Hello Mr. Blue Sky: An Afternoon on Franconia Ridge

Somethings are worth waiting for. As I've posted before, you take what the Weather Gods give you. Today it's snowing up here in the Whites and the next few days don't look all the promising. But yesterday...yesterday was a day worth waiting for. We went up above treeline following the popular hike up the Falling Waters Trail to Little Haystack, then crossed Franconia Ridge over Lincoln, Truman and Lafayette. It was simply stunning. And although it was winter conditions, we still had the best day to be up here. The wind wasn't all that strong and the cold, well, it wasn't all that cold either. It was cold enough for me to wear a hat and gloves but not cold enough for Atticus's boots or his body suit. We saw not a soul all day. There's something great about having this ridge to yourself, even in winter conditions. Enjoy the photos by clicking here.

Panoramic Shots from the Fire Tower in Hemenway State Forest

There is a short slide show of this hike here.

Elmer Fudds

It's hunting season up here which makes for an entirely different kind of danger on the trail, especially for Atticus, and we ran into a couple of hunters over in Hemenway State Park on our walk up to the fire tower. That is why Atticus has that yellow ribbon around his neck. It's a make-shift visibility "vest". As I said to our friend Christine, "He looks like a Thanksgiving Day present." (The top photo is funny in that it looks like Atticus is sneaking up on and hunting the hunters.)

Little Buddha

Thanks to Hailey Klein of Newburyport, Atticus has another snappy nickname.

I told a friend about Hailey's response to the "Why Angell?" slideshow (which can be found in the sidebar to the right) in which she wrote: "He is Buddha on the mountain, meditating for the world." His response: "He's Little Buddha."

"Little Buddha" is one of the more interesting things said about Atticus. Last winter, a hiker who goes by the moniker "7 Summits", referred to Atticus as the "Little Giant".

Through the last couple of years Atticus has been called a few interesting things. All of them positive. (I’ve also been called many interesting things, but most should not be printed in this forum.)

Yesterday we took a leisurely walk of a few miles (distance unknown) in Hemenway State Park over in the Tamworth area. Our friend Christine showed us around and up to a fire tower with great views of the Sandwich Range and especially Mt. Israel, Sandwich Dome, Whiteface, Passaconaway, and Chocurua. It was more of a walk than a hike but was still very pleasant and good to be out in the woods on a November day when the 4,000-footers were all draped in snow.

Meet Trail

Yesterday was a rest day after three hikes in four days. Today is a rain day. No hiking, just laundry, shopping and other errands. As we wait out the weather, I wanted you to meet "Trail". That's her on the right. She belongs to Kim Dunham (or vice-versa, or maybe the best way to put it is to say they belong together). No matter how you put it, Kim is the Postmaster of the North Woodstock, New Hampshire Post Office and she has dedicated North Kinsman to Trail during our Winter Quest. What that means is that when we hike North Kinsman for the first time this winter, we'll be doing it in honor of Trail, Kim's hiking partner. Then, when the hike is done and it is reported on this website, Trail's photo will appear on this site since the peak was done in her honor. You too can dedicate a mountain to a pet you love, as Kim has done, or to pet you have lost, as others have done. Your pets photo will go on this website once that peak is completed, along with photos from the hike itself. And it's all for a good cause because every cent that's raised on these hikes is going to Angell Animal Medical Center. To follow Kim's lead and make a donation to this wonderful not-for-profit organization that helps thousands of animals each year, click here.

