Remembering 9/11 on Moriah

History of the Flags on the 48:

 

The 'Flags on the 48' began as act of remembrance and a demonstration of patriotism in response to the horrific terrorist attacks that took place in the United States on September 11, 2001.

On September 15, 2001, three days after the attacks, six hikers met at the White House Trailhead packing a 96 square foot American flag, 30 feet of PVC tubing, 100 feet of rope and 2 rolls of duct tape. These hikers felt compelled to do something to express their grief for the tremendous and devastating loss of lives. In a small demonstration of their helplessness and compassion in the wake of incomprehensible violence, these six hikers ascended with heavy hearts to raise the American flag from the summit of Mount Liberty. This was their personal tribute to the thousands of men, women and children who perished in the attacks. Their patriotic and sympathetic display received such remarkable amounts of positive feedback and support that a committee was formed to establish an annual memorial. The flags on the 48 Memorial Hike was officially brought to life....

 

We in the hiking community continue to honor the deceased with a tribute: flying the American flag atop all 48 four-thousand foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire on the weekend closest to September 11 each year. By demonstrating our steadfast unity in this challenging endeavor, we also hope to express our unwavering support to the families, friends and communities whose losses are beyond comprehension and whose suffering we remember in our hearts.

 

Retrieved from: http://www.flagsonthe48.org/

 

 

I first heard of the "Flags on the 48" a few weeks ago through the 4,000 Footer Facebook page.  What a great demonstration of patriotism and remembrance!  I was happy to be a tiny part of it today (as an observer) on Mt. Moriah.  

 

I got a later than usual start this morning because I slept in after a late night last night.   (Todd and I hiked up Pack Monadnock at midnight hoping to see the northern lights.  No luck!)  It was about 10:15 AM and very cool and cloudy when I arrived at the trailhead.  Rain was in the forecast for later in the day, but no thunderstorms were being predicted so I wasn't too concerned.    I had hoped to coordinate a car spot for this hike so I could take a different route down, but I was solo today so I chose the Stony Brook Trail out and back.

 



 

As is often the case in the Whites, the trail follows a stream for the first couple miles.  I am going to go out on a limb and guess this one is called Stony Brook :).  Whatever its name, it was a very lovely stream.   There were several small waterfalls, but I thought it was more the large, mossy slabs of rock that made this stream so pretty and unique.  I spent quite a bit of time exploring off trail.    

I had the brook to myself.  It was so pretty and serene, I could have stayed there all day! But, alas, I had a mountain to climb so I made my way back to the trail.

 

 

 

The first few miles of the trail were fairly easy, with only a few steeper sections.  At the 3.6  mile mark, I turned left at the Carter Moriah junction.  From this point forward, the terrain was steeper and rockier. 

 

And shortly afterwards I arrived at the first overlook.  I was happy to see the clouds were not the type that obliterate the views.

 

There were a lot of stone ledges further up.  The thought of potentially coming down them in the rain made me pick up the pace a little!

With about 3/4 mile to go, I caught my first glimpse of the summit in the distance.  I could even see the flag! 

But then the trail went back into the woods.  This was a very pretty section of trail...

 

I love these boardwalks.  Sometimes they seem so random. 

 

 

There was also a fun little scramble :).

 

 

When I crested the boulders (above), I saw the flag once again, much closer now.  As sappy as it sounds, I did choke up a little when I saw it. 

 

And here it is at the summit!  The flag crew did a great job!  It looks like a lot of work went into hauling everything up and assembling it!  I talked very briefly with the flag crew.  They seemed like a fun bunch of guys. 

It was quite windy and cold at the summit.  I wanted to get down the ledges before the rain moved in, so I didn't stay long.  I was glad I brought a few extra layers and a hat.  I usually don't keep the layers on when I am moving, but today I didn't take them off until I was about halfway down!

I couldn't resist taking a few more pictures of the views at the ledges on the way down!

This pretty combination of ground covers caught my eye...

