I did the others in 2014 and 2015. May is earlier than I have gone up in the past, but it has been in the 80s in Massachusetts, and I'm getting antsy!
I plan today's hike to go up Nineteen Mile Brook Trail (along Nineteen Mile Brook [1.9 miles], then up into Carter Notch [1.7 miles], then down to the larger Carter Lake [0.2 miles]. Up Carter-Moriah Trail (1.2 miles) to get to Carter Dome, then back down via Carter Dome Trail and Nineteen Mile Brook Trail:
(if I have time, I will do Mt Hight because it is supposed to have beautiful views)
I knew that I would be going non-stop today, but I REALLY WANTED TO GET THIS DONE! After Thursday Morning Men's Breakfast in Boston, and dropping a friend off back in Danvers, I headed up 95, then 16 (up the east side of New Hampshire). When I got to North Conway, I could see snow on Mount Washington in the distance! Then staying on 16 up past Jackson, and Wildcat Ski Area into Pinkham Notch. I parked at the trailhead at 12:30 [I wanted to be done by 4 to be home by 7 for dinner with Wendy and Caroline]:
Nineteen Mile Brook is beautiful:
I'm only sorry that I don't have time to take off my shoes and splash my feet in the water.
It was wonderful seeing the wildflowers!:
And yes, there was a little snow/ice on the trail, but it was easy to navigate:
First view of the larger Carter Lake (at 2:17 PM):
other views of the Lake, looking across at Wildcat Mountain!
WOW - What A Beautiful Day!!
I then went up the Carter-Morial Trail. It is part of the Appalachian Trail which comes down from Wildcat Mountain (running from the bottom to the top):
I have seen many sections of the AT over the past couple of years, and it is a VERY DIFFICULT "hike" through the White Mountains of New Hampshire! (including this part getting up to Carter Dome)
There are some EXCELLENT views going up:
I made the summit at 3:23 PM - there is NO WAY I am getting down to the car by 4!!
Having said that, I did make it down in 1 hour 40 minutes, with some more beautiful views and streams:
I feel about hiking these mountains, and about life, what James Taylor says in the video for his latest album (Before This World) -
Sometimes you just have to start working on them, to finish them up.
Thank You God for a GREAT DAY! 10.59 miles in 4 hours 31 minutes, with an elevation gain of 3,326 feet!
Thursday, May 26, 2016 (left Danvers at 9:30 AM, home at 9 PM)
300 miles -- up 95, then 16 (3 hours)
10.59 miles -- hiking (4 hours 31 minutes)
4 hours to get home (including an hour nap at a rest area)
Music today was:
The 7 "vocal songs" on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. soundtrack
I saw the movie on dvd last night, and Roberta Flack does a killer version of "Compared To What"
I was more familiar with the Les McCann-Eddie Harris version from 1969, but this was actually recorded before that, and a joy to hear.
The soundtrack to the Coneheads movie (1993)
very uneventful, except Tainted Love by Soft Cell (1981)
Counting Crows - Somewhere Under Wonderland, 2014
The first song "Palisades Park" has a great repeating refrain - "Come Outside, Come Outside", which is JUST WHAT I WANT TO HEAR when I am headed for the White Mountains!!
Bob Dorough - Sunday At Iridium, 2006
Bob Dorough is a jazz musician in the style of Mose Allison, and his voice had a special quality - I finally figured out that he has a little "Bill Morrisey" in his voice, which made me smile.
after the hike, I listened to a free download of Bruce Springsteen (live, April 23, 2016) doing "Purple Rain" by Prince
and I finished the day's driving with Counting Crows - 2015/10/11 Oklahoma City, OK
- 19 tracks that sounded GREAT!!
Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Art Museums and National Parks (on May 2, 2016 I finished a 4-day trip to NJ-PA-VA-DC)
hyperlink: dixonheadingwest
http://dixonheadingwest.blogspot.com/