Get Rid Of The Wagging Tail & The Smile And That's Him

This Harry Bliss cartoon was sent in by newly-elected Newbury-port Ward 4 City Councilor Ed Cameron. (Thanks, Ed, and congratulations on a stunning victory!) Let's just say I can relate to this cartoon. That's us in a nutshell. Although I would point out that Atticus is a stoic when he's up above me and waiting (and he has no tail). He stands or sits above or ahead of me, a usual 20 feet, with a stern look on his face, only returning to my side is if I sit down or fall down.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they are yours." ~ Richard Bach

We were only climbing these mountains for seven months before we started winter hiking. That was two winters ago. In that first winter we attempted to hike all 48 of the 4,000 foot peaks, nearly all of them by ourselves, leaving friends and family concerned and bewildered. This was new territory for us and no one expected us to finish them all and we didn’t, falling seven peaks shy. I could read it in their faces, seeing this 20 lb dog and this middle aged and overweight fellow, both novices, pitting ourselves against the bitter winter of the White Mountains.

Last winter we set a new goal: hike the 48 in one winter, but this time around we tried to do it twice. Again friends and family shook their heads. I can't really blame them. Who were we dto attempt such an audacious adventure? Some thought us brave, most thought us a couple of fools. We fell short of the goal of 96 peaks in 90 days by four hikes ending up with 81 peaks.

I'm not sure what compelled Atticus and I to get out there and up there. I went into those winters trying to push myself beyond where I'd ever been but also went loaded up with several fears, not the least of which is a fear of heights.

Now here we are again, giving it another shot---two rounds.

Some would say we don’t fit the description of what they expect out of a couple of winter peakbaggers. That's okay. In 46 years of living I have come to realize it’s not my job to fit someone else’s opinion of me and as long as Atticus is healthy and safe I don’t really care all that much what people think he should and shouldn’t be allowed to do up in these mountains. If you ever hike with us you'll see that he loves this and appears to be made for it.

The quote at the top of the page says it all. Like most of you I've struggled my entire life with limitations both self-imposed and those put on me by others. And more often than not I've allowed my path to be directed by those nagging doubts and distractions. But occasionally something comes along and you feel compelled to follow that dream or forever pay the price for not chasing it.

I can't say for sure what compelled us to be up here hiking, to change our lives so much so that we now live up here. I just know it was a passion that called to me and put me on a more genuine and pure path and my life was changed because of it. These mountains, they call to me and it appears they have a song the little guy responds to also. We may not fit the bill for what some would consider winter adventurers, but that's okay. As far as the quote on the top of this post goes, I’ll let others worry about limiting us. I to do my best to ignore those limitations. Being a dog, Atticus was light years ahead of me on this. He has never really worried about what others think. I’m just a bit slower on the uptake but I've come around.

With that said, I’d like to share something with you. It comes from my friend, Manford. In his email it states: This is a story about a guy, a guy like most of us, common, questioning his existences, measuring himself to others, never believing in his abilities or his worth. Then one day, his passion outgrew his fears as he stepped onto a stage, a stage that took him to a place beyond his self imposed prison. Watch the faces of the judges as this guy walks out on the stage. You can almost see what they're thinking as they pre-judge this guy based on his looks and the fact that he's a cell phone salesman. Maybe this guy stopped believing in what people told him for so many years and ultimately started listening to his passion.

This is not hiking related and I’m sure some of you may have seen this, but I cannot get enough of it and thought you might like it too. It's a good lesson in ignoring the constraints we allow others to put on us. Get ready to be inspired by clicking here.

Some Days, It's Not That Pretty

Today we were on North and South Kinsman and we never escaped the clouds. On days like this, when it is raw and a bit windy you have to hold onto yourself. It's not that it's dangerous, it can be desolate and it can play with your head. The gray skies, the ghostly mists, the cold wind, they can lead you to believe you are alone in the world and while in reality you may be miles away from the next closest person it can seem even farther away. Two years ago, when we first started hiking in the winter this was one of the biggest challenges for me. It didn't seem to bother Atticus at all, but it played with me and on occasion it still does. This is one of the challenges of hiking alone so much of the time. Winter hiking can be beautiful, but it can also be a little lonely and has the ability to challenge the spirit just as much as it challenges the body. This video was taken today on the summit of South Kinsman and it gives you an idea of what it was like.

