The trip started, as usual, with a stop at Flatbread Pizza. Well in fact it started with a mad scramble to find a campsite, due to National Forest rules about reservations. But as soon as I had my site staked and had grabbed provisions, I stopped for pizza. There I saw a cool swap box for soccer cleats. Seems like something we could start here...
My travails in finding a campsite actually worked out doubly in my favour. Leafing through my White Mountains guide, I had settled on two day hikes for this trip, based on them being more strenuous. One was 5 miles, the Carter Ledge. The other, an exposed ridge, was 9 miles.
As it turned out, my campground, which I had chosen not for proximity to one of the hikes, but because it was where I had stayed last time, was full. That forced me to camp elsewhere, which happened to be at the base of one of the two chosen hikes. Score. I'll get to the second good thing in a second.
This thing looks like it's a cross between Lord of the Rings and the Muppets
The path I took had "perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same"
This is the view from the ledge. I thought it was nice the way the clouds shaded that peak in the foreground. I guess that would be foreshadowing. (hint: it IS!)
This was just too perfect. Seems like it should be an inspirational poster. The other day on Reddit someone noted, "my successful friends never send out inspirational quotes."
Not cool. My hiking boots are officially not that comfortable anymore. No John, don't worry. These are not my Hanwags (I actually managed to kill my Hanwags in university when they were the only footwear I had.) These are Zamberlans and they seem to have stiffened or maybe shrunk, or maybe my feet have just never stopped growing... Anyway, after 4 miles I ditched the hikers for Birkenstocks, with socks. Road less travelled, no one will ever know.
So it was about 5 minutes after this photo that the thunderclaps started. I was glad that I had chosen the 5 mile loop, because I still had a mile to run downhill in my stupid sandals, but I managed to make it back to the car with no major injuries and before getting soaked. The joys of car camping. Drove into town, stopped at a few thrift shops on the way, grabbed a beer, hung out... Don't think a raindrop hit me.
