INTO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Seriously guys, these dreary rain days in New England are really getting to me. I'm usually one to love a good lazy day, but I'm definitely ready for that sunshine tomorrow. It's been difficult to come down from our high of hiking last weekend, BUT the rain is keeping me indoors + up to date with our mission to get this blog rolling again.

So, without further ado, here's our first blog post (not about NZ) since we've been back in the states. Crazy right? Last year we were gathering up the finishing touches of our gear to hike the Te Araroa + I was freaking out, unsure of whether I was strong, fit or prepared enough for the adventure. Fast-forward to today: I'm sitting on our couch here in Boston, craving the mountains we climbed + the lifestyle that came with it.

From all the distractions of going back home (Camden, ME), I let go of my passion for hiking + instead put my energy into maintaining my close friendships/family relationships + working to make up for all the money I had spent on my thru-hike. I don't regret focusing on those aspects of my life, because they are SO important, but sometimes we as humans forget to create a balance. Luckily, moving to Boston + taking a month off from work has given me time to refocus on my health + get outside. Last weekend when we hiked in the White Mountains, it really hit me that hiking was a TRUE passion + should never be put on the back burner again.

About the hike:

Last Sunday we were asked by our good friends, Taylor + Taylor, to head up to the White Mountains to help them complete their 7th + 8th 4,000-footers, of the 48. We ended up summiting Mt. Pierce + Mt. Eisenhower, which are part of the Crawford Notch State Park. It was a truly spectacular day: 70°, blue sky, no wind. If we had gotten there way earlier, we would have attempted to summit Mt. Washington as well... but none of us were really prepared for our 4:00 AM wake up call that morning/we didn't realize how "close" it was.

The #1 reason why I recommend hiking this route is because you can make it your own + fit it to your skill level/what you're feeling for the day. If you're looking for a half day hike, just do Mt. Pierce, a full day with time for breaks + lunch, add in Mt. Eisenhower, but if you want a longer, advanced day, go all the way to Mt. Washington. Only go to Mt. Washington if you have enough daylight/there's good weather. This time of year is hard to judge, especially when Mt. Washington is "home to the most extreme weather."