Every year I accompany my friends Helen and Melissa up north to hike the AT (we figured out they started hiking together eight years ago, and I horned in three years after that). We all bring something special to the table (we like to think we do, anyway) but mostly, we create a fabulous mix of funny. I woke myself up laughing this morning thinking about our capers and I was home in my comfy bed.
The hikes are sometimes grueling — but then you get to a hut and there sits a 4-year-old swinging his feet and you think “Did that child just helicopter in?” New Hampshire is rocky, and there is a point of each day when I ask myself, “Why do I do this?” And then someone will do or say something that still, at almost-50, I find funny, and I have to stop climbing rocks to laugh.
So I believe that I hike with my friends for the giggles.
I love these women. I love these hikes. I will write more later — on this and other hot topics of the day — but let me go on record saying that unlike Gov. Mark Sanford, whose office said he was off hiking the AT when he was actually off breaking a Commandment with a girlfriend: In our stretch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, we slept in huts on bunk beds sandwiched among with other smelly, farting campers. No sex was had.
Welcome back! It looks like you had fun. And a better homecoming than Sanford I’ll wager.
Everything looks so green in those hills. (What IS that you’re standing in?)
Next to Gunsight Pass in Glacier Park, (which I’m too old to attempt now,) The Red Rock Lakes near Yellowstone is my favorite starting off point. Mostly because you can drive (4X4) to the lower lakes and there’s a small resort with cabins, a bar and cafe, as well as campgrounds. Very few tourists make the trip. The wildlife is amazing.
If you remember the old TV show “The Big Valley.” it was rumored that opening shot was of the Centennial Valley, but I’ve never seen any confirmation.
http://www.goldwest.visitmt.com/listings/514.htm
http://www.forwolves.org/ralph/wpages/cenntenn.htm
If you come out this way, it’s worth the stop. You can escape the crowds of tourists and the day hikes can be amazing. Just leave the Moose alone, (They’re mean.) And don’t disturb the swans.
And hey….I know you’re church folk and all, but….no sex? Sounds Extreme to me.
I love hiking, west or east. And maybe I will come out that way and you’ll have to put me up and feed my hiker’s breakfasts and stuff. Could get expensive. And it was extreme, but to be honest? I’ve never understood people who would have sex with a stinking, smelly hiker. Personally, I found myself pretty foul after a day or so.
It’s a deal. If you can find me.
My tracking abilities are freaky-good.
O.K., that’s a lie, but it’s one I’m going to tell everyone I see today.
Welcome back. I’m glad you had the chance to get away and that Argentina was not involved.
I never stepped foot (or anything else) into Argentina.
I always pick up the hiker at the trail head and take him to a shower first. :-)
HAHAHAHA and ha. I needed somethign more like a blow torch, but yes on the shower!!!! We had one thru-hiker ask us to come along with him to Maine but we figured there was one of us in particular he wanted to accompany him and once again, it wasn’t me.
I love that you bolded “No sex was had.” So much for the hot lesbian trail action.
So much for that. If that was going on, it wasn’t in my hut.
I’m sorry.
I appreciate that. Given where we all fall on the Kinsey scale, the lack of hot lesbian sex was really O.K. with all of us.
That looks beautiful and I’m glad you had such a great time. Did any of the thunderstorms reach you? Lots of branches and trees came down around here late last week. Some trees were even uprooted! So, are you saying that there aren’t any showers along the trail? How many days were you on it? Did you see any wild animals (besides other hikers)? It all sounds great!
It was really wonderful. We got rained on a little, but we had none of the storms that hit CT. Friday was hot and muggy, Saturday was cloudy and rainy, Sunday we got rained on a little bit, and then we drove home. I cannot recommend disappearing into the wilderness with your buddies highly enough. It was great.