"Slight Chance of Spotty Shower"

When the weather reports call for a "slight chance of a spot shower"-- and you're in the mountains-- COUNT on CONTINUED, PERSISTENT RAIN!!

It wasn't all bad, but from 6pm Saturday evening until 5:30 am Sunday morning, let's just say I got some good quality time with my Kindle-- in my tent...

I started up from Pinkham Notch along the Great Gulf trail Friday afternoon after skydiving with Emily. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, I think I even saw a unicorn floating above a rainbow...

Crossing the bridge took me into the Great Gulf wilderness and into a weekend promising great views and a great workout with my new pack, an Osprey Aether 70...

I camped at the Osgood Tentsite and had a wonderful setup, with promises of a great hike up and over Madison and Adams the following day.

The Saturday morning hike up to the ridge and to the top of Madison was a great workout, and I summited by 8:45 am.

Then, it was a relatively short drop down to Madison Hut, where the croo member relayed the "slight chance of spotty shower".... should have known something was up.... he was also cook for the day...

Based upon the rosy forecast, it was on to Adams, which I made quick work of before dropping back down to take the Buttress Trail (rather than the more difficult Madison Gulf Trail). This is a longer and "relatively" less arduous trail than Madison Gulf Trail, which should have a nuclear fallout sign on it to signify its difficulty both in terms of taking it downhill and/or in wet conditions. But the Buttress was no "walk in the park" either.

View Back to Madison Hut and Mt. Madison

View to Madison from the top of Adams

Nice place to get out of the rain. The trail goes right through this.

View out from Clam Rock. Nice campsite in this area.

Clam Rock- where I DID get out of the rain.

Nobody's going to take THIS bridge!!

So by the time I hit Clam Rock (3:00 pm) it had started showering. I laid up under the rock until the shower passed (a half hour) before heading on and getting dripped on the whole way back to camp.

After dinner I climbed into the sleeping bag, and 11 hours later I emerged from my shelter (Sun morning) to pack up my wet tent and head down the mountain. 

Gorham promised a Dunkin Donuts coffee (reward time). It seemed like everyone and his brother was driving through Gorham with 1-2 ATVs either in the back of their pickup truck or on a trailer. I seriously thought that maybe there was an ATV convention in town... but these babies were all mudded up and looked like they were headed out for more... ? I think I heard banjos...

Anyway-- a great weekend with the oldest daughter and then the wilderness. Cheap therapy if you ask me.

Skydiving on Emily's 21st B-day

Emily turned 21, and her birthday wish was to go skydiving with ME. So this Thursday, we camped out and had a steak dinner before heading over to Shain's of Maine for some AWESOME ice cream. Good quality daddy-daughter time!

Friday morning we strapped on chutes and had the time of our lives!

Emily went just before me. Then.... there was just no turning back....

Support Your Local AMC Caretaker!

Dylan from Dartmouth

Many people find themselves despairing when it comes to today's youth. Not me. Head out into the backcountry and stay at an AMC hut or shelter and you'll meet some great young people who will restore your optimism for our future.

Case in point: Dylan, the caretaker at Nauman tentsite, which is right next door to Mizpah Spring hut in the southern Presidentials. Dylan recently graduated from Dartmouth College and is spending his summer in the White Mountains, welcoming and educating hikers. He's a roving caretaker, which means he hikes to different sites to give the "regular" caretaker a few days off. Another part of his job is sifting the outhouse compost that can be converted into soil. Yuk. While he's hiking between sites, he carries an axe and clears trail.

He's full of exuberance AND full of tact/grace and people skills. I witnessed this first-hand when a scout group of 19 (Yikes-- 19 is a big-- and illegal- group to take into the backcountry). They slid into Nauman during the afternoon while Dylan was out, and kind of took over the tent platforms. He didn't let this phase him in the least, and was extremely gracious.

I had the pleasure of talking to him about his college days, his major, his European travels, and where life might take him after the summer.Plus, he's got really cool hair.

Do yourself a favor and plan at least one overnight hike that takes you to a backcountry shelter. You'll meet some "interesting" people and some great caretakers. Plus, if it's a shelter you're visiting, you can skip the tent (weight!). 

How to Poo in the Woods

I've got to say it. And many friends and family members think it sounds crazy... but there is nothing more satisfying than a good poo in the woods.  The sense of accomplishment, knowing the angst from which the urge began, to the scouting, preparation, to finally walking away from a "job well done" is one of my simple joys. Yet I find many people freak out about all sorts of issues surrounding this most basic of human bodily functions.

So how does one approach such a potentially satisfying and successful chore?

1.  Have the right tools.
You're going to need a trowel, TP, hand sanitizer, and, not pictured, a STICK. Make sure you take the TP OUT of the ziploc bag before you use it....

2. Find a good spot.
It's like buying a house-- location, location, location!

Get off the trail, out of sight of any passers-by, where you have some privacy. Also, do NOT get close to a water source. Leave no Trace guidelines dictate that you're at least 200 feet from a water source, trail or campsite.

I recommend a tree or log cross-wise to lean your back on. You DON'T want to lose your balance during a critical time. Having something to lean on takes some of the pressure off. I chose a rock to lean against (bottom photo). The green moss was soothing to my soul and provided a nice peaceful place.

3.  Dig the Hole.
How big a hole? As big as it takes.... You want an easy-to-hit target.
The depth is far more important. 4-8 inches is ideal. This will aid in decomposition. Plus, it's better to discover you dug too deeply than to realize you were too shallow...

4.  Prepare Yourself.
Have your TP ready. When you drop your drawers, I've found it helpful to remove one leg from your shorts/trousers and pivot the shorts around and off to the side of the leg that's still in said shorts. That way the clothing is out of the way. Rocket science, huh?

