White mountains hike

 

This is FYI if not known already. White Mountains in New Hampshire state is a rugged mountain range with 48 peaks that are above 4000 feet. It is also on the path of the 2100 mile-long Appalachian Trail (AT) that runs from Maine to Georgia state.

The plan was to hike from Galehead trail head to AMC hut to Bondcliff mountain, a round trip of 24 miles in 2 days.

Got a last minute overnight booking in AMC Galehead hut (dinner, bunk bed and breakfast included). A remote, but comfy accommodation which is anything but a hut, that can only be reached after a 5 mile hike.

Here is my minimal backpack: camera, 3 lenses and a small tripod, headlamp, lightweight sandals, a set of clothes, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket, loads of energy and protein bars, one packet of plantain chips (could not take the Kerala out of me), 2 gallons/7.5 l of water. It weighed 25+ lbs/ 11 kgs.

Left home at 5am under clear skies. The trail head is about 2 hrs and 45 mins from my home. About 2 hrs into my drive the clouds gave away and it was a torrential downpour, had to slowdown.

Reached the Gale river trailhead at 8am. It was still raining, raincoat for me, rain cover for my backpack and off I go.

Hiking in the rain under the cover of trees, lush greenery, dripping leaves and staying dry under rain jacket, a great experience. Glad I did not turn back during the downpour. sturdy hiking boots with deep treads help.

I estimated my pace will be 1.5 miles/hr and should be at the hut by 11:30 am. I overestimated my fitness and weight carrying capacity, underestimated the elevation gain. Trudged along for over 4 hrs and reached the hut by 12:30 pm.

Galehead hut from Galehead mountain trail

After a quick $2 potato leek soup at the hut and 1 hr rest, continued hiking to South twin mountain, 2 miles round trip and a 4000 footer too. It was a strenuous hike and the elevation gain was rapid. It kicked my butt is an understatement, but the views from the summit were worth it.

Getting to Bondcliff was ruled out because of thunderstorms and the entire trail is above the tree line, rocky and completely exposed.

Rain coming down

Could see the rains coming from a distance, so beat a hasty retreat and hiked to Galehead mountain which is about 1.5 miles from the hut and could add another 4000 footer to my list.

One would think a solo hike would give a lot of time to think about life’s issues and problems and lots of introspection. But when the hike became strenuous the only thought in my mind was “one step after another” and how to surmount the boulder in front of me without slipping. It was like meditation all throughout, occasionally praying to Lord Hanuman to give me the strength.

Rugged trail

Came back to the hut, pasta, salad and cake dinner at 6 pm, light reading and then hit my bunk bed at 8:30 pm.

Woke up at 5 am and had a chance to chat with an Applachian Trail hiker, who is hiking all the way from Georgia to Maine, covering a distance of 2,100 miles with a 35 pounds pack. Here I am complaining about 25 lbs for an 8 mile hike. This guy was 65 years old too. Fit aur me, ab thak nahi.

Breakfast at 7 am, oatmeal, hash browns and cider. Stocked myself with granola and protein bars and set off on a hike to Garfield mountain through Garfiled Ridge trail. The previous day felt like a walk in the park, this one was scrambling on fours, climbing rocks. Parts of it were nearly vertical with water streaming between them because of the rains.

Here is a short video of the hike, me panting like a dog in the background

https://www.youtube.com/embed/V2D96LyA5vs

Reached Garfield mountain after about 3 hours. The views from the summit were awesome.

Garfield mountain summit

Was hiking along with a group of AT hikers and missed my trail and kept following theirs. It was all downhill and fun for 2.5 miles before I realized my mistake and had to hike uphill another 2.5 miles to correct my course. And a 5 mile hike back to the trail head where my car is.

After the first couple of miles of hike, it is all mental. One step after another and you will keep progressing.

Views from the trail

Shoulders were so sore that I had to pop a couple of ibuprofens just to handle my steering wheel. I came back humbled, tired, but wanting to go for more. Maybe hike up all the 48 , 4000+ peaks over the course of several years. I had done over 18 miles in 2 days, nothing impressive, but my personal best.

No one conquers a mountain. The mountain is standing tall even after you leave. The mountain accepts you or it does not. My thanks to Garfield, Galehead and South twin mountains for accepting me, for making my hike a mentally stimulating and physically challenging one, but allowing me to complete it all the same.

PS: Grainy pics are from my phone, good ones from DSLR.