Cannon Mountain was the place that Kevin Rooney chose to end his and Brutus' journey over all the NH 4,000 footers in a single winter. Beginning on the official start of winter on Mt Cabot in lousy weather he and Brutus and the "Bruttie Brigade" hiked long days through good weather and bad. On a rare warm day in February (SuperBowl Sunday)the group did an entire Southern Presidential traverse. I happened to be on the ridge the same day.
From the Kinsmans to lonely Owlshead and Isolation they hiked weekend after weekend. Many faithful members like Al and Cath kept them company. So when March rolled around Kevin and Brutus were down to Tecumseh and Cannon. The hiking community was reading of their exploits on the NH forums, I followed along as well.
I heard about the hike on the VFTT website. It would be my first hike with them though I'd narrowly missed them on the trail several times. I expected a group of a dozen, maybe a few more to hike to the summit of Cannon where they would end their 48.
I arrived pretty early, had a chance to walk around, look at the views and find the trailhead. It was gloomy in the notch, the sky was partly blue but mostly cloudy with a hint of snow in the air. There was just one little car in the lot when I pulled in, then another, and another and another arrived. I had time to gear up and just walk around to stay warm. Mohamed was there! I said hi to him.
It seemed like more and more of the hiking community was showing up, I saw people I'd met on the trail or had said hi to in a forum. More folks came, several started up the steep Kinsman Ridge trail.
I watched as Brutus and Kevin geared up, we took some group pictures then trudged over a snowbank towards the trail. I was in one of the first groups and we hiked at a moderately fast pace up and over some switchbacks and past some fairly steep spots. At different spots people stopped to peel off a layer, this was hot work!
It was my first time up KRT from this direction so I wasn't sure what to expect, Kevin had said, "steep." It wasn't too bad but I felt the need to pull off and grab a drink a half hour into the hike. But I re-joined the lead group as we trudged on up. We met and passed Mohamed who had taken off just before us. Most of the group were far behind by then.
A kid with a nice moose hat kept right up with us. Pretty soon we ran into our first skier, well not literally but close. This was also following the Kinsman Glade trail which is a ski trail though some difficult terrain. As one said, "the second toughest ski trail in NH." At one point someone pointed out the tram. "Watch as they pass, that's the half-way mark."
We came to the junction with KRT and the ski trails, going left would take us over an area of cliffs but since Brutus was taking the ski trails so did I. In another 20 minutes we were at the main ski trail, man it was steep! I guess I'm not a skier.
I stayed on the left-hand side of the trail so I didn't disturb or get hit by the skiers. The trees here were coated in a fine white rime and our blue sky was all gone now. Up and up we went, this gains elevation fast! Pant-pant-pant.
Pretty soon I saw the first views of a building and the Tram whisked by on it's way up. Skiers were stopping now as they watched the line of snowshoers go up. We heard, "you're going the wrong direction, and man that looks hard!" But it wasn't that bad, I felt great. Quickly I arrived at the lodge and took the left towards the true summit of Cannon and climbed the stairs to the tower.
The main group didn't arrive, I waited for a bit but it was cold so I walked back to the lodge, de-packed and sat to eat some snacks in the warm but crowded cafeteria. Someone spotted the guys as they continued to the summit so we all leapt up, got dressed and ran outside to catch them.
So about 40 of us trudged up the tower stairs and all gathered on the platform. Two of the guys unveiled a big banner while Kevin gave Brutus some boiled eggs. His glossy black coat was all ice covered below his mouth. That floppy red tongue licked his chops hungrily.
They got it erected despite a stubborn wind, a line of prayer flags ringed the group as we all celebrated the first man and dog to climb all of the NH 4K peaks in one winter. Cath who also climbed the 48 in one winter had worked at Cannon before and she arranged for a special time on Cannon for Brutus. She'd already taken the Tram up with some suprises and the banner.
So we tramped on back to the lodge where everyone (including Brutus) came inside and sat to eat. Brutus had some prime-rib and other treats while I ate peanuts.....oh well, it's a dogs life. There was a cake which everyone enjoyed and then Cath passed out t-shirts that said "Paws from the Top." Brutus was fed more treats before he and Kevin headed outside to have a quiet moment.
It had been quite a winter for the duo and I was there to see the last of it. We had a wonderful time and slowly the troop dispersed and people hiked down. I said my goodbyes to Mohamed and promised to stay in touch.
I stayed (now on my right) of the ski trails, snow had begun to fall and the visibility was less so I kept my ears open for racing skiers. I hiked for a piece with Roy and then lost him as I begun glissading. That was a blast and I wasn't worried even as I raced past another hiker and missed the main trail.....oh well, gravity!
I passed a girl and her dad who had no business being on this trail. Just slid past them winding through the trees and deep snow. I didn't want it to end but it did, right at the back of the base lodge. So I tramped back to the lot, it was snowing heavily and I was worried about the drive home. A few stragglers came down and I said goodbye to them. Wrote "Yeaah Brutus and Kev" in the ice and snow in the back window of Kevin's car. It had been a great day,
