Orange, NH (USA)

The weather had been iffy for the last few days so AT miles (and the long drive to a trailhead) seemed less appealing.  Instead, I looked for a hike closer to home and eventually decided to climb Mount Cardigan, the dominant peak (3155 feet) above the Mascoma Valley.  During my walks on the Northern Rail Trail, I’ve seen this mountain from several view points and it looked like a nice challenge.  After a short drive east this morning, I arrived at the Cardigan State Park parking lot at 0900 - it was already almost full!  Fortunately, I managed to squeeze the Outback into the last spot and got started uphill (via the West Ridge Trail).  There were plenty of rocks and roots and the trail was pretty wet after last night’s deluge.  Fortunately, it wasn’t very steep.  Most of the other (many) visitors were parts of large family groups (LOTS of kids and dogs) and I had to strategically pass them when they stopped to avoid being in a long conga line.  The leisurely climb did lead to some nice conversations with locals and I learned a lot about nearby activities (climbs, paddles, dirt bike racing, polo).  Many times during the day, I was reminded of my climb up Mount Monadnock almost 35 years ago...  It was cool (mid 50s), overcast and windy but I felt very comfortable.  When I broke out on the ridge, however, the full force of the wind and the low temps (probably low 40s with wind-chill) at elevation hit me hard.  I’d only worn shorts and a t-shirt so it was no longer pleasant!  The views were spectacular, though.  I reached a point on the large, exposed rock face (in view of my target, the Fire Tower) where I said to myself “F this” and started back down again.  The descent was even more treacherous - I’d forgotten my trekking poles and the surfaces were steep and wet (I fell on my backside a few times).  Once I was back in the trees, it wasn’t so cold and windy and I decided I didn’t want to be finished just yet.  I’d noticed a side trail that went to a place called Rimrock so I took that on the way down.  I enjoyed the views there and it was a bit more shielded from the wind.  I could see the summit of Cardigan about a mile to the north - there were so many people walking around on it (they looked like ants) that I was glad I’d taken the detour.  Brenna called (1100) so I stood there for a while, talking to her and exposed to the elements.  Within about 20 minutes, my extremities were tingling and I knew it was time to go down.  There were fewer people coming up on the South Ridge Trail so I took this alternate route towards the car.  The trail was much steeper and rockier - I was glad I didn’t climb up that way!  Eventually, I reached the West Ridge Trail again and encountered even more people than I’d seen on the climb and I had to stop a LOT.  (I noticed that there were many more people wearing masks as it got later in the day...). I found my car (1145) after walking around four miles.  The parking lot was even more crowded and I passed more than a mile of cars parked along the road as I left the State Park - busy!  Was glad to have started out early in the morning (and in August)...  Mount Cardigan turned out to be a great place to climb and see the views but it’s just like all the other mountains in the area - come prepared!

Grafton, NH (USA)

The weather was so nice again that I decided to get outside after work, rather than wait for the weekend.  I decided to drive east on US-4 to look for the Northern Rail Trail again and try to hike another section.  I was able to find a place to park in Grafton Center headed towards Boston.  Walked just under two miles (one way) to the Grafton Post Office and back (between 1800 and 1900).  The weather was perfect for an evening stroll - there weren't a lot of landmarks in the section but, as always, the mountains looked pretty in the twilight...

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 4

My customer told me he was OK with me taking a delayed start to my work day and I jumped at the chance for another hike.  Inclement weather was headed my way (and I needed to get home by the early afternoon anyway) so I didn’t have time for a long hike this morning.  After struggling to identify a good place to go, I remembered I’d cut short a climb from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center in 2014 - it would require some re-hiking but it was a two mile section.  So I got up early and left Gorham, headed south on NH-16.  I checked out the AT access trails that were located all along the highway (most were 3+ miles before I would react the ridge) and stopped at the Great Glen Trails office near the Mount Washington Auto Road.  There, a maintenance guy told me about shuttles (closed for the year).  After another short drive, with another stop at the Wildcat Ski Resort (lift also closed), I reached the AT Trailhead at Pinkham Notch.  I’d read recently that the AMC was celebrating 100 years in operation at the site!  I quickly got ready and headed north (AT SOBO) on the Old Jackson Road section (0745).  Quickly passed my 2014 turnaround point and continued the climb up the foothills of the Presidentials.  The trail was VERY rocky, muddy and somewhat steep in places. However, I was able to keep up a pretty good pace.  It was cool and a bit overcast when I started but got sunnier as I hiked.  Just after I reached the point in the climb where I could see the ridge line (above), I was startled by the sound of tree limbs breaking - it was a bear!  He was little and quickly ran away as I approached.  Moments later, I passed a Thru hiker and chatted with him.  When I continued hiking again, I started to hear the (quite loud) sounds of the Auto Road (my turnaround point).  And that’s when I came face to face with a mama bear and her baby - they were running on the trail (away from the road).  We were all pretty startled and they scattered before I could process what had happened.  Reluctantly, I continued walking for another 100 yards and hit the blacktop.  There was another Thru hiker there, sitting in the road and smoking a joint.  He was quite philosophical and spoke about his thoughts on 20 mile days, hiking through COVID-19 and trail magic.  Two more Thru hikers appeared shortly afterwards and we all headed south (AT NOBO) together.  It was so great to be out with other hikers - I liked hearing their stories and they liked hearing mine.  They (along with the hiker I’d seen during my climb) started in March and had never left the trail.  They remarked that the trick was to ignore people on Facebook who had demanded that everyone left the trail (I can’t disagree).  The company made the walk go very quickly and I was at the bottom by 0930 (after four miles).  The parking area was crowded and people were everywhere (all wearing masks).  It made me want to leave the area but I was disappointed that I had to go home...  It’s been a great weekend - not too many miles of hiking but some great experiences and information to use for my next trip!  Started towards home by continuing south on NH-16 until I reached US-302.  Hadn’t planned on stopping anywhere on the way home (I was trying to put in a few hours of telework in the afternoon) but Google Maps sent me by a really scenic route and I got to do even more Recce!  Passed Attitash while I was on US-302 and saw that they were letting folks ride the lifts to the ridge - awesome!  I then drove south (through Albany, NH) on Bear Notch Road (only open in the summer) and was treated to some great views.  Switched to NH-112 and got an amazing tour - almost 40 miles - of the White Mountains.  Would love to return for a weekend campout in the area.  Crossed I-93 and ended up stumbling across the AT Trailhead at Kinsman Notch (on NH-112).  Checked out the area and then backtracked so I could drive around the south side of Moosilauke (on NH-118) - it was well worth the detour!  After that, I knew where I was and got home easily (1230).  After this long weekend trip, I’ve got even more ideas about AT hikes, camping, scenic drives for visitors (hint, hint)...  AT Today = 1.3 miles / G.T. AT = 1638.5 miles

