Therese Marie

I did it! I successfully planned a trip!

Finally I felt some success in planning an outing in the mountains. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that planning is not my strong suit.

Except this past weekend, I nailed it. I did a day trip (which did in fact require 8 hours of driving…) to go hike Mount Osceola and the East Peak of Osceola, two more mountains that I can cross off the stupid list.

Roo & I left in the dead of night.

This is something that seems ridiculous to do, but necessary for us to get out in the mountains. I used to live in Asheville, NC, and I definitely took the city’s proximity to the national forests for granted.

Sure, I could go on hikes in the nearby forests of Connecticut. And I do. During the week. Like, almost every day.

This is different, though. Once you’ve seen a sprawling view from atop a high peak, you realize it’s so much more than just going for a walk in the woods. There’s a lot more tied up in it – the ascent, the exhaustion, the amount of time spent outdoors continuously, the smell of the pine, seeing a view open up after being encased in trees – and you can only find these specific nuances by going up big mountains. New Hampshire’s White Mountains are the closest ones to me that consistently deliver this kind of experience.

Plus, driving up in the middle of the night, watching the sun rise around you. It’s a private, quiet experience that is really wonderful.

Osceola was amazing.

If you’re looking for a very attainable 4,000-footer to do in New Hampshire, it’s Osceola. Starting from Tripoli Road. The way up is uphill, sure. But it’s gradual. And it’s only about 3 miles up, so it goes by quick!

You get to the top and a beautiful view awaits. I like this one, because you can see a ski mountain, and all the runs that wind down it. Also it’s panoramic. Massive, unfolding…

I highly suggest this route for people wanting to get started with some bigger hikes, or someone looking for something highly amazing without needing to be in the best physical condition of your life. It’s the perfect introduction – long enough to get you deep into the wilderness, leads up to an amazing panoramic view, but not hard enough to completely kick your butt and discourage you.

Then there’s the East Peak.

You can see it from the top of Osceola. And you can see how far you have to go in order to reach it.

On the map, it doesn’t seem so bad. 0.7 miles to the summit from where you stand. Not even a full mile.

What sits between you and that peak is a deep, grooved valley. You must go straight down, and then straight back up again. There’s even a little feature called The Chimney, aptly named because it is a very brief section of trail that looks like a chimney. Though it is shaped with some steps, it does require climbing (you have to use your hands!) so I couldn’t go up or down it with the dog. There is a little roundabout trail that circumvents this and goes down some more gradual rock.

This was a solo trip, and I was definitely missing my friend’s enthusiasm for the Whites. Even annoying, difficult traverses like this make him excited, and it’s helpful to be around someone like that when your legs feel like Jell-o, you can’t stop sweating, and you want to just turn around.

I thought about it. I thought about just not doing East Peak, because who actually cares? Who gives a crap if I hike all 48 peaks in this stupid challenge? Why am I even doing this? Do I care?

Down and down the trail goes. Then up and up and up. And eventually, you make it to the top of East Peak. What kind of view awaits you?

I present to you, the Best View in the Whites.

Yes, a pile of rocks is all the congratulation you’ll get for finishing this peak. I sat at the top and made conversation with some trail runners. We laughed about how anti-climactic this one is.

They sped off because they had to go get tacos. I started walking with much less enthusiasm, bitter with my newfound clout.

The day cleared my head.

Sometimes I feel like I get a lot of great thinking done when I’m hiking. I come up with ideas, people I should contact, gifts I could get my friends. I finish thought processes. But this time, I rather let all the thoughts leave my head. I was focused on what was in front of me. On watching my dog run around. On the trees. On the ice that coated the rocks. On the air. And it felt good. It felt really really good to not have to think.

I’m not sure if I found more solace because I did pre-planning. That’s the thing, planning doesn’t guarantee a trip will go well. You still have to be flexible and prepared. I think I felt joy in executing a plan, but also because all the right factors came together. The weather, the drive, the timing.

It was a reminder of how important it is to do the things you love, no matter what. Because those are the things that rejuvenate you. Those are the things that bring life.

Until next time, fly on!

Lil