Mountain Towns

“I leave Park City grateful for my years there, for the comfort I found in a place where every nook and cranny became as familiar to me as drawing a breath. … but I did learn something anyway about what’s important in life: a stand of aspen trees, still green but just about to go golden, and first turns on a bright, blue morning after the high desert and angels have been making powder all day.” Pam Houston (83)

Substitute Park City with every mountain town (east and west) that I’ve lived in.  I miss that life. I like where I live now but living in rural towns in the east and west seem like a simpler more beautiful life. I remember driving up Killington’s access road to the ah ha moment you see the peak. I loved driving south on Route 40 in Grand County and see the Continental Divide in the distance; colors always changing. I remember the rocky summits that surrounded Tucson and how surprised I was that the hiking and mountain biking were so good.

I remember dogs running off and getting into trouble,  making list of trails to hike, hiking above treeline for miles above Winter Park.

And road trips with dogs, now both gone to dog heaven. I miss it all.

 

Cardigan Mountain, Swim In the Merrimack – A perfect summer day

Cardigan-Summit-View August 2018

Today began with a hike to the top of Mount Cardigan at 3,155 feet.

I met a woman, and her dog, who is an ultra runner and former Ironman athlete. I love it when you meet your people. It doesn’t happen much for me but when you do, you learn so much. I didn’t snap a photo of her but I hope to see her on the trail again.

Here is the top – the view was great, a little hazy in the distance but after all the rains the last few days it’s understandable. The streams were running throughout the hike; it was glorious.

Mount Cardigan Summit

And as I made my way down the slabs of rock and into the forest, the streams were so cool and nice!

Once I got home it was a hot, 90 degrees in Concord so I took the Winnie-dog to the Merrimack River (Sorry, no pics).

It was a good day to be a New Hampshire resident. #hikeNH #swimNH

Andrew Brook Trail to Mount Sunapee

Today I hiked to Mount Sunapee, first time hike. The Andrew Brook Trail was beautiful and while the brook was dry in many places there was still a bit of water. Solitude Lake was beautiful; filled with lily pads and frogs. A few dogs on the trail found the water to their liking.

I love trail junctions and signs so I took a lot of photos of them.

I’ll bring Winnie on this hike once it’s a little cooler.

The peak was filled with people doing yoga. Great views from the top on this gorgeous day. Tomorrow….. Mount Cardigan.

Mileage: 6M
Time: 2:19