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 3

Decided to explore another AT zone to the northeast this morning (i.e., farther from home).  The route was partly the same as yesterday but my target was US-201 (AKA Old Canada Road), which was on the east side of the Kennebec River - I reached it at North Anson by taking ME-234 and US-201A.  The drive north from there was very scenic!  When I reached the AT trailhead at Caratunk, I found the parking lot full.  Dang!  Fortunately, my NatGeo map showed another place to park, just north of Paradise Pond.  After navigating some sketchy gravel and dirt roads, I found the AT again (0945) and started my hike (NOBO).  Like yesterday, the weather was great (high 60s, mostly sunny).  I the first part of the section involved a climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain - it wasn’t really steep but I had to really watch my footing on the rocks, roots and mud.  Signage was excellent (someone with the Maine ATC really spent some money).  At the top, I marveled at the spectacular views, enjoyed the cooling breezes and rested in the total silence.  That is, until some other people came up (from the other side of the mountain) and spoiled it...  Headed quickly downhill again to try to find solitude.  Passed a family with their huge white dog (husky or wolf mix?) and made good time to my car.  Didn’t stop, continuing towards a gravel road crossing (Hangtown) I’d seen on the map.  Highlights in this section were signs warning me about a “diving hawk” (never saw him), a massive blowdown of trees (trail maintainers had to do a lot of work to clear the trail) and, when I backtracked, a SOBO Thru hiker (“Zan”).  We talked for a while about landmarks (he told me there was parking at Moxie Lake so I didn’t have to drive over there to find out), the lower number of hikers in 2020 (he was #368 at Katahdin) and the 100 Mile Wilderness.  It was great to chat with someone else who was tackling the AT across wild state of Maine...  I was back at my car shortly after that (1255, six miles).  As I was getting ready to leave, I encountered a young lady and her dad who told me they’d walked about six miles (on logging roads) from Moxie Lake.  They were NOT happy to learn about the backtrack distance via the AT...  Tried to explore Pleasant Pond but couldn’t find an easy access point (private homes).  Decided to check out the AT lot on US-201 again to see if there was anything else I could learn there - fortunately, it was empty this time.  From my car, it was about 0.4 miles to the River - I decided to follow the AT to learn more about the Kennebec (ATC) Ferry.  When I arrived, I found the boatman and his dog relaxing in the sun.  It took a little bit (I’ve found it always does) to get the Mainer to tell me all about how he got one of the most interesting jobs (“best office view ever”) connected to the AT.  In all my reading and hiking, I’ve never known a river crossing that required a boat - but one is needed for the Kennebec.  The ferryman regaled me with stories of 10 foot tall ice jams, water surges (released by dam upriver) and his job of recording the number of Thru hikers crossing his checkpoint (he added that there were a lot of dumbasses who try to cross without his services).  We talked long enough that he asked me to help him stow his canoe on the high embankment (his day was almost over).  I gladly obliged and he ended up giving me a lot of advice about navigating the AT between Flagstaff Lake and Moxie Lake).  It was a nice visit and his Intel filled in a lot of gaps (and saved me some Recce driving).  I was back at my car by about 1345 and then drove south towards Bingham.  Got some great views of Wyman Lake and an odd assortment of bird houses on a high wall along US-201.  It was a nice morning and I feel better about Maine hiking logistics than I did yesterday.  Decided to check out AT trailhead(s) to the southwest before calling it a day...  It started raining after I was done hiking but that didn’t stop me from continuing my research on AT trailheads!  I drove towards civilization (via several back roads) until I found myself back on ME-234.  From there, I located ME-4 near the town of Phillips.  There was a lot of construction on that route but I found the AT southeast of Rangeley.  Explored back roads nearby (west of Long Pond) - they didn’t look like very promising routes to reach the AT mid-section...  Continued northeast until I reached Rangeley and then drove east again to the Saddleback Ski Resort.  It was rather dead (nowhere near as busy as Sugarloaf).  On the plus side, the sun had come out again and warmed up the mountains - I got more spectacular views.  Had heard about a hike up the ski runs to reach the AT but it was getting late.  Backtracked to Rangeley and then drove around the south side of the biggest lake until I could access ME-17.  Crossed another trailhead at Height of Land (didn’t stop, since I’d been there before) and then continued south to Rumford.  Got dinner at McDonalds, just outside of town (1805) and continued west on US-2.  Before I left home, I'd made a reservation at the Rodeway Inn in Gorham (NH) and got there by 1905.  Hoping I can get some more AT miles before I go home - it’s been an adventure filled Recce weekend and I don’t want it to end!  AT Today = 3.4 miles / G.T. AT = 1637.2 miles 

