Fumbling Around In The Woods: fot48

Showing posts with label fot48. Show all posts

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Mt. Jackson (4,052 ft) 9-13-25

Distance: 8.05 mi.
Elevation: 2,136 ft (overall) 2,592 ft (total)
Time: (with an 11 year old setting the pace) 2:36 (Mizpah Hut) 3:56 (Summit) 6:28 (Total)
Trails: Crawford Path, Mizpah Cut-Off, Webster Cliff Trail, Webster-Jackson Trail

This year for Flags on the 48 our group picked Mt. Jackson, largely so that a couple of the people that planned on hiking with us could have a shorter hike to participate with. In the end, their plans changed last minute, but we still went along as planned and had an enjoyable day. My youngest daughter and wife were going to join my oldest daughter and I this year as well, but my youngest changed her mind a couple days before the event (as a 7 year old will do). Because my oldest daughter has already done Mt. Jackson on her 4000 footer list (it was her first), this would be her first repeat hike of a 4K. Today we would be doing a different loop than the first time, so that was good to make the hike a little different.

Most of our group parked in the lot on Mt. Clinton Road, with a few team members parking along route 302 so they could come up the shorter way and meet us at the summit. Most of our group was going up the Crawford Path, then using the Mizpah Cut-Off so that we could make a quite side treck to the Mizpah Hut. From there we would take the Webster Cliff Trail to the summit. this allowed for a less steep route and better footing. On the way down, we all went the shortest way and headed down the Webster-Jackson Trail down to route 302. We then either walked back to our cars or got rides from other members in our group.

My daughter Liliana and I got on the trail a little bit ahead of the rest of our group. At 11 years old, she is still a bit of a slower hiker, and we wanted to make sure she could help setup the pole and raise the flag at the summit. I took the flagpole early on and hiked with it on my shoulder for a good distance up the mountain. After a while though, another hiker offered to carry the pole for us for a while. This hiker was actually part of the team going up Mt. Pierce, and his effort was greatly appreciated. We caught back up with him and his team at the junction with the Mixpah Cut-Off, where we asked him to leave the pole anyways if he still had it at that point. By the time Liliana and I had gotten to the junction, some of our group had caught up to us, and we all took a break and talked with the other groups at the junction as well.

Taking a break after carrying the pole for a while

More of our group and another group at the junction

On our way up the Mizpah Cut-Off to the Webster Cliff Trail, more of our group caught up to us and we had a good number of people by the time we got to the hut for a short break and a little rest. When we left the hut, Liliana wanted to try taking the flag pole for a little while. She picked it up and put it on her shoulder, but decided it was a little heavy and a lot awkward for her. The pole does take some getting use to and you need to get it in the right position for it to be comfortable. So with Liliana saying it wasn't for her, our group leader Jim took the pole and was able to carry it the rest of the way to the summit. Liliana and I did well to stay right behind Jim until just before the summit, where Liliana started to slow down a bit.

Mizpah Hut for a short break

Liliana testing out if she can carry the pole

On the bog bridges shortly before the summit

We were all at the summit with plenty of time to spare before we needed to setup. And once the rest of the group came up from the Webster-Jackson Trail, we started putting everything up. We enlisted the help of any of the younger hikers to hold the flag or help raise it up the pole. The only problem we had today was getting the rocks we put around the base of the pole to stay where we put them and keep the pole from tipping over.

A young group member holding the flag

Liliana helping to raise the flag

After the flag was up, we did our normal moment of silence, pledge of allegiance, and other short speeches about the day and thanking everyone for coming/helping. Unfortunately there wasn't a lot of wind today, so the flag wasn't blowing around that much. The weather was nice though and there were lots of friendly hikers on the mountain today. My daughter was also thrilled with how many dogs were out as well.

Kevin leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance

Partial group photo

Larger group photo, with most of our core group members

The view north from the summit

The view south from the summit

Liliana next to the flag

After our normal 2 hours of flying the flag, we took down the setup and returned the rocks back to where we found them. For the descent, all of our group headed down the Webster-Jackson Trail down to route 302. It is steep and slow going at the start, especially while carrying the flag pole, we everyone was able to get through the hard parts without and real issues. With everyone hiking their own pace, most of us got a little spread out along the trail, periodically running into each other depending out who was taking a break. The hike down went smoothly for everyone, and after a ride back to our truck from Brian, Liliana and I joined some of our team for dinner at the Woodstock Inn before we headed home. This was my daughter's 3rd year participaing in Flags on the 48, and she is already looking forward to next year's event. Hopefully we can find a way to get my other daughter to want to come so that her and my wife can participate as well.

