Getting High in the White Mountains

The trip started Monday morning as Greg and Mike drove up to New Hampshire and visited the Lost River (gee they found that Lost River really easily) and the Polar Caves. NOT was not very interested, having just visited both places while camping this summer. 

Pushing on, they found a room for the night in Lincoln, NH, along the start of the Kancamagus highway. The trio found a nice restaurant and had Cajun Blackened Prime Rib so tender that a knife wasn't needed. 

NOT had to make do with lettuce. Seeing that he has no teeth.

The next morning it was time for Franconia Notch in the White Mountains.

First off was a visit with the New Hampshire logo - the Old Man of the Mountain. 

No, not Greg - the stony face over his shoulder. 

Arriving at Cannon Mountain, the trio rode the aerial tramway to the summit, approximately a 2,000 foot trip. Or a 2 wing trip, if you're the duck.

Then it was a hike across the ridge on the High Cannon Trail. Here NOT learned what it truly meant to "backpack."

Lonesome Lake was less lonesome when the trio found it from a ledge a thousand feet above. 

Not all the landscape was so spectacular. Or so natural looking. 

After some time, the view of Lonesome Lake got a LOT closer. 

Navigating further back to base involved working around areas that were still a bit missing from being washed away by Hurricane Floyd. Luckily there was a bike trail, and no one got made that they used it even though they had no bikes. 

Wednesday morning dawned foggy and threatening rain, so it was up Mt. Washington in the safety of the auto rode. Along the trip, driving out of the fog, clarity was found at the elevation between the fog and the clouds. NOT contemplated hiding the Chandler Brook Trail into the Great Gulf Wilderness but decided it was a great risk. He's a small duck - he gets lost in the fog too easily. 

Finally reaching the summit, after driving through miserable 20 foot visibility, the gang rose above the fog only to find weather on the summit was 50 degrees, wet and miserable. Supposedly perfect weather for a duck. NOT, however begged to differ and dove into a warm pocket. 

Top of the World Ma!

Returning to warmer climes, it was lunch in Berlin, N.H. - an old paper mill town with a huge moose that has been known to disturb even the locals. Fortunately, Mike, Greg and NOT were already disturbed. 

While out hiking, NOT found an awesome tree that he just had to stop and rest in.

Friday was blue and clear with 50 mile visibility, so it was time to try Mt. Washington again and maybe see what it looks like without all the grey. Being clearer though also meant it was colder: about 30 degrees with a 30 mile per hour wind (or a wind chill of zero). Hence the ice.

They needed to climb the actual pile or rocks that constitute the summit, visiting the USGS marker, but was almost blown away a few times.  A very long drop.

Unfortunately, it was too windy to all get around the disk, so the group picture had to be taken with the sign, clung to to prevent others from blowing away, besides NOT.

Photos courtesy of Mike Saletnik

Last Updated March 2001