Hail Hale

A late start today got us out of the door at 1:30 so the choice was to hike the short but relatively steep (relatively, I said) Mt. Hale (4,054 ft). It's not the most photogenic of all the peaks but today it was simply beautiful as we reached the summit clearing where the old fire tower used to stand (you can see blocks and rods in some of the photos). The sun was punching out, having worked a full day, and was kicking back, it's feet up and a beer in his hand, slowly lowering himself down behind North Twin. The sky gave us a great light show and it put Atticus in a playful mood. We took our time on the summit, playing, taking photos, and then just sitting together watching the colors brush across the sky. The slide show for this hike can be found here. (Any guesses on where the music comes from?)

40 Days Until the Quest Begins

Winter is inching closer, as is the start of our winter quest. Winter starts on December 22. The “rules” for winter peakbagging state that in order for a peak to be counted as a winter peak it cannot be done before the calendar winter starts, no matter the conditions at the time. These “rules” were set by Miriam and Robert Underhill, the first couple to ever hike each of the 48 4,000-footers in the White Mountains. Since the Underhill’s became the first to complete the winter list in the early 1960s, more than 350 known hikers have been recognized by the Appalachian Mountain Club’s 4,000-Footer Committee. (In that same span only one known person (Cath Goodwin) has hiked each of the 48 twice in one winter as Atticus and I am attempting to do this winter.)

Last year winter started at 7:21 pm on December 22nd. At about 7:25 a large group of us started our ascent of Cannon Mountain. This year winter starts at 1:08 am and we’ll let it pass without getting out of bed for a hike until later that morning.

What will we hike on that first day? Don’t know. In winter it’s all very different and it’s best if you don’t plan too far ahead. During the 90 days of winter, each day we get out of bed and have four options for a hike:

1) Above treeline on the best of days. These are rare in winter. We start the day by checking the Higher Summits Forecast at the Mountain Washington Observatory. If the temperatures are okay and the winds mild we’ll head for the higher peaks. This did not happen until the third weekend of February last winter.
2) Not above treeline, at least for most of the hike but still higher peaks such as the Twins or the Carters. On these hikes there may be some exposure, just not miles of it as there is on Franconia Ridge or the Presidential Range. Most of our hikes fall in this category.
3) Hike something shorter and protected from the elements on colder, stormier or windier days. This list includes hikes to mountains like Tecumseh, Hale, Waumbek or Cabot.
4) Sleep in if all is not good. This is an important option for Atticus and me. No peak is worth dying for.

In short the rule of thumb is easy: hike what the Mountain Gods invite you to hike.

Each winter hikers are rescued for a variety of reasons but one way to minimize the chance of having to be rescued it by paying attention to the weather. Mt. Washington may claim to have the worst weather in the world, but if you wait until the right day to hike this potentially dangerous peak it can be a wonderful and safe experience. The key to this is not being married to plans. They are subject to change each morning we set out. This is particularly true when hiking with Atticus. Why put a dog who weighs around 25 lbs at risk and in discomfort? Besides, keeping him safe also keeps me safe.

Between now and then the goal is to hike three to five days a week, lose some weight (me, not him), get in better shape and build up our endurance.

And, of course, there is the other goal. This winter we’re raising money for Angell Animal Medical Center. As you read along and follow our adventures this winter, please keep in mind that Atticus and I are raising money for this amazing non-profit animal hospital in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. There are various ways to pledge but one of the neatest is to dedicate one of the 48 peaks we’ll be climbing to a favorite pet in your life, or one you’ve lost. If you choose this way of contributing please send a photo of the pet we’re hiking for and as we do the peak we’ll post a trip report, photos of the hike and a photo of your pet on the website. It’s a great tribute to one you’ve lost but still love or one that is still romping along with you.

Every year Angell Animal Medical Center brings hope to thousands of animals and, more specifically, their human families and friends. They gave us hope when we had none earlier this year and this winter we’re using our Winter Quest to say thank you to Angell.