5.  Do Your Business.
If you need instructions here, my only suggestion is to NOT go into the woods.Stay at home. Really.

6.  Stir, compress.
Use your stick (not your trowel) to "fine tune" the contents of the hole. Use the stick to move the layer of soil back over everything, and then poke/bury the stick into the hole. This way your trowel stays sanitary-- you use it only to dig the original hole.

7. Cover. Spread forest duff, leaves, sticks over everything-- in general, do some landscaping so that no one could tell what-all has gone on. Even CSI should not be able to tell...

8. Sanitize. Now is the time to use your hand sanitizer... BEFORE you dig into your friend's GORP! (And by the way-- never dig into your friend's GORP-- pour it into your sanitized hand.)

9. Stand back and admire a job well done.. Take a picture if you want. I'm telling you-- it's one of backpacking's simple pleasures.

Take a Break

Everyone takes a break on the trail-- water, snacks, pack adjustment, clothing adjustment, "personal business".... this list goes on and on. Sometimes you're just pooped and need to collect yourself.

What you DON'T want to do is just drop your pack and lie down in the middle of the trail. I know-- nobody will be coming along, and you'll "just be a minute." Yeah-- that's when someone shows up, and has to navigate through your "yard sale."

So what does the well-behaved hiker do?

Identify a nice rock, stump or downed tree on the SIDE of the trail to park yourself. Sit down, smile at people as they go by, and enjoy the scenery.

Be #2

On the trail up to Mt Kinsman, Kinsman Pond and Lonesome Lake Hut, I was reminded that it's not always the best idea to be in the lead or first on the trail (#1). It's much better to be #2....

Early in the morning, the first person on the trail has the "honor" of finding all the spider webs that have mysteriously been created across the trail during the night. Although not usually dangerous, it's always disconcerting. And it's your face that always seems to find those things. If you wear glasses, the webs cling to your lenses. Much better to let someone go in front of you- preferably one who is also taller than you.

There's another time when being #2 is also a good idea. That's during spring hiking, when you're trying to get away with not using snowshoes, and you inevitably "post hole," one leg going straight through the soft snow like a post being set. It's a pain in the butt (sometimes literally). I always like to hike behind someone else who "finds" these soft spots :) Does this strategy always work? No, but it allows you to make some adjustments.

Now you know one of my secrets. Make it your secret... unless you're hiking with me...

 Kinsman Pond was beautiful. The snow is all gone, and at 88 degrees, the water was very inviting!

The view across Franconia Notch from North Kinsman was awesome. However because of the humidity, pollen and pollution coming across from our western neighbors, you can really see the haziness.

Kinsman Shelter. It really doesn't lean this much-- just a poor camera shot. Two levels inside to accommodate the hikers. There are also tent platforms at the site.

Bark chips and propane delivered by the helicopter. The caretaker should be onsite soon! The bark chips are for "flushing" in the outhouse-- do your business and then "flush" by throwing a handful of bark chips on top. Composting at its best!

Another view across the Notch

5 Keys to Hiking with Kids- Or a Reluctant Spouse

You want your child (or reluctant spouse) to share your love of hiking. How do you engage them without turning them totally off?

1.  Keep it short. Better to have them begging for more at the end than begging to stop. Save your personal desire to get a great workout for another time. Keep the overall length of the hike manageable, and also the times in between rest breaks. Arbitrary Rule of Thumb:  Hike no more than 3x the youngest's age in minutes before taking a break, and 1 hour overall for every 5 years of age. Of course YOUR child is special and unique and can handle a longer. Stick a "My Kid is an Honor Hiker" bumper sticker and your car and him/her prove it to you by begging for more.

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2.  Have lots of snacks on hand. And hydrate. Have a good and plentiful stash of snacks and water with you that's easily accessible. Use these as a form of bribery for getting them up the trail. It works. And don't skimp on these-- make it a real "treat" to go on a hike with special stuff they don't get all the time at home (hopefully). Make some GORP at home with your child before going out-- let them make their own sandwich-sized baggy of   peanuts, raisins, M&Ms, granola, Craisins, etc.. Bring some apples, peanut butter and crackers (or graham crackers), string cheese, a favorite lunch if you'll be out during that time, and at least 1 liter of water per person.

3. Include water. Not to drink, silly (see above). Hike along a stream, or to a pond or mountain lake. Streams are easiest. Let them hike in their swimsuit and take breaks along the way. They may want to wear sandals when wading into the water, which means that, yes, there is a footwear change involved, because they should be hiking in closed-toe shoes like sneakers or boots. A good camp counselor knows that you can keep kids busy and having fun for HOURS if you just include water. There are plenty of steam-side hikes in the White Mountains that are perfect for little ones (or big ones) to explore.





4. Stop and smell the roses. Better to not make it to your destination if you're stopping to explore what intrigues them. This is not to say that you don't teach them about a goal-oriented hike and that perseverance pays off in a view. Make the hikes appropriate time-wise so that you can plan for those "unplanned" stops along the way to examine a butterfly, watch a beaver at work, or be intrigued by pollywogs. Pick a big rock, interesting tree or stump up ahead on the trail, and say, "Let's take a look at that"-- it breaks the hike up into very manageable chunks.

5.  Keep "the basics" on hand. Pack sunscreen, bug spray, 1st aid stuff... and CAMERA. All of these items help to ensure a great hike with lots of good memories. For an older or pre-teen, one of the "basics" may mean "bring a friend."



Did I remember to do all these things with MY kids? No-- I blew it a number of times by violating each of the above. And these suggestions are very age- and individual-specific in how they're played out. However, keeping these in mind will keep you on the right track and allow you to customize your hike.

Get out there and have a great time... and build a memory that will last a lifetime!

See you on the trail.