Where the contour lines hang out.

[goddessfarmer]

chocorua and I climbed a mountain. Not a small mountain like Chocorua, but a big mountain, one of the NH 4000 footers. Mt Carrigain is 4700’. The trailhead of the Signal Ridge trail was a lowly 1480’. The five miles from the road to the summit covered 3250’ of up. When reading the trail guide and map, it is always a good idea to check and see just how close together the contour lines are. We started up at 0830. By noon, I was having serious doubts if I would actually get to the summit before our turn-around time of 1400, if I could do it at all. At 1230, it started to drizzle and chocorua decided that he would go on ahead and score his last NH 4000 footer, even if I could not get there. I’m not peak-bagging, if I don’t make it, it’s not a big deal to me. Well, I did get there. At 1345, a mere 15 minutes before turn-around time. The view. Ah. the view was so worth it. But having gotten up, could I then get down? You’d think that down would be easy. But it is not so. After pushing exhausted muscles beyond the point of pain on the way up, now they have to control the descent; down back over the ice and boulders without falling. Up may be work for the heart and lungs, but down is an exercise in knee, ankle and hip stability. Yes, we made it down. Before dark even. At one point near the beginning of the downward journey, I was picking my way slowly and said to Chocorua: “I confess that I am tired.” His reply: ”I don’t think even Karl Rove could convince a Republican jury that you aren’t tired.” So now, in the comfort of our hotel room, after a hearty dinner, and a soak in the hot tub, I am exhausted. But all in all, a day well spent.

Comments

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a Good Day.

I've done that with my girls (Haystack, in Vermont), but I have to load up with ibuprofen before I start or my knees will betray me.

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

Ice? Wow.

Did you have crampons?

All in all, sounds very satisfying, so long as you didn't end up doing anything bad to your joints.

[hugs]

[goddessfarmer.livejournal.com]

not lots of ice, just some patches. All doable by bare-boot and hiking stick. As far as joints go - that which does not kill us makes us stronger. I'm mostly muscle sore and will be fine in a few days.

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

As far as joints go - that which does not kill us makes us stronger.

As joints go, in general, this is emphatically *not* the case. But if you're just muscle sore then all is well in this instance : )

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

it snows year round even in our moderate peaks. esp on mt wash. people have died and succumbed to frostbite and nasties in july. yup. harsh stuff up there. weirdness due to various factors. special place, do not underestimate.

#

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad to hear this. Alice and I went riding this afternoon (a short ride); Minnie was tired and did not do anything silly. Alice talked and talked about horses, her favorites at camp, her hopes to compete at a higher level, etc. She is really a wonderful girl!

(Except she did not clean Trumpie's tack; I cleaned Minnie's because it was filthy and because I would rather not experience you getting mad at me for not cleaning it!)

[goddessfarmer.livejournal.com]

it was filthy because *I* didn't clean it the last time she was ridden. Thanks bunches. Trump's tack is on my list.... but that is a long one right now.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I figured that you must have been pretty busy getting ready for your trip, hence the dirty tack. But I figured that because I'd ridden Minnie, I should clean her tack. I was hoping that my good influence would rub off on Alice, but it didn't :)

Speaking of which, I should clean her saddle sometime...

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

that sounds lovely and powerful. congratulations to you both!!

[sarahshevett.livejournal.com]

I watched a series about climbing Everest a few months ago.
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/everestbeyond.html

It seems that the descent is what kills most people. They are so exhausted from the climb and they don't expect the descent to be so difficult.
It was a fascinating, if somewhat frustrating, show

"Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory"

Ed Viesturs

[quietann.livejournal.com]

My brother, who's climbed several 20,000-foot plus peaks, would agree with that. Getting down the mountain is often much more difficult than climbing it. It goes more quickly but more things can go wrong.

[chocorua.livejournal.com]

Once upon a time, I had about the most sustained exhilaration I've ever had - Several of my TMRC hiking buddies and I had winter-hiked up Passaconaway (above Wonalancet) and over to Whiteface. I came down Blueberry Ledges at pretty close to a run, bounding down the steep parts, sometimes vaulting on my staff, cushioning my landing on snowbanks....

Of course, we were fit enough to plan a 9 mile round-trip on snowshoes, which due to trails being packed transmogrified into 10.5 miles and an extra summit bare-booted.

[miekec]

The views are what keep you coming back. Even though I haven't hiked in a looong time, I remember the exhilaration.
Glad you guys had fun!