The Death March: 8500 Ft, 19 Hours
MIA since Thursday afternoon, I’ve been.
And for what? I went hiking. Not just any old hike though…no…a bunch of friends, my daughters and their BF’s embarked the Presidential Traverse up in the White Mountains. An unguided tour…It was freakin awesome.
The Presi Traverse is one of the most challenging hikes in the US. In the summer it’s not too bad, but a winter hike is brutal. The weather was just right and everyone had three days to devote to this. SO WE JUST DID IT.
These hikes are known as the Death Marches. 8500 ft. in elevation gains, in 19 hours. With 40lb backpacks.
The trail starts out innocently enough, serene and safe looking:
A couple miles upwards though and it changes a little:
And changes even more as we get into the second hour:
The famous warning signs begin as we mark the first 5 hours:
The trail, on Mt Madison, turns into a knee-deep path of rocks and boulders; a few in my group turn back now; most are sweating and a couple are actually panting (The young stud BF’s of course…) (rolling my almost 42 yr old eyes)–(heh I ran circles around them all lol)
11 miles of THIS:
…and this:
…before we’re above the treeline:
Only to be greeted with this sign:
And so it went…up the peaks and down, then back up the next…Mts. Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Clay, Washington, Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower and Pierce…this “easy” hike is about 25 miles long and most people do it in three days. We did it in 19 hours. But not without a lot of bruises, cuts, scuffed knees and elbows. And lots of blood, sweat and for some, a few tears (not me heh)…
We started at 4am Friday and hiked ALL day till 7pm; then Saturday, 4am to 8am…
When you’re all sweaty and icky, take a shower here:
or a bath in here:
We took the temp of the water: 45 degrees!!! Just…a…little…cool!!
There are a lot of these little waterfalls and puddle ponds along the offshoots of the trails. We crashed next to this one.
The summit views are so worth all the struggle though:
We’re planning a winter traverse in December or January. Anyone want to come?? It’s much more challenging and dangerous; I did it once and it was the experience of a lifetime. The winter hike will include Mts. Jackson and Webster as well.
Here are some pics from the first Presi Hike we did, in the winter a few yrs ago, yes that is me in the blue and yellow:
And the view is a little different:
AND now, I am well deserved of a hot bath with a BATH BOMB. And a few beeahs.
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Wow girl - those pictures are amazing. Proud of you for making this trek.
August 5th, 2007 | #
Oh. My. GOD!!!
Raven, dearheart, you are too tough for me! I could never do that… Well, maybe if I took a whole week, and the weather was perfect, AND after about 8 million years of training
*snicker*
The pics are gorgeous, and the actual scenery must surpass them by a great margin.
Wow. IronWoman!
And I’m so glad you were doing THIS, rather than maybe being pissed with me [rolls eyes at self: no, it ain’t all about you, Kat!]
The Munchkin and I are up in Annapolis, but returning tomorrow. We had a lovely (and very lazy) visit with the Beloved Husband-and-Dad, who misses being home. Lots of good food, but no spectacular views like you saw!
Now, go pop a beer and enjoy your soak in the tub.
Damn, woman, you keep impressing me!
hughughughughughughughughughughughug!
– Kat
http://www.CatHouseChat.com
August 5th, 2007 | #
Wheeeeee!
August 6th, 2007 | #
Sheesh. Get bath I tell ya! I can smell you all the wa down in Oklahoma!!
Seriously though, that looks like much fun. I think I’ll have to put that down on my list of places to go hike…
August 6th, 2007 | #
Awe Kat…it’s not like I don’t hike often. I do…so this is second nature for me. I’ve hiked Mt Washington hundreds of times; and the others too, each on their own and a few at a time. To do all of them is the challenge. I DO brag about it…LOL…the darn kids half my age couldn’t keep up with me, were begging to go back, having trouble breathing ect yada yada…a 20 yr old MAN couldn’t go my pace. Terds. GET IN SHAPE I told them all…
I have little tolerance for the male species who don’t keep themselves in good condition. LOL…the wimmin? I’m not so tough on them cause they have the babies which is rough on us.
The views in person were just spectacular. There are no other mountains I have seen that as beautiful…and I’ve seen the Rockies, the Aps, and others. They don’t come close.
Everest is my dream hike. And I suspect I will do that sooner than later. I really do.
August 6th, 2007 | #
Ogre would be going WEEEEEE. That’s right. He’d also find many a cave to live in. BWAHAHAH!! AND, many ponds to BATHE in.
August 6th, 2007 | #
SHUT UP DUNCAN. I did not SMELL after that hike. It was much cooler up there than down. It was hotter than hell at the bottom….96 degrees and humid. Up a ways it cooled off and way up…40 degrees colder.
That’s why it’s so dangerous- you never know when it’s gonna snow and blizt up there. They’ve have blizzards in the summer without any warning.
I strongly suggest you do the guided hikes for the first few times. It’s very easy to get totally lost up there. There are dozens of trails and they’re not all well marked…what looks like trail isn’t and what looks like woods is…cell phones don’t usually work up there either so be damn careful. DO NOT bring your kids until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
August 6th, 2007 | #
Heh. Raven, you’re gonna have to be kinder to me than “not so tough”! Don’t forget, I’m quite happy as the comfy cottage cat, curled up by the fire… and occasionally pouncing on an unsuspecting *cough, cough* DadCat… or perhaps pouncing on the KidCat to tickle her silly. Um. “Sillier.”
So glad you had fun!
hugzzzzz! And off to bed for me, now…
– K
August 7th, 2007 | #
I’ve been a cottage cat since I got back LOL…sliced up my knee real good and got lots of deep bruises and other boo boos…
And there are MANY other hikes that I really like up there that aren’t as dangerous. We can do those with little pain but lots of gain— with similar views and outlooks. For sure!
August 8th, 2007 | #
Those pictures are just beautiful!!! I’d say that I’m jealous but in reality there’s no way that I’m good enough shape to make it through that. I am working out and losing weight so maybe someday because it sounds just awesome.
I hope your boo boos heal quickly!
August 8th, 2007 | #
Your narrative reminded me of the one time I climbed Mt. Washington (in summer). I particularly remember thinking as we climbed higher that things would be easier once we got above the timber line - and then when we emerged from the trees, we faced this huge boulder field to cross. I also remember the marvelous vistas to. Downhill wasn’t any easier, and in some ways more difficult than the climb, as I recall.
You were really blessed to have good weather - Mt. Washington I recall reading has the highest recorded surface wind speed on earth - 231 mph. Maybe someday I’ll be able to go back and do the all the “Presidents”.
August 9th, 2007 | #