Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Clearing my mind and getting my feet wet.

Pardon me for being so late in my post. I will do my best to express the feeling from this weekend.
The first thing I do remember is thinking-Damn, I need to get away. I was just overwhelmed and needed a break. Nana agreed to dog sit and the kids were with Dad. The hostel I usually like to stay at was closed for Mud Season but I was able to find another on the northern side of the Whites.
Get me the F out! This top photo was the highway view that started to melt the stress.
I had printed out a few routes. I wasn't sure what to expect on the trail and figured I could do plan b or c or d if needed.
About at the NH boarder I realized I didn't have my big messy pile of maps. It was laid out on the kitchen counter. Trail maps and the printed maps of the actual route from the White Mtn online guide. Those are neat because they describe what to expect or look for on the route like trail conditions, markers or views. It includes miles and estimated times. Luckily I could stop at the National Forest office and buy a replacement but it wasn't the same.
I get a little tunnel visioned when I make a decision and Cannon Mt was the goal. I stopped at a Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln and changed into my hiking clothes and boots and headed to the trailhead. I wasn't sure which route to take and was worried about a route that would be too steep and/or icy but the weather was actually gorgeous and confusing. There was snow on the ground in places but the temperature was about 72 degrees as I walked under the highway and into the Lafayette Campground to get to the Lonesome Lake trail.
(Post continued 4/2018)
I believe I left about 12:30 after driving up from the Cape. After a few more trips like this I have found that this isn't my thing. I seem to have a crappy hike if I drive up the same day. This would be one of the first examples of this.

This friends is a monorail but not the fun Disney kind. Bizarre to be up like 12-18 inches above the ground but the trail was only wide enough for this track so balance beam you go. 

I made it to Lonesome lake. I can hear screaming and there are people all over the place. Groups of teenagers had stayed the night at the Hut and were tromping around the trails that surround the Lake.
I continue my trek attempting to make the Summit of Cannon and back down as the day is running out. You can barely make it out in the above photo but that is a plank. I have never hiked in this area so I am unfamiliar with the planks on this trail.
So when you mis-step off the snow and plank you are now up to your knee in water. The mud is sucking my boot in and I fall to the snow bank trying to pull it out. Next the 2nd foot is in the water as the snow collapses there as well.
So here I sit. Thinking.
My feet are wet, my boots are soaked. It is warm out but I am worried about safety as I still have a little ways to hike and then back down.
So I call it a day.
I get myself back to a large log to clean up and I think about how there is probably a more "hiker way" but I don't know it so I improvise. I peel off my socks and put on dry ones, then I take 2 grocery bags out of my pack that I carry for trash or other things and I put them on my feet and put my soaked boots back on.
I feel stupid but I am worried I will get blisters from the wet boots.
God, let a "real hiker" not see me do this.

Damn you Cannon.
Drying out my boots because there are more miles to do tomorrow.

No comments:

Race Results

09/07/07 Main Street Mile 11:44
05/18/08 YPD 5k 52:57 17:05
06/14/08 Walpole Village 5K 35:27 11:26
06/21/08 Mashpee Fun Run 34:21 11:05
07/19/08 Mashpee Woodlands 36.49 11:52
08/10/08 Falmouth Road Race 1:29:31
08/25/08 Women Running Wild 35:40 11:30
10/25/08 Mashpee Firefighters 37:47 12:10
05/02/09 Cape Abilities 5K 34:59 11:17
05/17/09 YPD 5K 36:41 11:50
08/09/09 Falmouth Road Race 7mi 1:37
10/31/09 Mashpee Firefighters 5K 37:15 12:00
09/11/11 Main Street Mile 12:31
10/29/11 Screech to the Beach 5K 39.13 12:20
08/12/12 Falmouth Road Race 1:34:24 13:29
05/18/14 YPD 5k 44.25 14:17
06/1/14 June Jog 4mi 1:04 16:00
08/17/14 Falmouth Road Race 1:42:04 14:35
09/27/14 Girly Girl 5K 37:24 12:02
10/26/14 Pell Bridge Run 4mi 48:41 12:10
11/27/14 Turkey Trot in VA 5K 35:22 11:23
12/06/14 Jingle Jog 5K 34:42 11:11
03/29/15 Thomas Guinta Memorial 5K 34:14 11:03
04/19/15 St. Margaret's 5K 31:11 10:21
05/17/15 YPD Blues 5K 34:58 11:17
06/07/15 Newport 10 Miler 1:56:09 11:36
06/20/15 Mackenzie's 5K 33:55 10:54
08/17/14 Falmouth Road Race 1:33:51 13:24
10/31/15 Screech at the Beach 36:19 11:40
5/20/18 YPD Run to Remember 37.37 12:08
9/19/18 Falmouth Road Race 1:35:06 13:35