On Gorge Brook Trail
Starting at just after 9am a group including Sarah, Sherpa John, her father George, her Brother in law Lenny, Bob and Geri, their friends Joel and Heather, MEB, Arm, Steve, Charles Dona,Spongebob, myself and my nephew Steve left Ravine Lodge Road. We noted the painted sign of a bus smashing into a car in the turn-around "NO PARKING!" Arm and his friend Steve left a few minutes before us. George Fitch had already left with a bunch of balloons, helium tank and ice-cream.
We quickly saw a red balloon (TEAM Sherpa official color) at a trail junction, following Gorge Brook we found more red balloons. Sarah led the way, we took short breaks right off. Sherpa J later told us Sarah's blood sugar level was extremely high (417.) Sarah has Type 1 Diabetes. My wife (a diabetes educator) later said "she would've felt very lethargic and thirsty with a BSL that high." Despite this she continued on and we followed.
It was hot and humid so at a convenient place while taking a break, SherpaJ and Charles decided to take a little swim. Charles actually swam, Sherpa waded. Looked pretty cold to me!
Pretty soon we saw another balloon, now she had 5 floating above her pack. "Sarah's Red Balloons" sounded sort of like a childrens book.We all hoped it would take some of the weight off her shoulders, she looked tired but gamely moved on.
We hiked on, many remarking again on how hot and humid it was. We came to a place with 4 balloons on the left side of the trail and 8 on the other side. "48" so some of us cut the strings and tied them to her pack.
I started losing count of just how many balloons she had, some low on her pack, others 8 feet over her head. Sometimes a branch would grab the string and get caught for a moment. We found more and more balloons, George was having fun.
There were some clearings here off to the right but it was so hazy you couldn't see more than a half mile or so. Skies ahead seemed darker, we hoped the predicted thundershowers would hold off for awhile.
Trees seemed to shrink, taking on their wind twisted shapes...I knew we were getting close to the edge of the woods and the beginning of the alpine zone. The clouds literally scraped the tops of the trees, it was a little cooler with a tantalizing breeze kicking up. So far the bugs hadn't been too bad unless you stopped.
Charles, MEB, Sarah and Steve here hike through the last of the krummoltz trees.
Sherpa J and several others took off towards the summit.
I spotted a large mass of red and knew that must be the summit. Sarah had moved more to the back of the group now so others could go ahead and photograph her.
It was 15 degrees cooler up here, we were grateful for the change. This was my nephew Steve's first 4K hike, I'd taken him on a couple of minor summits before this, he was doing great.
We got closer to the top, Sherpa J and Hikerfast were up there already. I got in back of Sarah and watched her walk up the last flat stretch towards the summit.
She was pretty easy to spot, I began to hear cheers from others on top.
The cheers were growing and then Sarah stood on the summit of Mt Moosilauke , at 4,802 this courageous young woman had climbed all of the New Hampshire peaks above 4,000 feet.
George Fitch was there quickly passing out melting ice cream cones, he'd brought up at least 3 half gallons along with sugar-cones. I also congratulated my nephew Steve on his first 4K summit, he really had a great time. I learned that Sarah's dad and another girl also were celebrating their first 4000 footer.
Himalayan prayer flags, silvery congrats tape and a huge mound of balloons fluttered from the summit sign. It was a misty gray backdrop with vague views. The black-flies were out and hungry.
A boyscout troop reached the summit from a different route, they quickly found out about the free soupy ice cream. :) Sherpa took the almost empty strawberry container and poured it into his mouth...ah to be young!
Here Sherpa John
I looked at my watch, it was 1PM and I was supposed to be home by 4PM to help out with my mother-in-laws birthday party, GULP!!! I quickly said my goodbyes, promised to see everyone again and roused Steve from his post ice-cream (4 cones!) nap.
Steve and I waved goodbye and headed over to South Moosilauke for the carriage Road and Snapper Trails by way of the South Peak.
It only took us an hour and twenty minutes to hike down, the carriage road was a black-fly buggy nightmare. We barely paused at all, just once to admire beautiful Gorge brook. About 7 miles total and only 2,400 feet of vertical elevation...nice easy hike!