With winter approaching there will be more posts so please follow along with us as we gear up and get ready to go. Also, it would be appreciated if you would forward our blog address to all your friends and family. So read it and pass it on.

Winter Up High

Winter doesn't start until December 22nd, but we were given a glimpse of it on Saturday atop Mt. Jackson. Atticus and I were joined by our friend Christine for this hike under blue bird skies. And speaking of birds...we ran into a Gray Jay down low and then three bold Gray Jays up high on the summit. Always good to run into them as they are a treat to be around. Here are the shots from our day.

Three 4,000-Footers and Our Tribute to Papelbon and the Sox

We felt an early nip of winter on the Willey Range today as Atticus and I hiked three 4,000-footers: Tom, Field and Willey on a 10-mile hike. A fine day with good company as we ran into two hikers we know, John and June, and did two of the three peaks with them. We ran into a Gray Jay on Field, as we always seem to do, and then on Tom, as we always seem to. A fine day all-in-all. Here is the slide show from our latest hike (which has a little tribute through the music to the Sox and Papelbon).

Cannon Mountain: November 2, 2007

That's Atticus sitting on top of Cannon Cliffs gazing over at Lafayette and Lincoln on Franconia Ridge. The slope leading up from the right is the top portion of the Three Agonies. Cannon Cliffs is the only reason we ascend Cannon Mountain on the steep and horribly eroded Kinsman Ridge Trail. It is one of my favorite places in these mountains. It sits atop of what used to be The Old Man of the Mountain. The lighting was strange today. Not a cloud in the sky but plenty of glare, as you will notice in the photos. Instead of descending the same trail Atti and I walked down the steep ski slopes, something we've only done in winter. It proved to be a good choice as it gave us different views over at the craggy mountains across the way. The slide show from this hike can be found here.

A Tale of Two Videos

"Oh, the wild joys of living!
The leaping from rock to rock..."

Robert Browning had it right. I've posted a little video above from our recent hike up Tecumseh. This is on the Sosman Trail that runs from just below the summit over to the ski area. It's nothing special, but it does give you and idea of how well Atticus maneuvers over and around the rockier trails. The second video is not ours but from MSPCA-Angell. "A Day in the Life of the MSPCA-Angell" appears on their website and gives you an idea of the organization Atticus and I are raising money for this winter (in case you don't know much about them). You can view their video by clicking here.

Mt Pemigewasset (Indian Head) on Halloween

There’s something special about this little mountain with the big views. Because it sits just across the street from us and is a quick hike to the top (1.5 miles) it has become our default mountain, perfect for a late afternoon workout. Mt. Pemigewasset served our purposes perfectly today since I’d spent the day moving things into our new apartment and getting my desk set up. (The kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom can all wait. I am a writer after all.)

We hit the trail somewhere just after 4:00 in the afternoon, leaving from the Flume parking lot. While walking the 50 or so yards to the trailhead along the paved bike path we encountered a couple and their dog approaching from the other direction. As Atticus and I were turning onto the trail the fellow looked a little excited and hollered, “Is that Atticus?” His wife looked at him quizzically. “That’s a famous dog,” he told her. So we stopped to chat. Turns out it was a fellow from New York who posts on the Views from the Top hiking site under the name of KMorgan. When Atticus was sick and going blind this past spring he sent along a very touching message. I thanked him for that. We chatted for a bit and then Atti and I started up the trail.

And what a trail it is, too. Simply delightful! The lower portion goes under Rt. 3 and then both sides of I-93 before it starts crossing a stream over and over again. There are several log bridges along the lower portion and it is a gentle meander through the now mostly-naked trees. The leaves underfoot were all brown and dry, autumn’s colors long gone. But still, there is something wonderful and peaceful about trundling along through this wonderful crispy carpet. Today was warm but in the late afternoon the shade brought out the scent of a coming November.