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 2

Awoke feeling very happy that my move this summer makes it much easier to reach the AT hiking zone in Maine!  It’s been almost six years since I even got so far north and I was rusty on the navigation.  Fortunately, I woke up within about 45 minutes of an AT trailhead this morning.  Upon further review, though, I decided to drive a bit farther north so I could find a section that wouldn’t kick my ass or discourage further hiking through the weekend.  I was also hoping to be able to take a look at AT sections I'd skipped in central Maine during my hiking trip in October 2014.  Along the way north (via US-2), I stopped for Breakfast at Burger King in Farmington (0925) and located a place to stay for the evening.  I then continued driving (US-2, ME-27 and some back roads) until I reached an area in Somerset County (Carrying Place Township) near Flagstaff Lake.  In that zone, the AT crossed Long Falls Dam Road (paved!).  Even though it was late (1045) when I got my hike started (SOBO), I was pleasantly surprised to be alone.  The sun was shining but there were some clouds - this, along with the latitude and elevation, made the temps (mid 60s) very pleasant.  I climbed over a little hill and was soon able to see the (eastern) end of the huge lake - even through the trees, it was a spectacular view.  Had to navigate a huge number of rocks and roots and avoid slipping in some serious mud.  Felt good that my old man body held up, for the most part...  There was almost no noise at all.  I was expecting to see a moose (plenty of warning signs) but none appeared.  Passed a group with two dads and two young sons and, later, a solo Thru hiker.  Otherwise, I had the trail to myself.  The walk near the lakeside was quite pleasant (wished I had my kayak).  When I reached East Flagstaff Road (gravel), I explored the AT Parking Lot (for next time) and walked a short distance to where the AT went back into the woods. Decided that my bones and muscles would do better with flat surfaces so backtracked by road.  Picked up the blacktop after a while on the gravel and made good time back to my car. Finished at around 1315 after almost six miles.  After injuring myself a few weeks ago, today proved that I could rest and hot-water-soak myself back into hiking firm.  Feeling good, I decided to check out some of the nearby roads that would hopefully allow me to access the AT to the north and east.  Started with Boise Road and soon discovered that Maine gravel roads aren’t maintained nearly as well as Vermont or New Hampshire gravel roads.  Was going to give up but then encountered a Mainer who was doing a similar exploration in the woods.  He gave me good intel about which roads I could (and could not) use to access the AT.  This saved me a lot of time!  We chatted for a while (he showed me where I could get a really good “overview” photo of Flagstaff Lake) but another person eventually came upon our meet-up and we had to move.  I checked out some other roads nearby, getting a feel for location and quality, and took a look at the area near the dam.  By 1445, I was on my way south again.  As I passed the AT Trailhead that I’d used earlier, I found some other hikers had gotten themselves stuck there.  They asked me to call AAA for them when I finically reached mobile service again (about 10 miles to the south) and I agreed.  Unfortunately, all three of my calls dropped after over 10 minutes (each) of holding.  Was worried for them until I noticed a fire truck (lights flashing) headed in their direction (hope they got help).  All day long, Google Maps was very helpful - I am convinced I never would have found anything in the area without some sort of assistance...  Decided to continue my Recce mission in the afternoon, looking for AT access in the Carrabassett Valley.  Just like this morning, the search took me to a hiking zone I’d completely missed when I was in Maine back in October 2014.  Using ME-16, it was an easy matter to reach ME-27 (at the busy little Trail Town of Kingfield).  I continued northwest until I reached the Sugarloaf Ski Resort.  Due to the elevation changes required, threatening storm clouds and lengthening shadows, I decided against trying another hike.  Instead, I drove around the area looking for the gravel access roads on my map, querying locals and collecting trail resources (like shuttle driver contact info).  With the lifts closed for the summer (due to COVID-19), I concluded it would be very difficult to access the 4000+ foot ridge.  Actually, all the high ridges nearby were difficult to reach by road - there were lots of side trails that could be used but ugh!  After my explorations so far, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve got the time, energy and dedication to make a dent in all the remote Maine AT mileage.  Wistfully, I drove a short distance to the west to see the actual AT crossing there and then tested a few more gravel roads nearby (they didn’t get too far into the remote sections, though).  Decided to head back to civilization (staying in Farmington) to regroup and brainstorm.  Picked up dinner at Taco Bell in Farmington (1730) and checked into the place where I'd made a reservation (Colonial Valley Motel) in the morning (1735).  Spent the evening resting up for another day of hiking (got to bed by 2200).  It was a very beautiful, exciting but also very humbling day...   AT Today = 2.84 miles / Grand Total AT = 1633.80 miles

