Sunday, June 26, 2011

Pemi Wilderness: Galehead, Twins and Bonds 2 day Backpacking - June 25 - June 26, 2011 - #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14

Denise took the kids out to NY for a long weekend which I did not go on due to no vacation from work.  So I took the opportunity for a 2 day backpacking trip in the Pemi wilderness. 

2 days, 30 miles, 6 peaks: Galehead, S. Twin (twice), N Twin, West Bond, Bond, Bondcliff (and Guyot, but that is not an official 4k)

Will add more details later, but as the pictures show - very very foggy, and no views :(  But an awesome trip nonetheless.  Since I started hiking again all the trips I have been on have been relatively easy with none really pushing me so my goal on this one was to find a trip that would kick my but.  And I succeeded so say the least. And i'd do it again in a heartbeat.
















































Sunday, June 19, 2011

Osceola, East Osceola - June 19, 2011 - #7, #8

The plan for this Father's Day was to do the Morgan-Percival Loop which has some neat caves and chimneys to climb through which I thought Alex would like.  I showed him some photos I found online of them the night before and he was psyched.

Woke up in the morning and Ethan was NOT having a good day, so we decided that just Alex and I would go.  Then I made Pancakes instead of Waffles for breakfast so Alex decided to also have a meltdown.  And then I sat at the wrong chair at the breakfast table and then we really found out what one of Alex's meltdowns is like.

So I decided I'd go by myself!  With a chance to do some 4Ks and save Morgan-Percival for when Alex isn't freaking out I quickly decided to do an easy out and back to Osceola and East Osceola from the Tripoli Road.

Started out as a pretty easy hike, though the black flies were the worst I've seen!  WOW!

Weather was perfect and the views from the summit matched.  Hung out on the summit with a moderate crowd of people, snapped some photos and enjoyed lunch sitting over the several hundred feet high cliffs.

Trail down to East Osceola got interesting at one point as it descends through a short chimney, I took the "easier" route around, but took the chimney on the way back from East.  East, was one of those "spot hikes" - no view at the wooded summit, just a cairn.  Turned around and headed back - about 4.5 hours total at a nice easy but quick (for me) pace.