Hiking up to Cannon

Hiked up Cannon Mountain today by myself. It was 4 hours with a few rest stops, but pretty much up and back. The last .75 miles of the trail before the ridge is crazy, here is a picture:

Some beautiful views on the way up:

Sick again

I was sick with a stomach bug practically all week. Thursday I felt better but then Friday I felt tired. I was supposed to climb Liberty and Flume yesterday but I didn't think it was a good idea feeling as I did all week. I'm sure this has 100% to do with work - the totally dysfunctional idiots I work with.

Yesterday I ran a very little on the treadmill for 20 minutes and some hills. This was the first running since before the Presidential traverse. Today I walked only with the rocking-chair shoes (Ryka toning).

At this rate I'll never get to all 48...

Recovery

Thursday and Friday I walked a 1/2 hour extra each night with the Ryka rocking-chair shoes, in addition to my normal 50 minutes per day.

Saturday and today (Sunday) I walked 4 miles / 1.5 hours with Bethany and The Lu at Stayter Park with the Ryka rockers...

I just haven't felt like running or hiking yet.

My legs hurt

More specifically - my thighs are aching a bit today. Thank goodness something can give them a workout! Going back to work was a nightmare from another planet - big sucking crazy cave of Napoleon nut-bags...except for the few nice people I go to meetings with.

I walked for an hour back and forth to work and meetings.

Southern Traverse

This was a brutal day - up and down Washington and then across the ridge, doing the remaining mountains, and back down to Highland Center. My feet hurt because my feet grew but my boots didn't and had to tighten them so much I cut off the circulation...

The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect for the remainder of Saturday and the rest of Sunday! Just stunning scenery - fantastic.

Total mileage for the day was 10.55 with 2608 in elevation gain and 5755 in loss.

It would have been better had we discussed plans on Saturday morning before heading down, so we could split up at that point and head across the traverse instead of going all the way down and then back up again.

Here are pictures from the hike:



Total mileage for the trip was 25 with 8710 feet in elevation gain and 12570 in loss...

Sunset at Lakes of the clouds

The weather shift from raining and cloudy to clear created the most awesome sunset in history. Check out the photos from the hike to see.

At Lakes of Clouds!

Beautiful hike up!

We are here.

I am so glad the six others with me decided to continue back up to Lake of the Clouds and eventually continue our trek across the ridge back to Crawford Notch. The trail up Ammonoosuc Ravine was beautiful in the breaking clouds. There were just gorgeous views and the sunset at the top...unbelievable!

Total mileage for the day is 6.93 with 2688 elevation gain and 3638 loss.

Sucky weather

Sucky weather has turned us back from the ridge hike. We came back down and are hiking up to Lakes by the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail direct route.

Was a total bummer but at least 6 others were pissed and hiked back up again - although we missed the traverse...

Adams from Madison

Hiked up to the top of Madison after dropping the packs at the Madison Hut. It is just amazing up here! Adams is for tomorrow...

Total mileage for today is 4.83 miles, 4117 feet of elevation gain and 639 feet of loss.

At Madison Hut

Still hot but cleared up - very sunny and beautiful.

Beautiful day

It is beautiful this AM - actually a little cool. I suspect it will heat up quickly but maybe it will stay nice for the 4000 ft climb...starting at 10. Don't know how cell reception will be on north of mountains - we'll see.

Haze at Highland Center

Very hazy in Franconia and Crawford notches. Can't see the Ridge nor Mt. Washington - which I'll see up close on Saturday. Very warm but there is a breeze.

Arrived at Highland Center too late to do any hiking. Pretty hazy and VERY humid. Met a Grandfather (77) and Grandson (15) at the dinner table. The grandfather was a life-long distance runner and hiker. This was the first time the grandson had been away from either mother or father. The grandfather was trying to plant the hiking seed.

I also saw them at breakfast the next (7/9) morning and spent time talking with them, I said to the grandson that he was very lucky and would some day really appreciate the time with his grandfather. He said "I already appreciate my grandfather". I thought that was really great - the relationship that was happening between the two of them.

Heading to the Presidents

So, I've pretty much run and hiked since 6/29. The last few days just walking mostly in those rocker sneakers - which are great!
Will hopefully be posting directly to this blog with pics and comments - there should be signal available the whole time.