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 1

Since my back and feet were feeling better, I figured I should get out of town for a hiking trip!  While I still had the rental car (unlimited miles), it seemed like a good idea to do some Recce on the logistical challenges of hiking remote areas.  I watched the weather all week (sketchy), reviewed my new NatGeo maps for Maine (encouraging) and decided to make some (but not all) lodging reservations (almost everything sold out).  It had been almost six years since I was hiking in the Pine Tree State so I was really excited to go back!  I packed ALL of my hiking gear together in case I needed to camp or sleep in my car.  As a warmup (and since I'd be working and driving most of the day), I took a morning walk near my house in search of the Boston Lot.  Since moving to the Granite State, I’ve been wandering around on trails near the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, hoping I’d eventually stumble across a lake that is located inside of that area (somewhere to the south of my condo).  Without a map, I’ve relied on word of mouth from neighbors and have been unsuccessful.  Today, I used my lunch break to check out the Albert Schweitzer Trails on the west side of the Campus.  Like the Indian Ridge Trail, this complex of paths headed in the correct direction but ended at a gravel road on the south side of the Campus.  I was disappointed until I found a trailhead sign - and map - when I reached the road.  I’ve got what I need to find the lake now and information about many other miles for walking near my home - stay tuned!  Rain clouds were threatening, so I went back my condo and spent a few more hours teleworking.  At about 1530, I left Hanover and headed towards the northeast.  I used I-91 to reach Bradford, VT and then headed east (via back roads) to the Connecticut River.  From there, I used NH-10 and NH-116 (and a few more back roads) to get to US-2.  It was raining, off and on, throughout my drive, but the distance and time didn't seem too bad.  I checked in with the kids, letting them know about my plans in case there wasn't a lot of cell service (they made me promise to keep my iPhone location active).  Stopped for gas at Sunoco in Bethel, ME (1805) and was a bit surprised to see so many people NOT wearing a mask - with COVID-19 protocols everywhere else I've traveled, it seemed odd...  Stopped for dinner at McDonalds in Rumford, ME (1830) and then drove a short distance to my (pre-paid) hotel, the Boardwalk Inn in Rumford, ME (1845).  It was located along a pretty stream, north of town.  Since the rain had almost completely stopped, I decided to drive back to town to visit the Rumford Falls.  From the photos I'd seen, I was expecting a huge cascade.  However, low water levels prevented that - sigh.  Instead, I walked around to look at other sights in the area: Muskie Memorial, metal cutouts of native peoples along the stream and the "island" downtown area.  Overall, the scenery wasn't too impressive but I liked the ambiance of the little Maine city.  Went back to my room and spent the rest of the evening reading - bed by 2230.  Excited for my mini-Maine adventure!

Grafton, NH (USA)

Two weeks ago, I hurt myself (back, knees and feet) during an evening hike on Mount Cube.  Since then, I’ve been reminded of my age with regular pain whenever I tried a longer walk.  Was getting worried I’d miss out on some hikes this month but realized yesterday that joints weren’t hurting as much anymore.  Since this morning began with cloudless skies and pleasant temps (mid 50s), I thought I should try a “dry run” prior to a possible hiking weekend in Maine.  After getting permission from my company to start my work day a bit late, I drove east on I-89 and US-4 (through Canaan) until I reached the place where I’d last hiked the Northern Rail Trail in July.  At about 0800, I found a place to park next to the bike path and got started!  Had to walk north (westbound) to Height of Land Road to reach my last turnaround point but then backtracked.  Was treated to spectacular views of Tewksbury Pond as I walked but was otherwise surrounded by trees.  Heard loons calling on the water - what a sound!  Startled a great blue heron (10 feet away) and felt the force of his wings as he climbed away.  Only saw a few other people (all bikers) and really enjoyed the solitude (no cell phone service).  Passed three mile markers for Boston and then found myself in the little village of Grafton Center.  There were some historic homes and the Meeting House sported some pretty quilts.  Decided to turn around and head back to the car and kept up a brisk pace all the way.  Reached the parking area (0955) after almost six miles and just under two hours.  And I felt good!  Headed back to my condo, refreshed, to finish my work day.  Crossing my fingers that I can get some AT mileage this weekend!

Montpelier, VT (USA)

My friend in Montpelier (Liz) had been asking me to come over for a visit so, with a little bit of time left on my rental car, I figured it was a good time.  At 1500, my customers began a team recognition event and I was able to join by phone only (vice Zoom) - this allowed me to pack and start my drive across the Connecticut River.  I used I-89 and made my way to the north - the weather was amazing and I got some pretty views of the mountain ridges (probably the ones where the Long Trail went?) to the west as the sun started to set.  It had been raining so the cloud effects were spectacular but also darkly ominous.  I made good time, arriving at about 1645 - Liz wasn't done with work yet so I took my time looking for a place to park.  The Vermont Capital was so small that I thought it would be easy but there seemed to be a lot of places with restrictions.  In addition, the Texas license plates on my rental seemed to be a magnet for angry people - at least one gave me the finger for what appeared to be absolutely no reason.  After a while, I found a parking spot - right in front of the Capitol building itself!  When I got out of the car, I noticed that "Black Lives Matter" was painted on the road in huge letters.  There were lots of people sitting outside on a huge lawn in front of the Capitol - the whole experience seemed quite "Granola."  Liz came out of her building (nearby) and met me shortly after 1700 and then we walked around town.  She showed me a lot of landmarks and places that had significance for her (she'd lived there for many years).  At about 1745, we made our way to Sarducci's, a popular (and, I later learned, very well-known) Italian restaurant.  Liz said she knew the people who owned the restaurant but that didn't seem to have any impact on our experience. We sat outside under a large tent - this was nice at first because of the breeze.  However, the weather soon made a turn for the worst - lots of wind, lightning strikes nearby and a torrential downpour.  We were lucky because the canvass walls of the tent held up where we were sitting - other patrons weren't so lucky...  The dinner was good and we had dessert too.  At about 1930, we finished eating and had to make our way back across town to our cars.  The rain was SO oppressive - I was glad I'd brought my golf umbrella.  By 2000, I was on my way home.  The rain was still pretty strong but the hydroplaning I experienced a couple of times made the drive even more scary than anything else.  Was very relieved to make it to Hanover (2100).  This was a nice break from my normal routine - thanks, Liz!

