turkeybob
08-27-2009, 11:05 PM
As the quest continues for the NE 111, the hikes get more thrilling and my body takes on more hammering.
FRIDAY, August 21st--DRIVE UP DAY—solid rain, finally got to our NORTH CONWAY camp ground, (SACO RIVER CAMP GROUND), at 7:30 pm. One campsite under water, the other was half submerged. Put up 5 tents and a canopy in the rain. Rained all nite.
SATURDAY, August 22nd—climb day aborted—rain on and off all day—heavy storms—the 7 of us, (JOE ROTH, ERIC OOGJEN, DAN YOUNG, TOM DINSE, DONNA DINSE, LARRY TELLE and MYSELF), had to wait it out—It again rained all nite. Starting to wonder if we’ll ever leave camp.
SUNDAY, August 23rd—chewing at the bit to climb—decide to go for it and we were able to SUMMIT CARRIGAIN in partly cloudy skies until we got to the summit ridge where another front moved it, covered the peak and tower in thick fog, but luckily it only gave us a few sprinkles. Trails were always wet and very slippery, and was it ever hot and muggy. Little did we know it then, but as we were climbing, the CONWAY valley and campsite got pounded by another inch of rain.
Again in rained part of the nite. All tents on the inside were still dry as was our gear.
MONDAY, August 24th—looking better all the time, partly cloudy, hot and muggy as hell. JOE, LARRY, ERIC, DAN AND I went up the PINE BEND BROOK TRAIL and SUMMITED NORTH TRIPYRAMID—then took off and SUMMITED MIDDLE TRIPYRAMID. At that point, a conference was held and LARRY AND JOE decided to head down. DAN, ERIC and I continued onto south peak, across the KATE SLEEPER TRAIL up onto the WHITEFACE RIDGE and SUMMITTED WHITEFACE—took breaks and lunch and then continued on the ROLLINS TRAIL and SUMMITTED PASSACONAWAY. Took the PASSACONAWAY CUTOFF AND OLIVERIAN TRAILS back to the KANCAMAGUS trailhead where a car was waiting for us with COLD BEERS. Total hike –17 miles----11 hours 15 minutes.
TUESDAY, August 25th---Great looking day—no clouds—full sun, calm and hot. The rest of the group went around to the south and went for Passaconaway and Whiteface from the south trailheads. ERIC, DAN AND I took off for the HANCOCKS. Took the HANCOCK NOTCH TRAIL to the LOOP TRAIL and SUMMITED MT HANCOCK AND SOUTH HANCOCK taking the Hancock loop clockwise. There were lots of discussions on that decision. Back to the campground—it’s finally drying up and time for a beer or 2 and get ready to break camp the next morning.
WEDNESDAY, August 26th—Another great looking day, tents were all down by 6:30 am, breakfast completed and all vehicles packed up by 7:00 am. ERIC, DONNA AND TOM went home. JOE, LARRY, AND I drove to the RAVINE LODGE ROAD, took the SNAPPER AND CARRIAGE TRAILS then SUMMITED MOOSILAUKE at 11:00 AM. Day started out great but by the time we reached the summit ridge, a front moved in, covered the summit, massive cairns, and trails with thick clouds but not before we got a few pictures in. Temps dropped and winds up to 40 MPH. Still, what a beautiful peak—probably will do that one again.
Got down to the trailhead on a record pace, (1 hour 45 min.) . Cleaned up, changed, ate at a subway on the way and was back in home in GENESEO at 10:00 pm.
All in all, a great trip, fantastic group of people and hiking companions and with the weather like it was when we started, I am so thankful to get the 8 peaks in.
Looking forward to another great trip next month.
turkeybob
FRIDAY, August 21st--DRIVE UP DAY—solid rain, finally got to our NORTH CONWAY camp ground, (SACO RIVER CAMP GROUND), at 7:30 pm. One campsite under water, the other was half submerged. Put up 5 tents and a canopy in the rain. Rained all nite.
SATURDAY, August 22nd—climb day aborted—rain on and off all day—heavy storms—the 7 of us, (JOE ROTH, ERIC OOGJEN, DAN YOUNG, TOM DINSE, DONNA DINSE, LARRY TELLE and MYSELF), had to wait it out—It again rained all nite. Starting to wonder if we’ll ever leave camp.
SUNDAY, August 23rd—chewing at the bit to climb—decide to go for it and we were able to SUMMIT CARRIGAIN in partly cloudy skies until we got to the summit ridge where another front moved it, covered the peak and tower in thick fog, but luckily it only gave us a few sprinkles. Trails were always wet and very slippery, and was it ever hot and muggy. Little did we know it then, but as we were climbing, the CONWAY valley and campsite got pounded by another inch of rain.
Again in rained part of the nite. All tents on the inside were still dry as was our gear.
MONDAY, August 24th—looking better all the time, partly cloudy, hot and muggy as hell. JOE, LARRY, ERIC, DAN AND I went up the PINE BEND BROOK TRAIL and SUMMITED NORTH TRIPYRAMID—then took off and SUMMITED MIDDLE TRIPYRAMID. At that point, a conference was held and LARRY AND JOE decided to head down. DAN, ERIC and I continued onto south peak, across the KATE SLEEPER TRAIL up onto the WHITEFACE RIDGE and SUMMITTED WHITEFACE—took breaks and lunch and then continued on the ROLLINS TRAIL and SUMMITTED PASSACONAWAY. Took the PASSACONAWAY CUTOFF AND OLIVERIAN TRAILS back to the KANCAMAGUS trailhead where a car was waiting for us with COLD BEERS. Total hike –17 miles----11 hours 15 minutes.
TUESDAY, August 25th---Great looking day—no clouds—full sun, calm and hot. The rest of the group went around to the south and went for Passaconaway and Whiteface from the south trailheads. ERIC, DAN AND I took off for the HANCOCKS. Took the HANCOCK NOTCH TRAIL to the LOOP TRAIL and SUMMITED MT HANCOCK AND SOUTH HANCOCK taking the Hancock loop clockwise. There were lots of discussions on that decision. Back to the campground—it’s finally drying up and time for a beer or 2 and get ready to break camp the next morning.
WEDNESDAY, August 26th—Another great looking day, tents were all down by 6:30 am, breakfast completed and all vehicles packed up by 7:00 am. ERIC, DONNA AND TOM went home. JOE, LARRY, AND I drove to the RAVINE LODGE ROAD, took the SNAPPER AND CARRIAGE TRAILS then SUMMITED MOOSILAUKE at 11:00 AM. Day started out great but by the time we reached the summit ridge, a front moved in, covered the summit, massive cairns, and trails with thick clouds but not before we got a few pictures in. Temps dropped and winds up to 40 MPH. Still, what a beautiful peak—probably will do that one again.
Got down to the trailhead on a record pace, (1 hour 45 min.) . Cleaned up, changed, ate at a subway on the way and was back in home in GENESEO at 10:00 pm.
All in all, a great trip, fantastic group of people and hiking companions and with the weather like it was when we started, I am so thankful to get the 8 peaks in.
Looking forward to another great trip next month.
turkeybob