Mount Hale 6-21-14

Mount Hale, is actually a bit of a ride for me, left the cape at 7am arriving at the beginning of the trail around 11, granted, I had several stops on the way to, almost a three and a half hour drive. Hale is right down the street from Brentton woods, so i kinda get easy directions, even if the GPS lied to me and got me lost once...or twice.
   Let us begin my friends...Hale Brook Trail, starts actually very mild, slow even. But it has alot of mini brooks running through it. The entire surrounding area is green, you feel like you are in a lush area. Lots of falling trees and brooks, most of the brooks have nothing to cross then, you are rock jumping or finding a falling tree. Which to me is fine, nothing like a natural trail. If i recall correctly there was only one or maybe two sets of wooden steps, for the first two miles.

Not a bad walk on a saturday.

What I did enjoy about this trail alot, no rooted trails, as most of my hiking friends will say, I trip on roots or rock, wet roots, wet rocks, makes Doot fall on his face. Sand, gravel, pretty much all the way up to the top. There are some rock switch backs here and there, this used to be an old donkey trail according to locals. Lots and lots of stuff to look at, falling trees, flowers, and brooks.

This it basically the make up of the entire trail.

The last 500ft, I will not lie, even last half mile, Brutal on those with bad knees like myself, the incline. Ouch, I have hiked much longer trails, but this was the first time I can honestly say I felt my knees shaking. It's very level until you reach this point then its direct up, no if's ands or buts. The person I had ran into was walking with, was in his 60's said, he has done all of the 48 this was his favorite just for this reason. "The last 500ft feet will feel like the longest thing you have ever done" He says to me.

Looking down on the trail.

When you finally get to the summit, there isn't a marker, just a set of stones in a wide opening. Under the hot sun, I laid down, to bask in its warmth. One of my favorite things to do on a peak. Just sit there in quiet and see how close I am to the sky. Over look the world below and let balance come back. I guess everything settles itself out at that point.  And then I head back to the world..

Hale Peak Summit.

Overhead..life is good.

Mount Tecumseh

6-14-2014
  A nice trip upwards to  Waterville valley area. The lowest of all the 48, but really not a bad hike. Lower area of the trail is alot of rock with mini falls like the majority of the trails I have been on, not a giant incline at all, but a nice pace along the water, these are no where near Sage's falls but they are small and enjoyable.

Lower region of Tecumseh.

And let there be stairs...

This is a fairly short distance hike, about 5 miles round trip from the parking lot of Waterville. The lower half is friendly to the knees, easily crossed and not stressful at all. We managed to cover 1.8 miles on this lower trail in about an hour. Around mid area of this trail, it becomes my least favorite thing in the world, rock stairs, and i mean lots and lots of stairs. Knee killers to me, I dislike them greatly not because they are hard to climb, but after the 500th lift up a stair i wanted to punch myself in the face haha. There is a nice cut through view around, you can walk out to the boneyard on waterville. A old snowboard park/trail area, a very nice view and a good break from the stairs.

The Boneyard.

From the little trail section "View" you keep on going up more stairs, and a decent incline, this is where I found it to get muggy and I break a decent sweat, but as soon as you do it levels out, and you are on the path to the summit. There is a loop around trail to and fro summit wise, one is fairly slower moving the other you can steam roll. We took the harder of the two there, and the easier back. Summit wise there isn't a marker like other mountains just a sign, and a couple of rocks to sit on. A good view of the entire valley.

Woodstock Inn 4000 Footer IPA/ Myself and Ryan G.

We decided to swing across a ridgeline and hit waterville valley  mountain on the way down, we thought it might have been on the list and wanted to make sure, but it is slightly under the 4k mark, still a good fun walk down there trails. I did notice, there are tons of giant holes in waterville like people fall inside holes, it was very strange to me, but i assume before Ski season opens someone will fix/fill them. Waterville is not steep/ challenging or hard, but it is a pain on the knees, you have to keep yourself from running or moving forward to fast.

