feeling of accomplishment after completion. I’m not sure. But there is certain tranquility that nature often possesses and is not always felt. Simply put, the chaos of everyday life often makes us miss it. And although I had the sounds of guitars and drums in my ears for most of the trip (which would probably irritate most naturalists), I was at peace. It was nice to feel so humbled too. I can be extremely arrogant and selfish at times, but standing alone on that mountain top I felt so insignificant and small. It was good for me. It kind of put things back into perspective for me; to jolt me back into reality and realize that the world doesn’t revolve around me. Even though I sometimes think it should.

“You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone,
If you should stand then whos to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.”