Folding the flag up

Descending the steep upper sections of the trail

Google Earth representation of the hike

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Monday, September 16, 2024

Mt. Moosilauke (4,802 ft) 9-14-24

Distance: 8.72 mi.
Elevation: 2,351 ft (overall) 2,613 ft (total)
Time: (with an 10 year old setting the pace) 3:44 (Summit) 6:59 (Total)
Trails: Gorge Brook Trail

This year for Flags on the 48 our group picked Mt. Moosilauke to hike. We had a number of less experienced hikers and people that were new to the event so we chose a hike that is a little bit easier than many other 4000 footers in the state. Our route would be to go up the Gorge Brook Trail and then descend back down the same way. With so many hikers in our group and at so many different abilities, we were going to start at multiple different times so that everyone could be at the summit by the time we were going to raise the flag. Since my 10 year old daughter was with me, we started off hiking with the early group so that we would have plenty of time to get to the summit so that she could help with raising the flag. The last time she participated in this hike we didn't make it to the summit in time to help raise the flag and she wanted to be part of it this year. This plan worked well as by the time we got to the summit, most of the groups had caught up with each other and we all got there around the same time.

We got the mountain early enough that we were able to park along the side of the road close to the ravine lodge. So after a little talking with group members and friends, we were geared up and ready to start our hike. This mountain is popular enough and this trail sees enough hikers that it ends up being a bit rocky for most of the time with wear and tear on the soil making the rocks stick up more on the trail. This makes hiking a bit slower, but the rocks aren't so big that they make it too bad. This route also has a few water crossings along the lower half, and each of these are easy to get over with the bigger ones having nice bridges over them.

My daughter and I kept a steady pace on our climb up the mountain. We didn't take many big breaks, but instead multiple much smaller ones. We spent a little bit of time at the view point along the trail while climbing up, but after that only took a couple more short breaks as we were now hiking with more members of our group. Once we got close to the summit and the terrain leveled out more, we started picking the pace back up since my daughter was getting a new boost of energy to get to the summit.

We were at the summit well before the time we needed to be, so my daughter and I had some good time to rest before we started to help the group with setting up the flag. My daughter was able to participate some and was happy to help. We got the flag up before noon and were able to easily have it on display for the two hours of the event. While we relaxed and enjoyed the views around the summit, we got to meet a lot of nice people and hear lots of stories from other people and their experiences around 9/11.

When it came time to pickup the flag and get ready to go back down the mountain, my daughter wanted to help again. This time she asked to be the person that got to lower the flag and we were more than happy to let her do so. We have had the same flag setup for a few years now, so cleanup went pretty quickly as we know what we are doing really well with it now. We hiked back down the same route that we came up while a few others went down the Carriage Road and Snapper Trail and a couple others came down using Asquam Ridge Trail.

At the bottom, we met back up with the rest of our team. Some had already gotten down and headed home, but a few were still hanging around and talking with each other. Once we knew everyone was down the mountain safely, we packed up and headed down the road so that we could gather again at a local restaurant to hang out a little bit more and see some of the other hikers that particpated in the event today. Weather was great and everyone had a good time in our group, some good food and more stories made for a great end of the day.

Early rocky section of trail

My daughter and I with smaller flags on display

Liliana with the summit behind her

View of the South Peak from the summit

The flag is up

Group shot at the summit with my daughter and I on the right

Liliana at the summit, her 6th 4K

View to the north from the summit

View to the east from the summit

A couple group members at the summit

Trail viewpoint on the descent

Liliana at on the bridge at the end of the hike

Google Earth representation of the hike

This is an actual piece of one of the towers that a group member has

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Mt. Jefferson (5,712 ft) 9-9-23

Distance: 5.19 mi.
Elevation: 2,696 ft. (Overall) 2,829 ft. (Total)
Time: 3:05 (summit) 5:28 (total)
Trails: Caps Ridge Trail

This year for Flags on the 48 our group picked Mt. Jefferson, which we have done before 10 years ago. Just like last time, we planned to go up the Caps Ridge Trail as it is the shortest and most direct route to the summit. It has some steep and rocky sections, but means we have to carry the pole and other equipment a shorter distance. This year however, the weather was throwing us a big curve ball. The forecast called for cloudy skies early with thunderstorms and heavy rain likely for later in the day. Because of this, we planned to be at the trailhead for 6am and with boots on the trail shortly after that. Our plan was to fly the flag early, then be headed down the mountain before weather got real bad. Of course, mother nature didn't read the forecast and decided to do something completely different.

