Last Saturday, my family participated in Mt. Washington Observatory's annual fundraising hike,
Seek the Peak. Many thanks to all who supported us! The total amount raised by all Seek the Peak 2012 hikers was over $251,000!!
Months ago, the girls decided they were going to do this hike in costume. Alex therefore dressed as a girl pirate and Sage dressed as a boy pirate. Sage's costume originally included a mustache and a different bandanna, but the mustache irritated her skin and the bandanna wouldn't stay on. She gave up trying to fix everything early in the hike and decided to go as a boy-pirate-who-recently-shaved-and-lost-his-headgear. That worked for us; we continued onward.
We began our hike at 6am. Chris, a hiker friend, had agreed to give Hugh a ride down from the summit. The girls and I planned to hike down and meet Hugh at Seek the Peak's after-party around 4pm. This meant we couldn't dally on the way up, since I wasn't sure how long it would take for the girls and I to get down.
Here we are, at the start of the hike. This, by the way, marked Hugh's first attempt to hike to the summit of Washington since his accident in 1982.
Tuckerman Ravine Trail was its usual rocky self...
We reached the intersection with Lion Head Trail about an hour after leaving Pinkham Notch.
A bold chipmunk begged for handouts while we ate a quick snack.
The girls mugged for the camera before we tackled the steeps.
Up we go...
View toward Boott Spur...
Ladder!
Ledges and rock scrambles -- good stuff! This is the kind of terrain we love. Thumbs up for Lion Head Trail.
We reached treeline...
There's the tip of Huntington Ravine's headwall...
...and the rock formation known as Lion Head.
Steps to Lion Head...
Alex takes a break on a boulder...
Sage joins her...
Up and over Lion Head...
Tuckerman Ravine...
The path before us...
Alex, Hugh, and Sage with the tip of Huntington Ravine's headwall in the background.
Heading up Mt. Washington's summit cone...
Looking back toward Tuckerman's and Boott Spur...
Looking south...
Almost there!
We crossed the Auto Road and climbed the steps (which always feel so torturous after coming off the trail!)...
The official summit...
Hugh approaches...
Sage, Hugh, and Alex on the summit of Mt. Washington. This was the first time Hugh had hiked from the valley to the summit.
View from the deck of the Observatory, looking toward Ball Crag and the northern Presidentials.
The Observatory allowed folks in for a tour -- this only happens during Seek the Peak. We went inside and the best thing of the entire day happened. A man -- I won't identify him by name since I haven't asked his permission -- came up to Hugh and said, "Welcome back." This man was in a position of authority at the time of Hugh's accident in 1982. His smile was genuine and his expression was warm.
I could say more about Hugh's accident...but I won't. I've been asked many times to put my opinion and my perspective in writing, but, honestly, that's not my place. I did not know Hugh in 1982. Alex and Sage had nothing to do with what happened. That part of Hugh's life belongs to Hugh, and to the climbers that knew him then and who continue to know him now. Therefore, out of respect for him and the entire situation, I will never publicly comment on Hugh's accident beyond what's written in
Up.
As part of the tour, we were allowed to climb the tower. Here's the deck from the top of the tower...
The summit from the top of the tower...
The girls on the tower of the Observatory...
Time was marching on...the girls and I began to worry that we wouldn't make it down the mountain in time for the party. Luckily for us, Kevin, a hiker friend, volunteered to help us out. Hugh would ride down with Chris, and the girls and I would ride down with Kevin and his wife, Judy. Chris' car was at the summit and Kevin's was a mile or so down the mountain. The girls and I left Hugh with Chris and hiked down Nelson Crag Trail with Kevin and his wife, Judy, until we reached the parking area near the old cow pasture.
We crossed the cog tracks...
Looking back at the Adams Summit Building from Nelson Crag Trail...
Down...
The parking area about a mile down from the summit...
We made it down in plenty of time for the after-party -- thank you, Chris, Kevin, Judy, and Emma!
The girls and I will definitely do Seek the Peak again next year (maybe Hugh will too). Good cause, good hiking, good food, good times.
