procook131
03-21-2012, 09:08 AM
For me this was an endeavor that really seemed over my head from the start. How I was going to manage working full time (60+ hours) and trying to hike on just Sunday/Monday when weather can be so non cooperative in New Hampshire just didn't seem possible. The one stipulation I had was if the hiking ever started to feel like “work”, I would take a step back and reevaluate. But the calendar hit the solstice and it was time to give it a go, and looking back I would not have done it any other way.
I hiked forty two peaks solo, only exceptions were Cabot/Waumbek and a Zealand/Bonds traverse with JoeCedar. My overall time was a little slower than his due to my “inefficiency” at times, resulting in 124.75 hiking hours versus his 118. Vertical gain was somewhere around 100K feet over the course of 280 miles. Twenty five hikes over twenty two hiking days is not a bad way to spend the winter, not including the hiking I did in my backyard called Vermont.
My combinations can be viewed here.
http://www.48in1winter.com/johndavidpalmer2011-2012.shtml
Efficiency is key, and I did ok. Weather certainly played a roll a few times. I was blown off of the Franconia Ridge on Christmas Day, not letting me get all four and having to go back a few weeks later. The severe cold in mid-January forced me to hike shorter hikes even though I had more leg. Low visibility and high winds in the Presidentials forced me to keep waiting and pushing them back week after week. Living just about two hours away from any trail head in the Whites was a huge help, allowing me to sleep in a bit and be hiking by late morning on Sundays after hard weeks at work. I did get a few chances to break trail, and I wish there had been more. Lots more. Thankfully there is always next year.....
I cannot thank my family and friends enough for the support they have given throughout the winter from commenting on photo albums, getting back to the car to hear nice voicemails, chatting for a bit when I was in cheap motels in the middle of nowhere, etc, etc. But no one has helped more than my wonderful girlfriend. We went on our first date on December 19th at which point I told her about my crazy idea to do a “SS NH48”, and she stuck by me the whole time. Starting a relationship with someone who spent every day off during winter in not even in the same state takes a lot of patience, and she never wavered. Thank you Emily, I could not have done it without you!
Pics from a few of my faves......
Madison and Adams for the finish
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2810190295719.2115756.1287576204&type=3&l=dab728a0de
Zealand-Bonds with JoeCedar
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2751174700366.2114148.1287576204&type=3&l=64745f06b3
Brutal day in the Presidentials
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2668362430111.2113006.1287576204&type=3&l=3216390657
Freezing on the Osceolas
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2461772025480.2109244.1287576204&type=3&l=0e33f41f14
I hiked forty two peaks solo, only exceptions were Cabot/Waumbek and a Zealand/Bonds traverse with JoeCedar. My overall time was a little slower than his due to my “inefficiency” at times, resulting in 124.75 hiking hours versus his 118. Vertical gain was somewhere around 100K feet over the course of 280 miles. Twenty five hikes over twenty two hiking days is not a bad way to spend the winter, not including the hiking I did in my backyard called Vermont.
My combinations can be viewed here.
http://www.48in1winter.com/johndavidpalmer2011-2012.shtml
Efficiency is key, and I did ok. Weather certainly played a roll a few times. I was blown off of the Franconia Ridge on Christmas Day, not letting me get all four and having to go back a few weeks later. The severe cold in mid-January forced me to hike shorter hikes even though I had more leg. Low visibility and high winds in the Presidentials forced me to keep waiting and pushing them back week after week. Living just about two hours away from any trail head in the Whites was a huge help, allowing me to sleep in a bit and be hiking by late morning on Sundays after hard weeks at work. I did get a few chances to break trail, and I wish there had been more. Lots more. Thankfully there is always next year.....
I cannot thank my family and friends enough for the support they have given throughout the winter from commenting on photo albums, getting back to the car to hear nice voicemails, chatting for a bit when I was in cheap motels in the middle of nowhere, etc, etc. But no one has helped more than my wonderful girlfriend. We went on our first date on December 19th at which point I told her about my crazy idea to do a “SS NH48”, and she stuck by me the whole time. Starting a relationship with someone who spent every day off during winter in not even in the same state takes a lot of patience, and she never wavered. Thank you Emily, I could not have done it without you!
Pics from a few of my faves......
Madison and Adams for the finish
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2810190295719.2115756.1287576204&type=3&l=dab728a0de
Zealand-Bonds with JoeCedar
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2751174700366.2114148.1287576204&type=3&l=64745f06b3
Brutal day in the Presidentials
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2668362430111.2113006.1287576204&type=3&l=3216390657
Freezing on the Osceolas
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2461772025480.2109244.1287576204&type=3&l=0e33f41f14