a trail to self discovery...

"Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing the lawn. So go climb that god damn mountain!"     It's a holiday weekend in a tourist town. That means, I don't want the weekend off. Or that I get the weekend off. It means, I would rather be working and not have to deal with pushing my way through crowds, or hike trails with hundreds of tourists who are in flip flops, with barely any food or water. My long day ended on Sunday at 5:00pm. I got out of work and needed to unwind a bit.   I had plans to get out and hike something short and with great pay-offs. But first, I had to go do my laundry. I started my laundry and then decided to hit the Kancamagus Highway for a short trail. As I looked at the map I noticed one of the shorter hikes besides Boulder Loop. It was Hedgehog Mountain.   I got to the trailhead around 6:00pm and hit the trail for a loop just under 5 miles long. In hopes of getting back to

"Conquer the trail, test your limits, share your experiences, & don't let the opportunity to embrace nature's beauty pass by." I failed to make it out for a hike on Wednesday due to lack of time, and the winds and temps were not to my liking for anything above 4,000ft. I did however attempt riding my bike into town, about 12 miles. Not realizing how windy it was down here in the valley, I got on my bike started riding and within the first mile turned my ass around. Yup, I gave up on that idea and called it a day. Picnic Lunch @ Rocky Gorge Sometimes, it's my gut just telling me don't do it, or stay back, or just go home. Wednesday was one of those kind of days. I just simply was not on my game. So, I was in hopes I could make up for it on Thursday! Today is Thursday, and I think I surely made up for it. I spent my morning, kind of feeling lazy, with no motivation at all. Finally, I got myself moving and packed up a lunch and got in th

The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other.. again and again and again. And if you allow yourself opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty in every step of the way, not just at the summit. This was a last minute kind of plan. I was looking for something other than a 4000 footer, but I wanted a similar workout with great pay offs. I had been recovering from allergies which gave me an awful cough that kept me up all night for 4 nights straight. A later start in my eyes, we hit the trail by 9:00am. I met Whitney at the East Royce Trail Head Parking lot, jumped into her car and we headed back towards the Laughing Lion Trail. When I got dressed I put on shorts that morning, but mentally I knew I was crazy and it was going to be cold, raw, wet, and muddy. So I packed a pair of light weight hiking pants just in case . When I got into her car the temperature outside read 44 degrees. We hit the trail ready to get m

"OH, these vast, calm, measureless mountain days, inciting at once to work and rest!" Plan was to meet at Appalacia at 7:00am. Be prepared for some spring-like conditions and possible postholing mess, with a few curse words being thrown around heading up to the Hut. 6:30am came around and Trish, Alex, Sage, and John we already at the trail head parking lot as I pulled in. We were all early, per usual it seems like. Gave us time to get out stuff situated into our packs and get ready for a beautiful day that lie ahead of all of us. On trail following Valley Way up we past several junctions. First sign you see as you hit the trail is   "ATTENTION: Try this trail ONLY if you are in top physical condition, well clothed and carrying extra clothing and food. Many have died above timberline from exposure. Turn back at the first sign of bad weather." Finally, coming to the Watson Path junction we had a quick discussion on taking that trail for the r