Blacksburg Trip - Day 5

Somehow, I managed to arrive at Mr. J's Bagels in Harrisonburg by 0615 and Brenna arrived shortly afterwards.  We ordered breakfast (0625) and had a conversation about the enormity of the weekend.  There was a lot of stress and a bit of worry in the air but I tried to keep Brenna in good spirits (she was worried about Mollie being lonely).  Brenna told me she was really glad that I'd visited and that we'd been able to get together a few times - I definitely agreed!  It was hard to say goodbye but I got on the road by 0730 and took I-81 all the way to Binghamton, NY (through VA, WV, MD and PA), with stops for gas at Sheetz in Martinsburg, WV (0845) and at Pilot in Rotterdam, NY (1435).  Because I didn't have to worry about missing turns or changing highways, I was able to talk to Nicky, Brenna and Erin several different times.  Mollie had apparently been meeting with the Cadet Leadership and the Commandant about the possibility of leaving the Corps of Cadets.  It took most of the day to find out what was happening but Nicky eventually heard from Mollie herself (1330) that she planned to stay in Blacksburg "for a little longer" and she called to tell me.  This made everyone feel a bit better - I went through another cycle of calls that shared in the "good news."  So, by the time I switched to I-88 in Binghamton and was headed East, the crisis from the previous few hours had essentially ended.  I'll admit that I was very emotionally drained and was glad to have my full concentration to complete my trip.  I drove the rest of the way home through Troy (NY), Bennington & Manchester (VT) and several small towns (e.g., Chester) on the way across the mountains.  Eventually, I reached I-91 and took it to I-89.  I made it home by 1740 and sent my daughters a photo of "Smurfey" resting on the couch at my apartment - I think this will be my new "I'm home safe" message.  What a whirlwind few days!  It feels like a million years since I left for Virginia and a lifetime of milestones and parental worries has been weighing on my shoulders.  Hope things settle down for Mollie now...

Blacksburg Trip - Day 4

Mollie's new alarm clock woke us up at 0530 AM.  We rested in the room and then got packed.  We checked out of the Econo Lodge at about 0645 and drove a short distance to get breakfast at Chick-fil-A in Christiansburg (0720).  We ate in the parking lot, Mollie repacked the car and we talked a lot about the huge milestone of college starting for Mollie (some of it was sad).  By 0745, we got back on the road (US-460) and drove into Blacksburg.  Initially, we drove around the VT Campus to see how the New Cadet Move In process worked.  We also explored some side streets in Blacksburg (to get a feel for the town).  Eventually, we took a break in Kroger (it had been a while since we shopped together there!).  At around that point, Mollie figured out that the VT Bookstore opened at 0800 - she wanted to pick up some items there so we immediately went there to get them.  By 0815, we were done and drove around for a little bit longer.  We made it back to the Alumni Mall by 0845 and entered the New Cadet queue for New Cadet Move-In.  It was sprinkling and we found it difficult to park (lots of other people there).  Eventually, I found a spot and the nostalgia kicked in - it was almost 33 years to the day since my own father had dropped me off for Midshipman Orientation at ND and it was surreal that I was getting to have the same experience with Mollie.  The atmosphere was a whirlwind of logistics, constant changes requiring one to adapt and overcome, a healthy amount of stress in the new cadets, watchful upperclass cadets (“The Cadre”) and heightened awareness of potential missteps.  Despite the difficulty of saying goodbye, I encouraged Mollie to head over to Torgerson Hall to check in (she left with her new roommate).  Meanwhile, I was able to unload all of Mollie's things and get them to her room in Pearson Hall East (with some Cadet assistance).  I ended up meeting Mollie and her new roommate in their dorm room (0930) and verified that she had everything.  After getting some information from the cadet leadership, Mollie was able to leave with me to go exploring. We moved the car into a nearby garage and then walked around the campus, checking out lots of places near the drill field that we'd seen when we visited in with the Twins 2015.  Mollie made several phone calls to her mother and sister during this time.  By 1045, I took Mollie back to her room and I then headed to Burrus Hall for a two hour presentation by the Corps of Cadets Leadership.  It was very informative.  After the training was completed for the parents, I walked back to Pearson Hall East (in a downpour) and got to see Mollie one more time.  At 1315, I departed the dorm then walked (in the rain) to the parking garage.  As I headed out of town, I called Brenna again and filled in the details about Mollie's day.  I got lunch at McDonalds in Christiansburg at 1330 and then drove north on I-81 until I reached Harrisonburg.  I arrived at around 1545 and met up with Brenna.  She asked me to do some household repairs (lightbulbs, furniture moving), computer set up (antivirus service, printer, mouse) and finances (automatic payments, donations, receipts).  After this very productive time, Brenna and I drove south on US-11 (and west to the south end of Market Street) to get a snack at Grammie's Ice Cream in Dayton (1735).  We ate our sweet treats outside and talked a lot about Brenna's summer.  I then took her to get dinner at Popeyes (1845), although we ate the food at the Rough House.  I did more repair work (fixed broken toilet) while I was there and I met some of her roommates (and their families).  Brenna and I talked for almost an hour and I stayed at the Rough House until her friends arrived (1930).  Since she had plans with them, I said goodbye and told her I'd meet her at Mr. J's Bagels at 0600 the next morning.  After my time with Mollie and Brenna today, I feel like a Dad that is needed!  I checked into the Sleep Inn in Harrisonburg (2040) and talked to Sabrina on the phone.  Brenna and I also talked on the phone again and I started reading, prepping for an early bed time (I was tired).  However, Mollie called me at 2200 - I was surprised because I thought they had gone into "radio silence" for New Cadet Week.  She was feeling a bit homesick and wanted to talk and, of course, I gladly obliged.  When I hung up, I heard from her mother and sisters - everyone was worried that something was wrong.  I told them that I thought Mollie would be alright but, as a result of all the discussions, I didn't get to bed until almost 0100.  What a day...

