http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/ Questions, Advice, Experiences, etc. en Thu, 23 May 2013 12:18:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/ http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7545-The-Doubleheads-in-Jackson-NH-05-20-13-via-looping-Ski-Old-and-New-Paths&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 12:09:24 GMT Hi Everyone, My buddy, Alex, and I headed up to Jackson this past Monday to tackle the Doubleheads. I had heard they were steep, but really had... Hi Everyone,

My buddy, Alex, and I headed up to Jackson this past Monday to tackle the Doubleheads. I had heard they were steep, but really had not expected them to be as steep as they were. It was a tough hike in my opinion! Below is a link to my full trip report and pictures. Below are also some of my favorite pictures if you don't feel like heading over to the blog.

http://www.livefreeandhikenh.blogspo...od-friend.html


Hobblebush in full bloom. Someone told me or I read somewhere that the big flowers are merely there to attract bees to the small ones for pollination and that they were pretty much decoys. Very cool.


Purple Trillium


Toad!


Hobblebush Leaves


Purple Trillium


Doublehead Ski Cabin on North Doublehead


Fog rolling through the valley very quickly


Pine cones


Confusing directions!


Moats and Cathedral Ledge


Carter Notch


Poor trail conditions of the New Path. I was very disappointed as it was not maintained well at all and was not clearly marked. I fell, hurting myself, while searching for the trail on a few occasions.

Thanks ]]> White Mountain Hikes KSearl http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7545-The-Doubleheads-in-Jackson-NH-05-20-13-via-looping-Ski-Old-and-New-Paths http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7542-1st-timer-hiker-security-question&goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 15:17:15 GMT Planning to ride up to NH next weekend. couple newbie questions 1) What are the recommendations for security while camping? Is it safe to leave... Planning to ride up to NH next weekend.

couple newbie questions
1) What are the recommendations for security while camping? Is it safe to leave tent/sleeping gear and proceed to the top lightweight? Any storage/lockers available? Or just leave heavy gear in the car, hike to the top, come back to the car and hike back up Tuckerman Ravine trail to establish tent/lean-in area?

2) Lean-ins - are those just public shelters for multiple people or those are semi-private? Also, do do those get reserved before tent sites? It would be nice not to have to lug tent around, if it would be known that lean-in area is available.

Thanks in advanced.. ]]> White Mountain Hikes verysimple http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7542-1st-timer-hiker-security-question http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7541-Emma-s-last-hike-Piper-Belknap-Gunstock-5-4-13&goto=newpost Wed, 08 May 2013 20:27:28 GMT Image: http://www.ghostflowers.com/forumshots/20130504-20130504-_DSC0058.jpg The kind of days we had together were always the kind you hoped...

The kind of days we had together were always the kind you hoped would last forever, that nothing would ever change and that we would all be together forever. When they were about to begin we did not know they were coming and when they were about to end we did not know they were ending. In between we had 13 and a half wonderful years together. Although the shock and pain are severe, in my mind sudden and without much warning is preferable to long and slow, lingering and withering as time slips away. In the end, she left us the way we all would have chosen if it must be, hiking and living life to the fullest right until the end.





We had known in our hearts that she was older and would eventually succumb to the only thing that could ever slow her down, the slow erosion of time. Time, which grinds even the mighty mountains down was the only thing she ever lost to in a fight, and she fought it right up until the end. After a clean bill of health in December of 2012, we had taken her for a full check up in April which included an ultra-sound after a slight heart murmur was detected. She was put on antibiotics for a UTI, and on heart medicine for the murmur. The vet played down the heart murmur stressing it was minor, and assured us it was normal and common in older and smaller dogs, and that her arthritis was a bigger issue to her health at this point.






After a round of the antibiotics she was more herself, but still not all that eager about walking/hiking. We probably assumed too much that she was adjusting to the medicine and would be fine. After getting her out on some decent walks, we thought she might be more willing if we took her into the mountains she loved. Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful, another day full of promise. Her brother Blue was with us for a visit and we all piled into the car for a ride to the Belknaps where we could take as big or as small a hike as Emma wanted. The plan was to go from Piper up to Belknap and see how things were going. On Piper we met a few people with several dogs. Emma and even Blue were cordial even when they were sharing some food.