The trip back down to the trailhead went by quickly.  I stopped to explore a bit more of the brook and found this cool section.  I love how the trees are growing right on top of the rock!

Thankfully the rain held off completely (until about 15 minutes after I got back to my car)! 

That made me one happy hiker! :)

Isolation Isn't Always a Bad Thing...

I'm talking about Mt. Isolation - the most remote 4,000 footer in the Whites!  It just sounds rather intimidating, doesn't it?  It didn't help that most of the reports I had read about this hike seemed to focus only on the fact that it is long and difficult, and the most common trail is often described as a miserable muddy mess.   Perhaps that is one reason Isolation ended up  as one of the last 10 peaks remaining on my NH-48 4,000 footer list.   Nah, who am I kidding?!   The truth is, I hadn't done it yet simply because I am a greedy peak bagger!   If I'm going to hike 12+ miles, I like to be able to check multiple peaks off my list.  But that list is dwindling.  With the exception of the Zealand and Bonds traverse (which I recently decided will be my grand finale), all I have left are the longer single peak hikes that cannot easily be combined with others.  So, Mt. Isolation was as good as any other for last Sunday's adventure.

 

My hiking partner for this trip was Mike, a massage therapist who has been coming to my office every month for the past few years to give chair massages to stressed and overworked employees.  Although I have been taking advantage of this wonderful benefit every month without fail for three years, I wouldn't say I really know him.  Our conversations usually go something like this:  (Mike) "What can I do for you today?"  (Me)  "Oh, just the usual...." (those knots in my traps and neck just won't go away!)  So...being an introvert, I was naturally a bit intimidated by the thought of trying to make real conversation with a near stranger for 8 hours, yet the practical opportunist in me also recognized a potential benefit - a massage therapist could come in really handy on a strenuous hike!!  Haha.  

 

After doing a bit of research, we finally settled on the Glen Boulder Trail out and back. At 12 miles round trip, Glen Boulder is the shortest route to the summit, but it is generally described as far more strenuous than all the other options because it involves over 5,300 feet of elevation gain for a mountain that barely meets the 4,000 foot requirement.  But everything I had read and heard promised that the extra effort would be worth it!  Plus, I never turn down an opportunity to work the glutes, and accumulate more floors on my Fitbit :)!  As it turns out, they were right - Glen Boulder offers up amazing views AND a kick ass workout! 

 

First up, we have the obligatory trailhead sign:

 

 

 

For the first couple miles, the trail was a lot like many trails in the Whites - a moderate but unrelenting climb up a wooded path with a nearby babbling brook. So pretty!

 



 

About 2 miles in, we emerged from the woods and got our first view.  I believe this is looking back to the general direction from which we came:

  

But the best part was still ahead!  Off in the distance we could see Glen Boulder - a large erratic boulder which presumably gives the trail its name.

For the next couple miles, the trail would ascend this gorgeous alpine ridge.  There was a lot of fun scrambling up boulders and ledges...

 

 

 

 

 

And then we finally came face to face with Glen Boulder itself.   I decided to throw in a few shoulder presses to make it a full body workout day ;).

 

 

With the more technical part of the climb behind us, we were able to enjoy the fabulous scenery all around us as we continued our steady climb up the ridge.

 

The thing I loved most about this trail was that it was a continual feast for the eyes with beauty on both a grand and macro scale.  There were 360 degree vistas of distant summits as far as you could see...

 

 

 

And the delicate beauty of the alpine growth at our feet...

 

Pictures really don't do it justice!

The scenery, and the day itself, was the perfect collision of two seasons.   The summer's last wildflowers and berries were giving way to golden grasses and bronzing foliage.   And the warmth of the sun alternated between feeling downright hot during the steep climbs and delightfully warm when gusty winds rushed in and threatened to knock me down.

 

Don't let the beautiful, cloudless blue sky fool you!  It was very windy up on that ridge! 

