We saw some amazing sites and heard some intriging sounds that are worth acknowledging. We certainly didnt see the vast amount of giant bears, wild bores and snakes that some of the people we met indicated they did (or at least they did in their own minds) but here are a few of our experiences:
Between MacGyver, Fern and I we saw 2 bears. A mother and her cub. Here is the back story on that. Fern was in the lead with MacGyver close behind...and of course me as usual several yards behind. Suddenly Fern startled the mother and she took off to the left. Then all of a sudden the cub bolted to the right into a tree. As i approached Fern and MacGyver not knowing what happened, MacGyver yell, "Survivor! get your camera ready because there is a bear cub in a tree to your right about 30 feet...and the mother is somewhere out there also". Well now I am thinking, I am/could be between the mother bear and the cub....and we all know what that could mean. So as I was walking quickly, I snapped this photo. And trust me, it really is a bear cub.
Saw this snake as we were climbing on a rock to take pics.
Had this rabbit buzz by us within 1 foot as we had stopped to look at the map. Didnt seem too scared of us.
A bit out of focus but this is a squirrel I promised to bring home. Couldn't catch him though!
Maybe a better shot of our friend the squirrel.
Saw lots of these critters in different colors.
A colony of Charlottes Webs.
No pictures but we did see several turkeys. In fact one actually hiked with us for a hunderd yards or so. Very strange as he was just real casual about it and was only about 20 feet away. Saw and heard a few owls and we think an eagle or 2....and numerous "droppings" from bears, coyotes, dogs, etc.
As far as sounds, we do believe we heard a wild bore one day. Never saw it but it was not any sound we had heard before and was close to the signs we saw warning of them. And of course we heard many sounds at night, particularly in the shelters. Mostly mice running back and forth in the rafters, rummaging thru our backpacks...and then a few running across our sleeping bags. And of course we were convinced we heard Sasquatch a few times...and Bears near those shelters that we were warned not to stay at.
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Great views from the top of South Twin Mtn!
Okay....starting on June 21st we decided to do a bit of "Platinum Blazing" at the AMC Huts. It was not the plan at all in the beginning for various reasons.....but the bad weather we are experiencing and lack of camp sites in the Whites; it made a lot of sense :)
Stayed at the AMC Highland Center June 21st and it was quite a place......and we celebrated MacGyver's Birthday!
On day 11, on the way to "Lake Of The Cloud" Hut, we had some good views around, of, and on top such mountains as Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin.....and a pile of snow!
Day 12, June 23rd's highlight was summitting Mt. Washington. Its legendary for having very unpredictable, sometime dangerous weather but we hit it on perfect day...and definitely perfect compared to what we have already been thru in New Hampshire!
From the summit of Mt. Washington to the Madison Hut (where we stayed tonight) was only another 6 miles but the rock scrambles down were brutal...but the Hut they had Veggie Pot Pie for dinner!
Day 13, June 24 we hiked up, over and down Mt. Madison! Pics to follow shortly but let me just say that this was one of the toughest descents so far. Jagged black rock proved very difficult! Made it to Gorham for the night...thinking about the pending "Wildcats" ahead!
Day 14, June 25 we did the Wildcats. That first day wasn't too bad but that did change! This is MacGyver and I enjoying our first summit......forgot to mention that the Wildcats had 4 summits! But also, some good views
Stayed at Craford Notch Hut after the Wildcats for a much needed, inside a building, rest! Also met NOBO Thru Hiker "Big T" from Mississippi.
Well....the weather had been generally bad the whole hike; but things got much worse the next days (June 26 and 27).....dangerously worse
This is not a picture that we took (because we were too busy trying to stay alive!) but almost like one of the crossings we made (but ours was in deeper rapids). We crossed a flooded Rattle River several times with one crossing getting worse than the other. Made us pause a bit.......
June 27th we slipped and limped, soaking wet to U.S. 2 in Gorham and stayed at the Barn Hostel managed and owned by Paul. But about 2 miles or so before we reached U.S. 2 we passed by the Rattle River Shelter....and it looked like this....
Of course, our initial reaction, cold and tired, was "What Kind of Long-Distance Hiker" would violate so many unwritten rules of hiking etiquette!!!
Then we found out that those staying in the shelter (for multiple days at a time) were AMC trail volunteers and State Park staff helping out to shore up the trail as best they could during the unprecedented flooding that was going on.
MY TOTAL APOLOGIZE for jumping to conclusions without know the facts. Thank you for what you do!!
Okay...coming back to The Barn Hostel.....MacGyver and I fell in love with it at first glance! Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, this Hippy vibe that we saw and felt, made us feel right at home :). In fact, I think I stayed at a place like this when I hitchhiked to Southern California in 1972! :)
Best laid plans??