Blacksburg Trip - Day 3

I teleworked all morning in my room (fortunately, I was able to get a late checkout) and coordinated departure times with Mollie so we could get out of NoVA before the rest of the crowds.  At about 1330, I wrapped up my work day and drove over to Nicky's so I could pick up Mollie and all of her stuff.  When I got there, I figured out that Mollie thought she had another hour before we'd be leaving (?), so it took a while for her to finish packing and say her (long) goodbye's.  We eventually (1420) got started on our trip but Mollie figured out that she'd forgotten something just as we reached I-495 (ugh...).  Headed back to Nicky's and were able to get moving again within about 15 minutes.  Took some work and Veterans Hospital calls while we were getting out of Alexandria.  Unfortunately, we ultimately ended up really paying for the delay in leaving - we hit a major traffic jam on I-495 and it was even worse when we reached I-66.  But it wasn't raining, so that was a plus...  As we drove, Mollie coordinated with Brenna (about our drive and expected arrival time) and told me more about what we should expect the following day.  It was clear that Mollie was excited about going off to college! We made good time on I-81 and we talked some more about some of our previous vacation trips (the car I had rented inspired that conversation).  After coordinating with Mollie, Brenna picked up dinner for us from Cook Out at 1645 and got back to the Rough House about five minutes after Mollie and I arrived in Harrisonburg (1700).  We toured Brenna's room (much cleaner and more organized than it was when I was there in June).  We then sat down to enjoy the burgers and delicious sides.  We talked about Mollie's excitement for college, my activities in New Hampshire and things that Brenna planned to do with her friends (who were just starting to return from Summer Break).  I wanted to stay longer with Brenna but Mollie told me she needed to go to Walmart for some supplies.  So, we said goodbye and got back on the road.  Before we left Harrisonburg, we stopped for gas (1800) and Mollie picked up a Sheetz sandwich for the next day (we'd learned there wouldn't be time to get lunch during the New Cadet Move-In Day).  We used a back road to reach US-11 and then got on the Interstate.  Our drive on I-81 was rather uneventful and we arrived at Econo Lodge in Christiansburg at 2000.  After we got our stuff in the room, we drove to the Virginia Tech campus (via US-460) to explore and find landmarks (to make the next day a bit easier).  It started to rain and got dark, so we were rather limited in how much we could really visit.  As a result, we drove back to Christiansburg so we could visit Walmart for additional supplies.  I helped Mollie find several items from the New Cadet checklist that she'd previously been unable to locate (e.g., alarm clock) and bought snacks for her first few weeks of classes.  We were done shopping at 2130 and went back to the hotel.  There was a live band at the Fatback Soul Shack - it was good but quite loud.  I went walking near the room (despite the intermittent rain) while Mollie read and relaxed in the room.  We both went to bed at 2330 - tomorrow's a big day!

Blacksburg Trip - Day 2

Worked a full day in DC for the first time in months!  The commute on I-395 sucked more than I expected (rain didn’t help).  When I arrived at my company offices, I was pleasantly surprised to see a few colleagues and enjoyed catching up with them.  Picked up my new ID, updated software on my company equipment and took care of other business at my old desk.  Highlight: Uber’d to Navy Yard (1130) to eat at El Bebe with my friend's daughter, Bridgette.  It was great to see her and we had a nice meal/conversation.  At 1235, we finished up and I walked back to L’Enfant, just like old times.  There were far fewer people in the city than I remembered from a few months ago but it still almost felt like normal (just had to follow a few health guidelines).  Worked some more in my office (everyone on the Zoom calls commented on the background that clearly showed where I was).  Throughout the day, I got lots of texts from Erin (interesting local news) and Mollie (information about the new student check-in process).  At around 1530, I drove across the river (on I-395) to Arlington so I could meet up with Stephanie for happy hour.  She wasn't done with her telework day so I walked around the area for about an hour.  Stephanie then came down to meet me and we walked over to Taqueria Poblano for drinks and dinner.  We had a great time hanging out (lots of news to share) and didn't get done until 2010.  After walking back to her place, I departed for Fort Belvoir.  Back at my room, I relaxed some more and read my book.  Bedtime was at around 2230.  A day like this makes it easier to feel like the COVID-19 nightmare wouldn't last forever... 

