09/12/09 and 09/13/09

The original plan was designed by Michael Blair (one of my friends and hiking buddies), who is trying to hike all the mountains over 4k' in New England in this calendar year, so he could hit as many peaks as possible. He was unable to make it due to a planning mistake. So it was left to Andrew, Mike L, Mike S, Kristen, Emily, Ashley and I to continue it, but we decided that as nice as Mt Garfield is, that we weren't going to go there this time. Emily, Ashley and I decided to hit Mt Hale, which was likely a mistake in hindsight. The rest of the group bypassed that and went straight to Mt Zealand. I swear Emily's pack weighed 1/2 of what mine did, so she was able to go much faster and almost catch the rest of the group. Ashley and I probably spent about an hour total with the others, luckily we get along well :P

Saturday the 12th was the Flags on the 48th day, where 48 groups take 48 flags to the top of all the 48 highest peaks in NH in memory of 9/11. The ablve picture is the flag on Mt Hale. The Flag has the names of all of the people who died on 9/11.

still some lingering blueberries

the (not so scenic) top of Mt Zealand

the look on her face says it all. I don't know why but that first day we both had a really hard time

We got into camp late, the rest of the group went to the Bonds (Mt Bond, Bondcliff and West Bond), we thought about going, but between being exhausted and the fact that there was nothing to see but fog we decided to go in the AM instead in hopes of seeing some sights. We woke up at 5 and left camp by 5:45 AM with no pack

Mt Washington peeking through the clouds, this was the view from Mt Bond as the sun was rising

some couple decided to camp out at the top of Mt Bond (which you aren't supposed to do)

The view of Bondcliff (our second Mt that morning) from Mt Bond

Ashley taking on Bondcliff Mountain in the early morning light.

We summited Bondcliff by 7 AM

Back to Mt Bond

Then over to West Bond then back to camp. Mike, Mike and Emily were waiting for us back at camp (Kristen got up early and went back out the way we came, I don't know where Andrew was), all packed and ready to go, we needed to eat breakfast and pack up, so they headed off while we cooked breakfast.

South Twin, we bumped into Mike and Emily lunching after North Twin

Noth Twin (well not actually, as the couple we met there informed us), Ashley did continue on the the true summit, I stayed back and chatted with the couple we met there.

Mt Galehead

only 4 miles left to go!

fall isn't far away

Second group of photos, these were taken by Ashley with my Olympus camera
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