The First Accent; Lil' Haystack (4,760')

Hey Everyone!

As I entered this year (2023), I was fueled with a strong desire to venture out and explore the wonders of the wilderness. I yearned for my first camping experience, I craved hiking majestic mountains, and above all, I longed to breathe in the crisp, fresh air of nature!

As you heard in my last couple of entires 2022 had its moments, but 2023 has proven to be everything I desired.

Since my last adventure at Purgatory, there hasn't been much to report. The weather has been gloomy, I faced a layoff from work, and I found solace in spending quality time with my family. During that period, I naturally sought solace outdoors. I engaged in trails such as:


1) The Warwick Path, 2.9 Miles & 62ft Elevation
2) Piscataquog River Trail West (NH), 2.2 Miles & 72ft Elevation 
3) Goddard Park, 4.8 Miles & 180ft Elevation 
4) Providence River Walk, 2.4 Miles & 22ft Elevation
5) Kapok Park (FL), 1 Mile & 26ft Elevation
6) John Chestnut Park Loop, 2022 Repeat
7) Russell Crag, 1.77 Miles & 653ft Elevation

And of course, plenty of treadmill walking! However, as the seasons shifted, I knew it was time to turn my aspirations of conquering the Mountains of New Hampshire into a reality.

So, my partner and I decided to head to Franconia in April, without a concrete plan other than tackling a mountain.

Heading there without a plan? Yes, exactly. The only certainty was my desire for hiking. I began researching and stumbled upon Lil' Haystack (7 Miles & 3,034ft Elevation), which was relatively close to our AurBnB. What a peculiar name for a climb that surpassed 3,000 feet in elevation to a peak of 4,760', right? Despite the name, reading about the hike drew parallels to my experience on Bear Peak the previous year. That's when I knew we had found our destination!

The night before our adventure, we relished in a delightful Steak and Cheese Grinder, enjoyed a restful sleep, and woke up brimming with excitement. Off we went to embark on our hike!

I had mapped out the trail, and we would be taking the 'Falling Waters Trail'. I absolutely loved this hike, except for one thing: the snow. I had never done a snow hike before and quickly became acquainted with the concept of "postholing." I stumbled into so many snow-covered holes that reached up to my hips, leaving me black and blue for the following week. Despite that, after roughly 4 hours of persevering through the challenging terrain, we reached the breathtaking summit. The journey was complete!



Onwards and Upwards,
The Adventuring TeddyBear 🧸 

P.S. I now own crampons and poles, ensuring I am fully prepared for next spring's snowy adventures!

TidBit: Despite Lil' Haystack having a peak north of 4000 feet, it is not counted in the New Hampshire 48 4Ks. Why? The Appalachian Mountain Club doesn't consider Little Haystack a "four-thousand footer" because it stands less than 200 ft (61 m) above the col on the ridge from Lincoln.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Continuing the 48 (Pt 5.); Mount Moosilauke (4,817')

Image
I have to admit, I'm not in shape to hike, but that didn't stop me. Since we last chatted, I decided to compete in powerlifting again. I made this decision in January and competed in May. I couldn't have been happier with my return to the platform. I hit a 1400 lb total, which was 100 lbs more than I expected. However, my fitness deteriorated during the peak weeks, and my weight is at an all-time high. :( Still, I was determined to make it work. We booked a trip for just a week after the meet without a set plan for which mountain we would hike. A friend suggested Mt. Moosilauke , which turned out to be the perfect hike to start the season. We hiked from Gorge Brook to Carriage Road , covering about 9 miles with 2,500 ft of elevation gain. We brought the kids for this trip. It was Zach and Collin's first White Mountain hike, and I was thrilled to be a part of that journey. They had talked about it for over a year, and being able to make it happen
Read more

Continuing the 48 (Pt 4.); Mount Carrigain (4,683')

Image
Long Time No Talk Adventures! I typically aim to post weekly updates, but today's post may come as a surprise since I've recently shifted my focus to writing about Talent Acquisition, another passion of mine. Remarkably, the last post you likely read was conceived just an hour prior to this one! I had been grappling with some life challenges and feeling somewhat down, but I was reminded that I am surrounded by many blessings that deserve my gratitude. I had an incredible summer amidst mountainous landscapes, in the company of cherished family and friends, and deep in thought as I tried new things freely. It's time I celebrated the gift that life has bestowed upon me, choosing to focus on the joys rather than dwell on the hardships that hit me. This perspective is what hit me during my trip to the mountains today. Today's expedition led us to Mount Carrigain , standing tall at 4,683 feet. This mountain boasts two trails leading to its peak, but only one is suitable for d
Read more

Staying Local; Wachusett Mountain (2,006')

Image
Greetings, Adventurers! As you might have noticed, since my layoff, I've been doing an excellent job of staying busy. Week after week, I find myself venturing out of the house or even out of the state! However, this week, although back from my adventures in New Hampshire, California, and Vegas, I'm not ready to rest just yet. Instead, I'm preparing to head to the Poconos for my daughter's Dance Nationals! But before that, what should I do? I'll be honest; I was a bit apprehensive about packing up, driving three hours, hiking for 5+ hours, and then attempting to drive back home. So, the idea of conquering another 4,000-footer seemed a bit daunting. Instead, I chose to do something I've wanted to do for a while—hike Wachusett Mountain . While Wachusett might not be as big, scary, or challenging as the hikes I've done in NH, it's always been in my backyard (I spent most of my life in Central Massachusetts), and yet, I've never hiked it! So, this weekend
Read more