 

 

 

As we neared the top of the ridge, we came to the Davis Path junction where we would take a left and begin a steep and lengthy descent toward Mt. Isolation's summit.  While we stood there for a few minutes studying the sign, I couldn't help but notice that Mt. Washington was only 2.5 miles away in the opposite direction.  In two weeks, I will be climbing Sir George with a group of friends.  I immediately began to rehearse in my head how I might convince the others to take this (longer, less direct) route up Mt. Washington (instead of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail we had all agreed upon).  Then I reminded myself that I would have another opportunity to enjoy Glen Boulder later that day on the way out, so I was content to move on (but if any of my IC friends are reading this, Glen Boulder to Washington would make an awesome hike...just sayin'...) :).
  

I have to admit that Davis Path was a bit dull and plain compared to Glen Boulder.  As we descended, we left the alpine region behind and dipped back below treeline.  There were tiny windows here and there where we could catch a glimpse of the view beyond the trees, but for the most part, we just kept going deeper into the woods for about 3 miles.   There was nothing but trees, rocks and remote mountain wilderness trails.  I guess that's why this is called Mt. Isolation!

We arrived at Isolation's open summit right around noon.  It was the perfect location for lunch!   The views were fabulous all around.  Even Mt. Washington, which is often socked in, was clearly visible on this gorgeous, sunny day.

 

 

I even found my long-lost twin up on the summit (see her way off to the left?) :)

We spent about a half hour on the summit, leisurely eating our lunches and enjoying the views.   Then we packed up and headed back out the way we came.  I enjoyed Glen Boulder just as much on the way out as I had on the way in, even though it meant hiking up 1,500 feet when we were supposed to be descending!  Everything looked a little bit different in the afternoon light than it had in the morning light so it was almost like seeing it again for the first time. 

The descent was slow at times because some of the terrain was very rocky and rough. But we made good time.  Altogether (including picture and summit breaks), it took us 7 hours, 20 minutes to complete the hike.  Although my knees were glad to reach the bottom, this was one hike that I was sad to see come to an end.  It really was a perfect day on a perfect trail.  The experience had been exciting, serene, exhilarating and humbling all at the same time.  And, as always, hiking in the wilderness gives me a much needed break from the fast-pace of life in the "civilized world."   Isolation?  Yep, sometimes it's truly a wonderful thing!

The Moose and the Supermoon That Wasn't

I am now firmly convinced that there is a direct, negative correlation between the degree of preparation and eager anticipation for an event and the likelihood that it will actually happen as planned - especially when it involves something as fickle as the weather! 

 

It all started early last week when I heard on the morning news that the moon's closest encounter with the earth (this year) was to happen on August 10th.  It was not going to be just another full moon, but it was to be the closest and largest "supermoon" of the year.   I am a sucker for cool and dramatic displays of nature so as soon as I heard about it, an idea was born!  I have seen a few supermoons in my time, but they have always been an unexpected surprise  - and I am usually in the most mundane place imaginable when they occur (imagine a giant orange moon, perfectly framed by power lines, as it rises over a grocery store...yea, not what I'd call picturesque).   But now consider this:  simultaneously watching the sun set and the biggest supermoon of the year rise from the top of a mountain - what could be more epic than that?   Umm...Nothing!!!   The very thought left me giddy with child-like excitement.   But I knew there was one very important variable that could make or break my plans - the weather!  So I quickly hopped on the internet to check the higher summit forecast for the weekend - it was still a few days out, but it was looking good!  Woohoo!!

 

It wasn't difficult to pick the perfect mountain for this adventure.  Mt. Moosilauke (aka "the Moose") met all the criteria - it boasts 360 degree views from the summit; it's relatively short and easy (good since I'd be hiking down in the dark); it is the closest to home of all the 4,000 footers; and, most importantly, I hadn't climbed it yet!    The more challenging task was finding someone to go with me.  I normally don't mind hiking alone, but I had to admit that I was a little intimidated by the thought of a solo moonlight hike.  My husband was my first choice for a hiking companion (and not just because he's got mad photography skills), but unfortunately he had to work.  So I asked my trainer (nope), some hiking buddies (nada), and my niece and nephew (a last-minute date with busy teenagers on summer break?  Ha!).  As a last resort, I started telling everyone at work about my plans, hoping to lure someone in with the promise of an exciting adventure.  And it was there that I finally found a victim volunteer!  With all the details worked out, everything was coming together quite nicely - or so it seemed!  But now I'm getting ahead of myself...(rewind).

