Tony and I have taken it upon ourselves to spend our summer hiking the white mountains. New Hampshire has this "challenge" of hiking all 48 peaks that are over 4000 feet. So of course we thought it would be fun to try to hike them all by the end of the summer.
We flew home from Idaho on June 4th and got into our brand new place that night. On June 5th we should have spent the day unpacking but instead we opted to start our hiking adventures.
We got a late start...typical of us and didn't get to the trailhead till the afternoon. But it was an absolutely gorgeous day and we even saw a black bear up on the hill at Canon Mountain.
The start of our hikes would be with Osceola and East Osceola. We decided to take the Greeley Pond Trail (located off the kancamagus highway) which has a total distance of 7.6 miles and 3116 feet of elevation gain. If you do the calculation we have been told (1 hour for every two miles plus 30 min for every 1000 feet elevation gain) then the book time would be about 5 hours and 20 minutes. We better get moving!
The trail started out nice and smooth. Not too difficult at first but it was a NH trail and had lots of roots and rocks to hike over. Tony and I both were feeling great and so excited to start all this hiking! But eventually it got steep. And stayed steep for quite a while. I was definitely huffing and puffing, and sweating in the 75 degree heat! Tony was his happy go self as always, perhaps it was the mantra he kept repeating: "we're here to have fun!" to calm himself when I would stop for a break. We got into the swing of things and learned that I like to lead, except on really steep parts because Tony doesn't like to rest in the middle of a hill; he prefers to get to the top and rest. I try to get to the top but if I feel the need to stop in the middle it's not the end of the world. :).
We made lists of things we needed to start to carry, like a handkerchief to catch all the sweat, tweezers in case of ticks :(, and various other items. We both had 2 liters of water in our camelbacks but we learned later on the trek it was not enough. And I was wishing we had brought some delicious gummy bears! It's the one time I can chow down on candy and not feel to guilty, so I take advantage of it.
We didn't see much wildlife (pretty typical when you're surrounded by tons of thick trees). But we did see a cute frog, a squirrel that is red and goofy compared to most, and a woodpecker.
Along the hike we saw about four different groups of people and it's always so encouraging....or humbling when they're goofballs in jeans and converse shoes. It makes feel better about being able to complete the hike, but once completed I don't feel so accomplished when I think of the others that have done it as well. Tony and I decided they must have two cars so they only have to go half the distance rather than the out and back we were doing. ;)
Well the trail was safe and enjoyable at most spots except one, a "chimney" rock wall that we had to rock climb up. It was fun and different going up it but thinking about the descent wasn't too enjoyable. Luckily on the way back we found a side trail that wasn't as treacherous. It was an educational find as well because we weren't sure how Roxi would ever make it up or down the chimney and Tony and I contemplated this for some time until we found the side route.
The view at both summits were polar opposites; East osceola had no view but Osceola had a gorgeous one. So we ate our bagels (Tony found his favorite kind ever, honey nut) on top of Osceola. After a few minutes, yup only a few because we had to unpack a house, we decided to start the descent.
The trail took us 4 hours and 17 minutes, which includes all the rests and food breaks. Not too shabby for the first hike out! The first thing we did once we reached the car was pull this muggy hiking boots off and throw on our lovely reefs.
If my stolen internet cooperates I'll try to post some pictures later on!
We flew home from Idaho on June 4th and got into our brand new place that night. On June 5th we should have spent the day unpacking but instead we opted to start our hiking adventures.
We got a late start...typical of us and didn't get to the trailhead till the afternoon. But it was an absolutely gorgeous day and we even saw a black bear up on the hill at Canon Mountain.
The start of our hikes would be with Osceola and East Osceola. We decided to take the Greeley Pond Trail (located off the kancamagus highway) which has a total distance of 7.6 miles and 3116 feet of elevation gain. If you do the calculation we have been told (1 hour for every two miles plus 30 min for every 1000 feet elevation gain) then the book time would be about 5 hours and 20 minutes. We better get moving!
The trail started out nice and smooth. Not too difficult at first but it was a NH trail and had lots of roots and rocks to hike over. Tony and I both were feeling great and so excited to start all this hiking! But eventually it got steep. And stayed steep for quite a while. I was definitely huffing and puffing, and sweating in the 75 degree heat! Tony was his happy go self as always, perhaps it was the mantra he kept repeating: "we're here to have fun!" to calm himself when I would stop for a break. We got into the swing of things and learned that I like to lead, except on really steep parts because Tony doesn't like to rest in the middle of a hill; he prefers to get to the top and rest. I try to get to the top but if I feel the need to stop in the middle it's not the end of the world. :).
We made lists of things we needed to start to carry, like a handkerchief to catch all the sweat, tweezers in case of ticks :(, and various other items. We both had 2 liters of water in our camelbacks but we learned later on the trek it was not enough. And I was wishing we had brought some delicious gummy bears! It's the one time I can chow down on candy and not feel to guilty, so I take advantage of it.
We didn't see much wildlife (pretty typical when you're surrounded by tons of thick trees). But we did see a cute frog, a squirrel that is red and goofy compared to most, and a woodpecker.
Along the hike we saw about four different groups of people and it's always so encouraging....or humbling when they're goofballs in jeans and converse shoes. It makes feel better about being able to complete the hike, but once completed I don't feel so accomplished when I think of the others that have done it as well. Tony and I decided they must have two cars so they only have to go half the distance rather than the out and back we were doing. ;)
Well the trail was safe and enjoyable at most spots except one, a "chimney" rock wall that we had to rock climb up. It was fun and different going up it but thinking about the descent wasn't too enjoyable. Luckily on the way back we found a side trail that wasn't as treacherous. It was an educational find as well because we weren't sure how Roxi would ever make it up or down the chimney and Tony and I contemplated this for some time until we found the side route.
The view at both summits were polar opposites; East osceola had no view but Osceola had a gorgeous one. So we ate our bagels (Tony found his favorite kind ever, honey nut) on top of Osceola. After a few minutes, yup only a few because we had to unpack a house, we decided to start the descent.
The trail took us 4 hours and 17 minutes, which includes all the rests and food breaks. Not too shabby for the first hike out! The first thing we did once we reached the car was pull this muggy hiking boots off and throw on our lovely reefs.
If my stolen internet cooperates I'll try to post some pictures later on!
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