(no subject)
Time for a happy post!
In keeping with a noww pretty long-standing tradition, I hiked in New Hampshire today. I forget exactly when, but around 2002 or 2003 I started making an annual 4th of July hiking trip with my parents in the White Mountains. Now, anyone who lives in the New England area knows what crap weather we've been having and in the mountains, today wasn't much of an exception.
I started my hike at 9am and it was gray and cloudy, but I was determined. As I began my ascent I was occaisionally warmed (physically and emotionally) by some sun making it through the clouds. As I approached my first summit, I actually saw some views of the surrounding wilderness, but already the clouds were rolling in, rather rapidly in fact. I didn't stay at my first summit long and continued to summit #2. During the trip it started raining and rained for a good portion of my walk between the two (a distance of 1.4 mis.) However, as I got to the second summit, it had stopped raining and the sun was again trying to shine, but succeeding only slightly. It was brighter, sure, but you couldn't really see the sun. Furthermore, the (what would have been gorgeous) view points showed nothing but gray. Literally. Imagine looking at a break through some trees and it just being whitish-grey. That's how it was. Still, I was having a good time. There were all these other hikers around. All of us were getting wet, but all of us, somehow or other, were happy. We were glad just to be there.
As I made my way to the second summit the weather toyed with me. It drizzled, it got lighter. I wasn't sure whether I would end up going up it or not. I was also running a little late, making me think perhaps it would be better to leave it be. Additionally, during the late morning/early afternoon, I was quite certain I had been hearing "thumpers." These are what they sound like, thumps that come from the sky and are apparently indicators of a brewing thunderstorm. I braved it though, esp. after seeing some fellow hikers head up. As I took a picture of myself at the summit, I heard a rumble and knew it was time to make a hasty escape.
I encountered many other hikers even as I descended in the rain. They were heading up, hoping to beat any thunderstorms and see the summit. And they were doing this in the rain. We were all so happy, even with the rain. (I'll admit, the thunder worried me, because it was definitely getting louder. Thankfully, I had descend quite a bit and was pretty much fine, but you never know.)
In other words, despite suboptimal viewing and hiking conditions, I came away nearly ecstatic, merely because I got to be in my wilderness for about 5 hrs. Not even the rain dampened my spirit.
In keeping with a noww pretty long-standing tradition, I hiked in New Hampshire today. I forget exactly when, but around 2002 or 2003 I started making an annual 4th of July hiking trip with my parents in the White Mountains. Now, anyone who lives in the New England area knows what crap weather we've been having and in the mountains, today wasn't much of an exception.
I started my hike at 9am and it was gray and cloudy, but I was determined. As I began my ascent I was occaisionally warmed (physically and emotionally) by some sun making it through the clouds. As I approached my first summit, I actually saw some views of the surrounding wilderness, but already the clouds were rolling in, rather rapidly in fact. I didn't stay at my first summit long and continued to summit #2. During the trip it started raining and rained for a good portion of my walk between the two (a distance of 1.4 mis.) However, as I got to the second summit, it had stopped raining and the sun was again trying to shine, but succeeding only slightly. It was brighter, sure, but you couldn't really see the sun. Furthermore, the (what would have been gorgeous) view points showed nothing but gray. Literally. Imagine looking at a break through some trees and it just being whitish-grey. That's how it was. Still, I was having a good time. There were all these other hikers around. All of us were getting wet, but all of us, somehow or other, were happy. We were glad just to be there.
As I made my way to the second summit the weather toyed with me. It drizzled, it got lighter. I wasn't sure whether I would end up going up it or not. I was also running a little late, making me think perhaps it would be better to leave it be. Additionally, during the late morning/early afternoon, I was quite certain I had been hearing "thumpers." These are what they sound like, thumps that come from the sky and are apparently indicators of a brewing thunderstorm. I braved it though, esp. after seeing some fellow hikers head up. As I took a picture of myself at the summit, I heard a rumble and knew it was time to make a hasty escape.
I encountered many other hikers even as I descended in the rain. They were heading up, hoping to beat any thunderstorms and see the summit. And they were doing this in the rain. We were all so happy, even with the rain. (I'll admit, the thunder worried me, because it was definitely getting louder. Thankfully, I had descend quite a bit and was pretty much fine, but you never know.)
In other words, despite suboptimal viewing and hiking conditions, I came away nearly ecstatic, merely because I got to be in my wilderness for about 5 hrs. Not even the rain dampened my spirit.