What no snow during the summer..bah.

May 31st

Tough Mudder - A year in the works, I had everyone I love from CT with me for my first go on Mount Snow. I have hiked Mount Snow before several times, and the miles, I was not worried about what so ever. To me this was a 10 mile hike with family, and some mini events thrown in the mix. The weather was a touch on the cold, and grey skies at some points. Our 9:30 start time ended up at 10:20 due the massive amount of people running on saturday. I can't exactly remember the order of each obstacle, I know the ones that as a non swimmer were going to bother me were the Arctic Enema and Walk the Plank.  Both in this weather were brutal to me, but neither would make me feel I could not do it. Everyone i was with said the same simple thing, don't think just jump. And that's exactly what i did.

Holy Crap cold batman.

To be honest the only one I really felt I couldn't do was a simple climb a rope over a wall, it was mid way point, we had been waiting for 40 mins to get to the obstacle and in that cold I so lacked the upper body strenght and the desire to mark a trail over climb a wall was killing me ha. What I did enjoy about the entire event was the course went up down all around the mountain it was not one steady climb to the top, in fact it never reached the summit. The weather made the mountain extra muddy, over knee deep. It seriously was like walking in sludge, but super fun.

Keep on trucking.

Honestly this one was of the greatest experiences to date, and I plan on doing the one in Maine at the end of August as well. It pushes you to, dig deep, focus on each step, and climb over everything they throw in your way.With my family by myside out there, there was not even one hint of this is to tough, I will say after all was said and done, we got back to the hotel we all were staying at, I took a hot shower, and boom out like a light. Demanding on the body, and dehydration beat me, but I totally beat tough mudder, and will do so again. But this is what a year in the works, the legs were fine, the spirit was high, and I know i need to work on my upper body strenght.

Burns,Myk,Ian,Me,Bryan,Jessy,Tarik.

 

And the best tough mudder team out there to date..Looking forward to Mount Snow again next year, and Maine in a few months.
Keep on walking folks.

Mount Bear 5-24 (Tough Mudder warm up)

Forecast was for rain, but we all decided to go ahead on the 10 mile loop. We decided in advance to go at at slow pace, just for a warm up. The weather was perfect at start, not to hot not to cold. We advanced up the base to the AT trail that would lead direct to Bear Mountain peak. Everyone was in great spirits, and we all shared alot of laughs.

Here we go..

The majority of the trail was green from the last time i was here, alot of new cool plants and trees had sprung up. We saw lots of wildlife today, turkey vultures, deer, woodpeckers, froggies, even a Bear. Plus the Eye of Sauron, you think I kid, never says Doot. This trail had it all today.

Eye of Sauron Tree. 

Overall, we made 10 miles, in about 5 hours including a good long lunch break, lots of pictures, and my favorite staring over the peak. Sage's right now is pretty amazing, the water running from the long winter, has made the water falls flood from the sides, it's really pretty. Now is the time to get out there and about. Take good friends, lots of water the climate changes all various levels, at one point it was cold, then super muggy, I didn't really feel any heat till about the last mile, then it decided to rain. Pretty fun and cool down at the same time.

Sage's water falls.

Finally what everyone has been waiting for a picture of the peak, not alot of words today, I'm exhausted still after yesterday's hike. It was with great friends and good weather, next week Tough Mudder at Mount Snow. Now that will be a story to tell.....

And goodbye from Bear Peak.

Until next adventure..

Sleeping giant 4/27

A little north of New Haven CT, is this little gem of a hill. It's not overly challenging but there are several loop trails that are up to 10 miles. Sunday morning myself and my friend Susan, took the easier route, since it was her first time hiking in years. Still a good 3.5 mile walk around the tower trail was nice. We took the red trail back which is a little more rocky still you could see signs of spring, and the rainfall from the night before. I really enjoy sleeping giant because when I'm up in CT, its always there and a fast drive from where most of my friends live. It's one of those, I can't get out to NH or VT, but i still can hike. Normally this time of year, you have all the college kids out there training jogging the tower trail but we got out early.

