6288 and then some.... Why Do I Do This?

All reports were saying that the weather on Mount Washington for Sunday (9/18/11) would be perfect. My planning for this trip was originally going to only include Mounts Monroe and Eisenhower. I was not even considering Washington. In my mind, the “big mountain” was untouchable until I got a few more peaks under my belt. And then I put it all together… friends had said they hit it as their second peak on the 48 list because the weather was perfect and like a friend of mine said, you’re going to be up there anyway… Might as well, right? Riiiigghhht. And then I thought about it. What’s stopping me from doing this? Well, there’s… Me. I’m stopping myself. I’m going to be up there anyway since it’s the same trail to get to the Appalachian Trail (Crawford Path) anyway. So, why not go right up the path to Washington instead of left to Monroe? I thought (for about a minute) and agreed to check the forecast and decide. The forecast was PERFECT for 6288ft up. It was going to be cold, clear, and low wind. I’m going!

I have to say that 4am was rough for that Sunday. I was so concentrated on the fact that I was going to complete Washington (potentially) that I forgot a few things. My vitamins that I take in the morning for one. Packing my second dose that I take at night for two. My trekking pole for three. And the most important thing, my memory card for the camera for four. Ugh! Most were unimportant and could wait or be done without. The memory card was a blow and I didn’t realize it until I got to the trailhead. After a quick plan rethink, I am on my way using my cellphones to take pictures. Knowing that the most important thing was to have enough battery left in one should something happen.

The trail started out easy enough. It was extremely muddy due to recent rains but it was nothing that was going to make me turn around. Quickly after a downhill slope, I am greeted with my first water crossing. A small one that is flowing fast. My concern is getting the feet wet since if I slip, and my foot gets submerged, I have no spare hikers. Socks yes but not boots. I make it across. Following the Ammonoosuc River to the gem pool was easy enough. Some up and down hill as well as a few narrow passes and the usual roots and rocks. Again, not bad and the river crossings are getting easy. After the gem pool, I am confronted with my first stretch of vertical trail. Two miles before The Lake of the Clouds Hut, the trail is now straight up and able to be walked (I wish at this point I had my pole). It’s a tough cardio work out with many stops along the way. During one of these stops, I talk with an older couple and their Schnauzer pup. Turns out they live in a town I use to live in ages ago and we agree to meet up at the Lake of the clouds hut at some point… Hopefully. I begin to get conservative with the water and pop a gluten free granola bar. I come to a level section of trail and breathe easy. As the trail opens, I am greeted with my first section of rock face. Not vertical but gently sloping. I follow it up about 50 or so feet to a water crossing. Again, the water is not a slow flowing water way. It’s moving fast and a little higher in volume than I want. I find the way and make it across to the level trail. After a set of switchbacks and another water crossing, I come to a more vertical and smooth rock face for about another 50 feet. This is the type of trail you put your whole self into and rely on the angle of your boots and the grip of your hands to propel yourself to the next hold until you come to a ledge of sorts or a place you can stand more upright. Keep in mind that it’s getting colder as I go up. Even with the heat I am generating. At this point, I am in the Alpine zone and I see my first glimpse of rime ice.    

I am now beyond the vertical scrambles and able to walk. I reach the Lake of the clouds hut and look to the summit. Between the Lake of the clouds and Mount Washington’s summit, is a field of stone which looks amazingly like another world or perhaps the surface of the moon. The Appalachian Trail is marked out by cairn. One would think that walking on these rocks would be a little like cobble stone and in some areas, it is. However, the stones are loose and laying on top of one another. You’re looking at a broken ankle if you step wrong. But, you’ve made it this far so, keep going for the next half mile. It feels like a death march in some of the flatter terrain. You start ascending again and you are greeted with rime ice and what I like to call craggy stones to the summit post. During this section, I needed to walk about 10 feet and stop for a brief moment in about 4 successive sets both to get my breathe and bearings as well as my balance. Finally, in about 5 and half hours I summited Mount Washington…. Solo… 6288ft from base to summit!

At the summit post, I was greeted by the young couple from Israel that I had met up with at the gem pool. They congratulated me and I them. When I saw them at the base, I was worried for their lack of gear however; they were bundled up and happy. They snapped a few pictures for me and I returned the favor. We parted satisfied with our respective hikes. I found myself tearing up at the thought of 6288… The day… The steps it took to get there… The support that friends, family, and complete strangers alike have shown me on this and other climbs.  I collect my thoughts and head back down the trail the same way I came up. At the Lake of the clouds hut, I run into the older couple with the schnauzer. “Jaffrey?” They said. “Are you heading up to Monroe now?” Two things; they started a trend as everyone started calling me Jaffrey who was passing by and yes, I still had another mountain to climb.

Monroe was about 45 minutes to summit from The Lake of the clouds hut. It was a lot easier than Washington. Dirt path to a point to rock stairs to ledge to the summit. I hoisted myself up and stood next to guy from Boston and his friend from Virginia. He snapped me on number 5 gratefully. We chatted and it turns out there were heading towards Eisenhower and completing the presidential range. Again hiking west to east and having it a little easier except that they’d been camping for the past two days (Weather was cold Saturday). We parted due to decreasing day light. I began my decent.

Much the way I came up, I went back down. It always amazes me how much quicker decent goes. Nearly vertical climbs and scrambles become nothing more than slides. The uneven rock stairs become easier to manage.  Switchback becomes something of a game to propel you down as you twist and turn through the trails. And then the next thing you know, you are back at the car with a head full of amazing memories…

Yeah, there’s a reason I get up at 4am on a weekend… And this is it.