Thursday, February 11, 2016

2/8/2016--Hale and Road Walk Daydreaming


Mt. Hale
~ 2,500 feet
~ 10 miles


We are going to do Mt. Hale!  There will be a road walk and then the actual Hale Brook trailhead, where we will then go up the mountain.  It is pretty cold out here, so I want to get moving quickly.  We are going to New York City this week, therefore we have to hike something that doesn't take all day because of the amount of schoolwork I have to do before we go.  Mom, Sage, and I are hiking alone today.  Starting off on the road walk...


At first I wasn't really excited for the road walk, but now I realize I'm enjoying it.  I can just walk, gaze off into space, and daydream about drawing--I don't have to look where I'm stepping!



Here's the bridge!



Long and never-ending daydreams ahead...


Here we are!  That road walk seemed to go by pretty fast.  We were surprised because we figured out that we walked at a speed of about 3 miles an hour while on the road--well, it was flat!





Footprint pictures...


Ta-da!


Mom is taking a picture of the trailhead with her phone!  Hers goes out of power really quickly on hikes, so Mom tends to leave it off when she can.


I am trying to get a good close-up of my hair for no apparent reason, but the camera is being a bit blurry!


We're walking to the trailhead now...


There are a ton of tracks!  Oh my gosh!  Some squirrels and chipmunks must have played ferocious tag...



Aww, they're so tiny...


The trail sign!


Let's begin Hale Brook Trail now...


Still looking flat...well, it should definitely start going up soon.


Action shot!



Walking, walking...



The first crossing.  I am a little worried I'm going to fall because of all the ice...







Good!  We all made it over the crossing just fine.  Let's keep going.



We are having a conversation about an organization called Global Fund for Women.  We hope to raise some money for them.  In New York City, we are going to meet someone who works for the organization.  In addition, we are going to dine with Sydny Miner, the editor of my mom's book, UP!  I am really looking forward to seeing her again.


This part of the trail is very slippery!  I just slipped and slid down the side of the trail, but the trees prevented me from sliding any further.




Tiny stream...




I love how the path here is straight, and you can see a little opening through the trees!  Ahh...


And we're here!  I am a little hungry.






The trees look nice...blocking the view...


Cairn!!


We ate some candy at the top and are now heading back down.  My hands were cold as soon as I took them out of my gloves, so I didn't end up eating any of the sunflower seeds that were offered to me.  I did have the candy that I brought, though.



Quick selfie before my hands get too cold...



We're down!  Going down the mountain seemed to go immensely fast.  I almost forgot we still have a road walk to do.


Ready to walk out...



The beautiful trees and tree limb silhouettes against the clear sky...!


I have to get a close-up...I always do on a hike!  So there are some icy footprints for you.




We're back on the road!  It will probably not take too long to get to our car.  I tried to guess a time.


So pretty!!!



There's some brownish ice here.







A glimpse of Mount Washington...




Sage is determined to sled this part.  We sled down parts of Hale Brook Trail, too.


We're back to the cars in the parking lot!





I ended up guessing the time almost exactly right--we are in the car by 12:40 p.m.  Cool!


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