We were on the trail at roughly 6:15am with some damp conditions after the rain that came through the state early last night. With the combination of the cloudy skies and early start, it also wasn't very light out yet. We made good progress and were at the viewpoint at the potholes rocks approximately 1 mile up the trail by 7am. Ten years ago we had no view from this point, but today we at least had a little bit of a view. It was still cloudy, but the clouds were just above us and there was what looked like some clearing off in the distance to the west. This gave us some hope that it might clear up some instead of just being cloudy for the day.

Some clearing at the potholes

As we continued up we worked our way up into the clouds more and conditions stayed damp. This made some of the rocky scrambles trickier than normal. Adding in carrying a pole and trying to get a dog up some of these spots added to the challenge of today's hike. Once we were up to the junction with the Cornice Trail we were really in the clouds and it was starting to rain lightly. Before too much longer I was putting on my rain jacket and covering my pack. Through this section we all started to get a bit more spread out working at our own pace in the wet conditions. Once at the summit I put on my rain pants too and found a place to put my pack where it wouldn't get wet.

Finding a way up the steep rocks

Hiking into the clouds

We worked on getting the flag up as quick as we could with the wind and rain making things more difficult for us. We had the flag up well before 11am (with the goal of the event being from 12 to 2pm) and were all gathering out of the wind as much as possible. As the day continued on, the wind died down a little bit and the rain soon stopped. We started to see a glimspe of nearby peaks as well from time to time. As even more time passed, the clouds started to clear more around us and were starting to get better views. We could see the nearby peaks and undercast clouds in the surrounding valleys. Before it was time to pack up, it became apparent that the weather forecast was basically backwards and instead of rain coming later in the day, it happened early and then things cleared up nicely for the afternoon.

The flag is up

A brief view of Mt. Adams

Our flag at the summit

The view to the west over the clouds

Peaks to the north in the clear

After we picked up we hiked down at a nice casual pace with the weather being so nice. We were having fun telling stories and discussing the day while making sure we were careful hiking down over the steep or rocky sections of trail. We took another good break at the potholes before finishing out hike and getting into more comfortable clothes and dry footware. Most of us also went to the after party in Littleton as well to enjoy some food and find some of the Flags opn the 48 beer.

Hiking back down

Google Earth representation of the hike

Partial group photo taken by another hiker after we got the flag up

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Mt. Liberty (4,459 ft) 9-11-22

Distance: 9.88 mi.
Elevation: 3,010 ft (overall) 3,302 ft (total)
Time: (with an 8 year old setting the pace) 4:57 (Summit) 8:50 (Total)
Trails: Whitehouse Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Bike Path

This year for Flags on the 48 our group picked Mt. Liberty to hike. The group I hike with includes 4 of the 6 members of the steering committtee, but this year all 6 members would be hiking the same peaks since the group was formed. Hiking with my 8 year old daughter though for her first time attending this event, I headed up the trail before most of the group. I knew with shorter legs and a younger hiker, we wouldn't be making it to the summit as quick as the others.

The first part of the trail goes good with a little bit of up then down getting to the bike path. After walking the bike path briefly we head back onto the hiking trail. Again things went well for the early part of the trail. Probably a bit before the Flume Slide Trail goes to the right we were passed by part of our group. Up near the brook crossing above this, more of our group passed us. Liliana was doing well, but she can't be expected to be as fast as other people who have far more hiking experience.

The last mile or so leading up to the ridge the trail gets pretty steep. This is where Liliana really started to get tired and her pace slowed down. Today was her biggest hike ever though, so it was expected. Before reaching this section I thought we had a chance to be on the summit to help raise the flag, but in the end we missed it by about 30 minutes. Liliana was a trooper though and kept making progress. And once we hit the ridge and things weren't as steep, it was like she got a boost of energy and we made it to the summit quickly.

After staying long enough that we could enjoy the views, rest, and help take down the flag, we packed up and headed down. We made good pace for an 8 year old in the lead. Liliana's feet were hurting some by the time we got down, but we managed to stay near some of the back markers of our group and got the parking lot just ahead of them after hiking on and off with them on the way down.

Liliana did great for her first Flags on the 48 event, even if we did miss the flags being raised on the summit. Depending on which peaks we choose for the next year or two, we might be able to do this again and have Liliana help with the flag raising. Everyone else in the group was glad to have a younger hiker taking part in it and they all thought she did great making it to the summit as well as she did.