Blacksburg Trip - Day 1

Mollie asked me to come to Virginia to help her begin her brand new college adventure!  So I worked out my schedule with the company and left New Hampshire early in the morning (around 0600).  Used I-89 and I-91 to reach Central Massachusetts.  After my bad luck in June (trying to get through NYC on I-95), I was a bit gun-shy and decided to head west (over the mountains into New York) a bit earlier.  I took a series of back roads (many of which I'd used to finish up the MA AT Hiking in July) and reached US-7 near Great Barrington.  From there, I crossed into New York (via MA-1 and MA/NY-23) and was able to get on the Taconic Parkway.  There wasn't much traffic but it was raining almost all day.  One really good thing: I was able participate in several telcons on the way (preserving valuable leave).  Used I-84 and the rest of my "normal route" (I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15, I-270 and I-495) to reach NoVA, stopping for lunch at McDonalds in Milford, PA (1125) and gas at Gulf in Barnesville, PA (1310).  I was able to arrange a get together with Erin and Mollie through a series of phone calls throughout the day.  Arrived at my hotel (Fort Belvoir) by 1630 and got in a bit more telework.  At 1830, I drove over to Nicky’s neighborhood and picked up Mollie.  We then drove a short distance to Stoneybrooke Park (1900) and found Erin there with takeout from Noodles & Company.  We ate a nice dinner together at the gazebo and had a nice time talking about things we'd been doing during the summer.  Mollie had lots of things to tell me about her roommate and other tidbits related to her first week in college.  After we were done eating, I gave the girls some items I’d found in my moving boxes.  We noticed that Erin’s tire was getting close to flat (she said she'd get it checked).  We then walked to Nicky’s so Mollie could get different shoes and we ended up taking Bear with us as we explored some side streets near their new home. By 2030, we were back in Stoneybrooke Park and I helped Erin get the car to Nicky’s.  Before I departed, Mollie gave me one of Nicky & Steve’s beers (Troegenator) to drink at the BOQ and I went back to Fort Belvoir.  Relaxed and read until it was time for bed (2200).

Orford, NH (USA)

After my hike up the south side of Mount Cube last week I kept watching the weather for an evening that would allow me to climb up from the north side to watch the sun set.  The remnants of a tropical storm came through the Upper Valley a few days ago and cooled everything down.  This made this evening an opportune one for the climb.  Left Hanover (used NH-10) at 1715 and arrived at the AT trailhead on NH-25A (east of Orford) just before 1800.  I had my light backpack and was on the trail (SOBO) minutes later.  The temps were in the high 70s but the sun was already dropping in the western sky - it cooled off quickly.  Within the first hundred yards, I came across two girls (Thru hikers) who had set up camp right next to the trail.  They seemed nonchalant about the lack of privacy in such a campsite and had stripped down after their long day on the trail.  Somehow, though, I was the one who felt awkward as they waved to me...  In the next mile, I passed three more (Thru) hikers: a young couple who asked me how far the road was and an older guy who seemed to think I was unprepared to climb the mountain so late in the day.  For the rest of the outbound leg (all uphill), I was alone (had hoped to see some animals in the dusk but didn’t).  Unlike the south side of the mountain, the trail was a series of zig-zag switchbacks climbs with multiple “false summits”.  For some reason, last weekend’s hikes and kayaking had made me really sore and I’d never really recovered.  All the way up the mountain, I truly felt like an old man, with aches and pains in nearly every part of my body.  Coupled with mud, slippery rocks, lots of roots and evidence of damage from the storm, the climb was miserable.  The only reason I made it, actually, was that I was determined to keep going through the discomfort (mental toughness is definitely required to hike the AT!).  The view from the top was the reward - the panorama of the green mountains to the south and west, the sinking sun low near the horizon and the beautiful sensation of being king of a world of solitude were unbeatable.  I waited a little bit before I started back downhill but because I knew the descent (mostly in the dark) would be difficult and slow, I reluctantly departed.  Within an hour, the sun was gone - fortunately, I’d already cleared the worst of the trail hazards.  My night vision kicked in and I was able to get most of the way back without a light.  It was slow going but I was managing OK.  Unfortunately, I encountered three other hikers with some kind of fluorescent search light and it nearly blinded me.  Used a flashlight after that...  Heard what sounded like a massive fireworks display to the west but couldn’t see anything in that direction.  Also heard dueling barred owls and some other birds singing pretty songs.  Just before the road, I found the girls’ campsite again - they’d been joined by the other three hikers.  Everyone had retired to their tents and the night was filled with giggling and the smell of Mary Jane.  But they got all whispery and turned off their lights when I lumbered by...  Reached the car by 2110 after just over 7 miles.  Felt tired and even more sore - but also glad I got completed more AT miles and saw a great sunset.  Driving home (NH-10), realized it was one of the first times in a long time I was transiting Moose country in the dark - fortunately didn’t run into any!  Hoping to limp through another hike this weekend - we’ll see...  AT Today = 3.40 miles / Grand Total AT = 1630.96 miles

White River Junction, VT (USA)

I had my first doctor's visit at the White River Junction VA Hospital in the early afternoon today.  It was quite rainy, so I didn't have a chance to leverage my trip into Vermont into a kayak or hiking visit.  After I was done with my appointment (1400), I decided to follow drive into town and see if I could find a place to launch a kayak from the west side of the Connecticut River (just like I'd tried, unsuccessfully, a few days earlier on the New Hampshire side).  After making my way through the construction in WRJ, I located a promising route (Connecticut River Road) that headed south along the water.  There were lots of cool farms and little homes on the route but I was disappointed after several miles when I reached signs that said "Private Road."  A secondary goal of the drive was to locate the Willard Covered Bridges that I noticed in the town of North Hartland (VT) on the Ottauqueechee River.  However, I was not able to reach them - I guess I'll have to try coming in from the south side (off US-5) sometime in the future.  Backtracked to WRJ and headed back to my condo for the rest of my telework day.  Grrr...  I don't know why, but it's tough to find kayak launches south of the I-89 bridge!