The sun was beating on us on Piper and there was little shade for the dogs so we soon headed off to Belknap. Emma seemed fine, and on Belknap where there were just the 4 of us she and Blue had some more food, she seemed fine and raring to go. As we headed north across the ridge towards Gunstock we stopped in a muddy creek down in the col just before you begin to climb again. Emma took a good cooling off and again seemed fine. On the way up out of the col she began to tire and at the picnic tables below the summit of Gunstock we took the unmarked white trail back down towards our car, skipping the summit of Gunstock for Emma's sake.





Back in the car she was unable to settle, it was really the first indication that something was wrong. The drive home she remained unsettled and we hoped that she could get comfortable once we got home. Back at home we became alarmed when she again could not settle at all. The emergency vet recognized that she was in congestive heart failure and did what he could to remove the fluid that was flooding her lungs, but we were too late. She had really given us no indication that she was in that much distress except that she couldn't settle. Brave little dog even walked into the vets on her own, just as she had faced down the White Mountains again and again.



There isn't much more to say other than we are heartbroken. On the one hand joyous that we shared so many wonderful times together, but on the other hand distraught that they had to end so soon. It will be hard to return to anyplace that we have been to with her, but eventually we will, we must, to honor her memory. Thanks to all of you who have followed us over the years, we have all felt the love that you have extended. Know it has been much appreciated. Hug your dog/furkids and children, our time on earth with them is much too short...

Full set of pics HERE:

More thoughts and photos about Emma Here:

KDT ]]> White Mountain Hikes KD Talbot http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7541-Emma-s-last-hike-Piper-Belknap-Gunstock-5-4-13 http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7540-Lylah-s-First-Hike-With-Her-Own-Two-Feet!-Stratham-Hill-Park&goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 00:10:42 GMT Hi Everyone,

I hope you guys don't mind me posting this here. It's from an outing to Stratham Hill Park, not a mountain, but definitely memorable. My daughter hiked up the hill on her own, without me carrying her. It was really a special moment, mostly because she smiled the whole way up. She did such a good job and I was really proud. Here's the blog post on it and some pictures from the trek. Again, I hope you guys don't mind me posting but figured many of you with young kids could relate!

http://livefreeandhikenh.blogspot.co...-two-feet.html


Lylah, very focused on getting to the top!


Lincoln Trailhead


The munchkin again!


Wood Anemone


Need some help on this one...not sure what kind of flower this is.


Tower as seen from the Lincoln Trail


Close up of the tower...looks like they did some work to it recently (paint for sure).


Lylah playing on the mileage dial. We typically don't let her play on stuff like this, but we were so happy with her hiking up, I made an exception...please don't think I'm a bad parent :)


Fun in the park after the hike! ]]> White Mountain Hikes KSearl http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7540-Lylah-s-First-Hike-With-Her-Own-Two-Feet!-Stratham-Hill-Park http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7537-All-Butterflies-and-Rainbows-in-Franconia-Notch-4-27-13&goto=newpost Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:52:52 GMT A quick trip with family to The Basin and Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch. A short roundtrip hike from one to the other along the bike path... *At... A quick trip with family to The Basin and Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch. A short roundtrip hike from one to the other along the bike path...
At The Basin








At The Flume



Ice Bridge in Flume Gorge


Rainbow in Avalanche Falls, Flume Gorge


Eastern Comma Polygonia comma


Round-leaved Yellow Violet Viola rotundifolia

KDT ]]> White Mountain Hikes KD Talbot http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7537-All-Butterflies-and-Rainbows-in-Franconia-Notch-4-27-13 http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7535-Mud-snow-and-ice-Water-in-all-its-forms-on-the-trail-to-Arethusa-Falls&goto=newpost Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:58:50 GMT After the last difficult week, Janelle and I felt we needed to be back in the Whites. We had an afternoon on our hands, so decided to see how high... After the last difficult week, Janelle and I felt we needed to be back in the Whites. We had an afternoon on our hands, so decided to see how high the water was along Bemis Brook and Arethusa. This is what we found: Arethusa Falls casts a Springtime spell

]]> White Mountain Hikes Dan Szczesny http://www.mountwashington.org/forums/showthread.php?7535-Mud-snow-and-ice-Water-in-all-its-forms-on-the-trail-to-Arethusa-Falls