Jackson 12/28/08

Today I am going hiking for the first time this Winter but for the last time this year with my Brother In-Law Garrett Robinson. This I believe is his first winter 4000' peak and the second 4000' peak that I have done with him. The forecast for the day is windy with temps in the 40's and rain after about 3:00. When I saw the forecast, it said 60 - 100 mile an hour gusts. I wasn't sure if this was after the rain started or all day, but soon on the trail we realized that it was going to be a beautiful day for a hike.

Here's a picture of Garret starting off the day with Mt. Tom in the background. Mt. Tom was my first winter 4000' peak.

We got on the trail at about 9:15 and quickly hiked around Saco Lake. We figured we would park at the Highland Center never even thinking that there was actually a parking spot where the trail actually started. This would add about .6 miles to the day.

We decided to pass up the .2 mile trip to Elephant's Head and possibly hit it on the way back down if we had time, but we did take a look at Bulge Cliff. I didn't get too close to the edge due to the icy conditions but the view here is great.

We found the trail well packed out however there were a few post holes of snowshoes and a few people we passed who were postholing their way up the trail barebooting. I had confidence that they would turn back but we ended up seeing them near the summit on the way down in Crampons. They didn't posthole the trail too bad but they did put a few holes in.

Soon we reached the trail junction to Jackson and turned left up to the Summit. Only 1.2 miles to go. Soon we also passed a few stream crossings and reached a view of the Summit. Here's a picture of Garrett excited about his first Winter 4000' peak. It's times like this where I wish I had a decent camera.

In no time at all, we were at the Summit and enjoying the Wind. We figure the wind was about 50 - 60 MPH and it was enough to peel my hat back off my head. Here's a purely presidential View. Here's Garrett enjoying the Wind. Here's Garrett at the Summit of Jackson...His first Winter 4000' Peak. We stayed at the summit only long enough to snap a few pictures and play with the Gray Jay's and we headed down.

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Garrett loved playing with the Gray Jay's and on the way down we at a little lunch out of the wind and they followed us all the way to the Junction. One was bold enough to try to eat Garrett's Bologna sandwich while he was trying to feed it a goldfish cracker. He learned pretty quick to guard his food.

We made it down before the rain started and were in the truck at about 3:00. Under 6 hours for this hike was pretty good considering how much time we wasted playing with birds, eating, and taking pictures. It started to rain just as we got in the truck for the long ride home back to Maine. I can't wait to hit this peak in the summer as I can tell there are probably a few good napping spots up there. This marks Winter 4000' number 3 for me and 18 on the all season list. I'm 3/8 of the way there for the 48. 12 4000' peaks for me this year is twice as many as last year. I actually did Eisenhower twice which means I got to start "The Grid". It 15 or 20 years, I may even finish the grid.