Lessons learned the hardway

This is from the last time up KMWN: March, 2009

On to the hike on Sunday, 4 of us were going up, myself, Jon, Mike, and Dan. The models called for good weather, yet there was a forecast for 50% chance of rain.....ah, that is the fun of weather in the mountains!! :-)

Starting up was great.....got to Pinkham at 830....very crowded lot. Started on Tux....hadn't done that in while so this was all good.....some slight drizzles...we switch off to Lion Head.....I've never climbed up it before, but it is one of my favorite trails heading down. The weather is starting to get worse, but we still hike on (not a good idea, but then again, we were hearty hikers looking for an adventure, haha)

Just below 4000' (give or take, the altimeter is usually off), we met up with Will, he was hiking solo, so our group of 4 is now 5. It's slow going to the top, with the weather and the few patches of snow.....again, I love my microspikes. This was the first time Jon had seen the "800 feet of hell," (the rock scramble) so that was a fun new experience, and about 2 years since I was last on that trail. Thankfully, my training seems to have helped, I wasn't tired, just nervous about the weather....rain, some sleet, and we think winds of near 35 mph (we had an anemometer) Dan and Mike head up further to see if Shannon had driven up (thankfully, she did not, the weather was not favorable for driving)

Finally, around 140....SUMMIT!!! That staircase to the summit building is such torture....I'd have to say the worst part of the whole hike, lol. Lots of soaked people. We eat our lunches, I put our names in for the shuttle (no way were going hike down in that weather, the winds were insane at the summit, and I was getting blown around already just about 1500 feet below) Mike and Dan go play outside and get a pic at the summit sign, I stay in with Jon, I had already been outside to out our name in. Pick up some souvenirs, get in the shuttle, and head back down...first time I ever took the shuttle.

Perhaps we should have turned around before Lion Head, the weather was def turning for thr worst...this was by far the worst conditions I've been in while hiking. (I think we measured 40 mph sustained winds, though I am not sure how accurate the anemometer was) and I am kicking myself for not getting any pictures while at the summit, and I am regretting not getting the summit picture. Oh well.

Wish I was still there, going through that post-hike/post New Hampshire blues, guess that is just a reason to go back.


Lessons learned: respect the weather and the mountain, and always get that summit photo. (and Ammo/Jewel....easier than Tux/Lion Head....damn that 800' of hell and staircase)