Sleeping Giant Head rock 

The tower trail doesn't have a giant incline but it does have some really nice views you pass what consists of the quarry and the "giant's" head. The rest of the giant takes up there entire hill area, and on these trails you pass the arm section as well. What was nice about this walk, was the rain was coming through the rocks from the night before. Several small streams formed flowing down the hill side. As you all know, running water is one of my favorite things to taker pictures of.

This picture doesn't give it justice, but this was steady water.

Once you get up to the tower, you get a nice view of all the surrounding area, the sun was breaking through the clouds today, so we got a good view. Mostly it was just nice to be out, and about with friends. We talked the entire time, mostly planned on how to get Susan's husband Glen out on the trails, he's one of my great friends. One of these days, for now enjoy this view from the top. And keep on walking.

You can see the end of the storm, i love this tower.

Pico Mountain (About a month ago)

A delay in writing, had massive writers block lately.But today back to bussiness. Pico Mountain, VT.
First off, I stayed at Salt Ash Inn, in Plymouth Vt, If you plan on spending time in VT for a week or even a weekend, stop spending a million dollars at all those crazy ass hotels, Salt Ash Inn is owned by one person, his prices are amazing, and to be honest, He's a snowboarder himself. Someone who supports the outdoors, this is the second time I've spent a weekend here and well Al's one of the coolest people around. Stay at the Salt Ash, trust me, you will not regret it.

Tell Al, Derek sent you.

Pico Mountain, this weekend was very icy, and I mean giant chunks of Ice sitting right in the middle of trails. Discouraging, not one big, rocking it out. Damn right. I met up with Ian, Michelle and one of Michelle's friends Nicole. Bill and Gina we met up with later on, who are teleskiers and pretty bad ass themselves. But let's get to the trails, Pico is not a giant mountain but it has alot of fun trails. I started off on there Blue's but found myself wanting more, some of the Blue's there are steep but nothing really crazy, just lots of ice for power slides. I wanted to try Glades there, Ian was kind enough to try to teach me, and while I made it through every trail as best I could, there was much to learn. I am not fast enough (Just right at this time I'll get there) for fast turns between ruts and trees, it was a step above me, did i try it damn right I did. I learned alot, and having someone who well is a good teacher, I didn't feel bad at any falls. Its something I will need to work on as much as I can. On the top, I want to say far right there is a Black and A double black named A Slope, My first attempt on the single black I feel I did ok, I made it down, granted slow, even with a tree across the trail. The single leads into the double after its giant cliffs. Made me feel great. So I said I wanted to try the double black, I fell, and when I mean I fell, it hurt, pride and ego aside, I felt I could do it. It gives me again something to work to. I took a good one trapped a ski into my pants had to have Ian come untangle me, I was embarrassed. I thought I could handle it but I would do it again in a heart beat. Even though this trail defeated me at the top, I managed to make it down it, slowly but surely following my friends turns. By no means fast, think turtle, but I got down it. And they made sure I looked back and said "You just went down a double black after two seasons, you should feel damn good about yourself" I did, and I will remember Slope A, you are my arch enemy, I will come back, I will defeat you. Because I believe I can.

Comrades in arms.

With Ski seasons pretty much over, I'll be back on the trails, hiking more often, thanks to having weekends off. Intrested in walking with Doot, feel free to contact me.

Future.

There is alot more in store folks, Tough Mudder in may, Seak the Peak in July (Help support me, visit SeakThePeak.org support a hiker Derek Bell) and the rest of the 48 peaks of NH. Hopefully Flags in sept, and so many more adventures, thank you for sticking around to read and feel free to add any constructive advice.
Doot
aka
Derek Bell.
There are still so many trails to walk..