It wasn’t long before we left the bare trees behind and found ourselves near the top in the evergreens. Here the trail eases up considerably and the sun, hurrying to set to get dressed for Halloween perhaps, was sinking deep but greeted us through the trees. When we popped out on the summit Atticus went immediately to the outer most point of the cliff edge and looked down into Lincoln and back towards our new apartment. We sat down and I gave him water out of his special bottle (a Gulpy) and pulled out his favorite treats (Snaw Somes!).

This mountain has a grand view into the valley below but it also offers more to those who are willing to investigate a little further. On the other side of the summit there is a great view down to Loon and the Osceola’s and then over to a very dramatic Franconia Ridge. At this time of day the lighting was wonderful.

Upon making our way back to the other side Atticus went back out to his spot and just sat down and looked out again. I sometimes wonder what he thinks when doing this and have come to the conclusion that he mostly is doing the same thing we all do when confronted with a breathtaking views. He just sits down and enjoys it.

Then, there was one last stop. On our way back towards the path he came face to face with the setting sun and just sat down again and watched it for a while.

How lucky I am to have such a companion who loves these mountains as much as I do, who seems to find the beauty as inspiring as I do, who appears to hold some reverence for it all.

Once the sun dipped below the westward mountains we finally went on our way and walked through the darkening woods half expecting to run into a moose or maybe even the Jack, Pumpkin King as the Halloween night started to drape itself upon the eastern side of the mountain. Alas, there was no such luck. But upon returning to our place we did run into Nathaniel and Brianna Caston, who were decked out in their costumes, along with their cousins Brian and Tyler.

Last week five-year-old Nathaniel showed up at my rental cabin (the apartment was still being worked on) dressed as a skeleton. He asked what Atticus was going to be on Halloween.

“A dog.”

“He can’t. He’s already a dog.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t think he’s one.”

Nathaniel, who at times can me more like 50 than 5 wanted proof.

“Atticus,” I said, “If you think you’re not a dog sit down.”

“Wow!” And that was all the proof Nathaniel needed. Tonight he showed his family this very same thing and Atticus complied nicely with the words and proved Nathaniel knew what he was talking about.

The slide show for our Halloween hike can be found here.

A New Photo Hosting Site

This year I'm going to experiment with a new web photo hosting site. Click here and you will be taken to the Phanfare site where our photos will be hosted. Actually, the link will take you directly to a slide show of a hike we made a couple of weeks ago to the snowy top of Mt. Garfield. The link that will take you to all of the more recent photo albums can be found here. The web address is http://tomandatticus.phanfare.com/2007.

Mt. Crawford: October 9, 2007

Today was the perfect autumn hike. We were joined by Ken and Ann Stampfer. Ken is the photographer of most of the photos that appear in Steve Smith's books. He's wonderfully talented an on this day he was in his element with the beautiful blue skies, the peaking foliage and the dramatic view towards Mt. Washington or up into Crawford Notch. Photos from this wonderful day can be found here.

Moriah: October 6, 2007

On Saturday we hiked Mt. Moriah along one of our favorite trails with some great ledge walking. Photos can be found here.

Monroe, Eisenhower & Pierce

Photos from today's hike can be found here.

Waumbek: October 3, 2007

Finally, we're home.

A year ago I decided I wanted to sell my newspaper and move up to Lincoln, NH. If I couldn't sell it by December I would just close it. However, just over a month ago I did sell it. Earlier this week Atticus and I moved north.

Today was our first hike in a while, and what will be our first of many hikes to come as residents of New Hampshire. We hiked Waumbek, a 7.2 mile round trip. The woods were simply wonderful with crisp leaves underfoot and a quilt of soft green and yellow overhead.

In the photos above, Atticus poses with the summit cairn, which looks a lot like the Hogwart's Sorting Hat, at least to this writer's eye. In the other photos Atticus poses with the foliage on the way down the path and then a shot of him bouncing happily along.

It's going to take a little bit of time to get into shape, but that's what we're doing up here: hiking and writing.

Tomorrow's plan is to hike Monroe, Eisenhower and Pierce with Drew.