Orford, NH (USA)

Yesterday's busy/fun inspired me to get on the road early again - I reached the parking lot for the Kodak Trail (at the end of Quinttown Road) by 0800.  In the parking lot, I encountered two people who were arguing over their map and they asked me to be the "tiebreaker".  Fortunately, I was able to help them (AT question).  I thought they’d join me but they were doing a two car shuttle to the south and I was headed north...  Made it back to the AT quickly (it continued as the Kodak Trail) and started NOBO up the south slope of Mount Cube.  It was overcast and warm (almost 70 F) - an odd mix for so early.  The climb was punctuated by rocks, roots and mud - definitely not a gentle experience.  The views from the Eastman Ledges were a great teaser for later in the day but I was too busy huffing and puffing.  Passed two weekend backpacker guys as I approached the Hexacuba Shelter but was otherwise alone.  Oh - except for the many inchworms that hitched rides from me (they dangled down from above - hope the ticks weren’t watching).  After several tough rock scrambles, I came out on to a huge rock face with tremendous views towards Hanover (breathtaking).  There was a young couple there, resting, and I learned they were Thru hikers (from Houston).  They told me about their many logistical difficulties due to COVID-19.  After getting forced off the trail in March, they resumed their hike in June but found it too hot for comfort in Virginia.  So, they got a ride from Roanoke, VA to Hanover so they could summit Katahdin before the end of September.  We shared AT Intel and I realized later we’d talked for more than 30 minutes - my clothes had completely dried in the breeze.  I continued climbing and soon reached the top of Mount Cube.  It was windy and cool there and I headed back downhill immediately.  While I was in the open on another “bald”, it started sprinkling but I was soon back in the trees.  Passed the young couple again, since they had resumed their climb.  Stopped a short time later to eat a snack and met another Thru hiking pair (two older guys) who said they’d taken a two week break in March but had been hiking since then (no breaks or shuttles).  Learned that they had begun to hate pizza (“it’s all the restaurants/stores/hostels have”). Resumed my descent and saw evidence of the sun a few times - even with the clouds in the way, it heated temps up into the low 80s.  Passed a solo Thru hiker (didn’t talk much) and a family of four with backpacks (out for an overnight adventure).  I made it back to the road soon after and met two local guys who had a very nice dog.  They told me about another hike in the area (they’d just done it) and shared all kinds of other hiking and paddling suggestions - very friendly people!  Reached my car by 1230 after between 7 and 8 miles (pedometer, guide and signs all disagreed).  Lots of socializing with the hiking world today!  Felt good to know that I’d made such a big dent in this area since Friday - almost ready to tackle Moosilauke...  Decided not to kayak today on the way back (via NH-10) but still finished the weekend on a high!  AT Today = 3.00 miles / G.T. AT = 1627.56 miles

Orford, NH (USA)

Got an earlier start today and that allowed me to drive a bit farther to find a trailhead.  This time, I checked out a road I’d seen in my new NatGeo AT map book.  I used NH-10 and NH-25A (through Orford) until I reached Quinttown Road (gravel).  I was not disappointed - it took me all the way to the Kodak Trail parking lot.  Two other cars were already there and I braced for a lot of weekend day hikers as I left my car (0800).  The sun was shining but the temps were pleasant (low 60s).  I had to walk through around a closed gate but then had a nice half mile walk up a well maintained gravel path (a farmer’s driveway?).  Fortunately, I didn’t miss the AT crossing (AKA “J Trail”) and was soon SOBO into the woods.  The section I chose was basically a long ridge climb to the summit of Smarts Mountain.  For two hours, the trees above me were the highest things near me and I could tell that I was climbing high above the valleys on both sides of the trail.  Unlike yesterday, the trail was pretty well maintained and I never felt like I was going to slip or fall (despite some messy mud).  There weren’t any real views all day, unfortunately...  On the way up, I passed the mother-daughter pair I’d seen the day before - they’d spent the night on the mountain.  Chatted with them and continued - didn’t see any other people on the outbound leg.  I made it to the Fire Warden’s Cabin (shelter) faster than I’d expected (making good time but pedometer not working right) and, right after that, reached the Fire Tower.  There were probably five or six people (older couple, local lady day hiker, backpackers) scattered around the area, talking loudly, so I immediately started my backtrack.  The descent was very easy compared to yesterday’s treacherous slog.  Ended up catching the mother-daughter pair again just as I crossed the South Jacobs Brook bridge (last landmark before the Kodak Trail).  It was then an easy walk back to my car, which I reached by 1145 after 9 miles.  The gate was open...  The temps had reached the high 70s - it was a good time to get off the trail.  As I departed, I decided that it would be good to return to the same spot tomorrow to tackle the southern side of Mount Cube.  After reaching the NH-25A, I backtracked to Orford and drove south for a bit so I could take River Road during my return to Hanover.  Actually, my goal was to find a boat launch area - it took a bit of effort but eventually (south of the bridge to East Thetford, VT) encountered some other folks who were thinking the same way.  They'd parked on the side of the road with kayaks on the roof so I followed their lead.  It wasn't hard to get my boat in position but the steep drop from the road to the water meant that I had no choice except to get wet.  Oh well!  The weather was still very nice so I took my time exploring a pretty little inlet/creek (shallow water) on the east side of River Road.  After that, I made my way through the reeds until I found an access point to the Connecticut River.  Paddled north to the bridge (the one to East Thetford) and enjoyed the calm, smooth waters - there was almost no current!  Crossed the river a few times - it was much easier than in the Potomac...  Saw one guy in a small boat (with outboard motor) but almost no one else on land or water (except for the people I'd parked with, who were relaxing with kayaks and rafts all tied together).  Spent almost 1.5 hours on the River - got my arms quite tired.  Felt really good after the hike/kayak combo and headed home via River Road and NH-10.  Definitely in the mood for more!  AT Today = 4.00 miles / G.T. AT = 1624.56 miles