 

The day of the long anticipated adventure finally arrived.   That morning I got a last minute 5 minute tutorial from my husband about how to use his camera and tripod (no inferior camera phone for this adventure!) and by mid-afternoon I was off to pick up my hiking buddy.  The drive up was fun and went by quickly.  

 

 

We arrived at the trailhead right at 5 PM.  The moon was scheduled to rise at 7:35 PM, leaving us about 2.5 hours to climb the 3.7 miles to the summit.  Some of the neighboring peaks were in clouds, but sky over the Moose was clear and blue! 

 

Here we are looking fresh and happy at the trailhead: 

 

 

 

As implied by the name, Gorge Brook Trail follows along a river.  There were several foot bridges to assist with the multiple river crossings.

 

 

 

 

As we hiked deeper into the woods, we left the Baker River behind, but the trail continued to flirt with a pretty moss covered woodland stream for another mile or so.

 

The beauty of the trail was further enhanced by cool lighting from the late afternoon sun streaming through the trees.

Lots of birch trees lined the path...

About 2 miles in, we encountered our first viewpoint.  We were a little disappointed to see the sky was starting to cloud over, but there were still pockets of blue so we were still hopeful.

But it wasn't long before we started to hear some distant rumbles of thunder.  And storm clouds...

The thunder seemed to be getting closer, but the sky above our summit didn't look quite as menacing.  There were even hints of the sunset.  By this point we knew were not likely to see the moon rise, but we still wanted to reach the summit so we soldiered on...

And then it started to rain.   We continued on for a little while, but it was very slow going.   My co-worker, who had never hiked before, was in a lot of pain from brand new hiking shoes.  She kept insisting that we keep going, but she was wincing with every step.  I knew we needed to turn back.  The last half mile was along a totally exposed ridge.  It was already getting dark, the storm appeared to be getting closer, and my friend was in so much pain that I didn't think she'd be able to run for shelter if it came to that.  So, with the summit in view, we reluctantly and somberly turned around and headed back down the way we came. 

It rained steadily as we made our way back to the shelter of the deep woods.  The wet rocks were slippery, making the descent even more tedious.  At first we hiked down in silence, both of us lost in thoughts of disappointment.  Then we passed the time by telling stories, and talking about life, love and religion.  LOL.  After about 45 minutes, the rain stopped and the sky began to clear.  We even caught a glimpse of the moon through the trees.  Of course, it had already risen high in the sky by that point, so it just looked like a normal full moon. 

Despite my disappointment over how the day had gone, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful the wilderness is at night.  I thought I would be on edge hiking in the dark, seeing bears lurking behind every dark shadow, but I wasn't nervous at all (that's a good thing too - since it took over 3 hours to descend!)  We finally arrived back at the car right around midnight - tired, sore and still a bit disheartened that our adventure was such a dud.  But as I drove home, I realized that, for me, this summer is all about stepping outside my comfort zone.  I've always been a very cautious person, which usually means I tend to play it safe and don't often take risks.  I will probably always be more cautious than not, but I decided back in June that I was going to try new things and seek out adventures.  Sometimes things just don't turn out exactly as I hope they will.  The important thing is to not let the disappointment stop me from enjoying life to the fullest. 

So....I hear there will be another supermoon in September.  Who wants to do a moonrise hike with me?  :)

P.S.  Yesterday (August 16th) I returned to Mt. Moosilauke to take care of some unfinished business.  I had already hiked the Osceolas that morning and I didn't have a lot of time so I made quick work of it.  I reached the summit in 1.5 hours and jogged most of the way down for a total round trip time of 2:37.  The Moose and I might be 1 for 1, but at least I got the last word :).