Carrigain, So Long Ago I Hope I get it Right...

Wow! So it's been awhile. Good news is I have been hiking! Bad news is the start of a new school year has taken over any resemble of a "life" I had. We're talking 12 to 13 hour days of working on school materials, going to meetings, creating stuff, making to-do lists that just seem to grow instead of dwindle. I mean, this is what I look like Monday through Friday:

I then fall asleep and dream about school. What kids go in what spelling group? Did I grade the writing too hard? too easy? Why is this my classroom this year (as I proceed to dream about moving everything into my old classroom that is almost twice the size). It. Is. Never. Ending. Great, I'll probably go back to dreaming about school again now that I'm talking about it. I had a sweet weekend off of those.

Anyway, this blog isn't about my work woes. It's about getting away from them and into the mountains.

So TWO weeks ago, which now seems like two months ago, the boy decided he wanted to test out his knee on a 4,000 footer. I just happened to be plotting my next hike up to the top of Mt. Carrigain. And okay, maybe I strongly encouraged his tagging along because I had some REALLY BIG plans brewing for the following weekend which you'll get to read about probably in October when I find some free time. Anyway, off we headed to the hiker's exit: number 35, up to 302 and through the notch we went until we reached Sawyer River Road. Here's where the fun began. And I'm not being sarcastic.

Trail head is pretty easy to locate

The trail started off gradually, with a few mud spots. (Don't ask me if it rained the days prior. I didn't even remember I had to pay rent this month. I cannot tell you about the weather two weeks ago.)

Someone was a little eager to test out their knee on the trail

oh, mud!

There was also the peaceful sounds of the gurgling water rushing by as we (or I) casually walked through the woods because that's the vibe the trail was signaling to me and I wasn't going dispute it. I mean, old logs poking up from a trail just say, "Take it easy," to me.

Random factoid: there was an assortment of mushrooms growing all around. I especially liked the puffy looking ones.

We continued on, over a river crossing that wasn't too treacherous. We skipped over a few rocks and I sacrificed one foot to the brook in my laziness to step on the last rock. Not quite sure why I wasn't very concerned about getting all the way across with dry feet. I like to think that I'm just seasoned now.

Leading the way and keeping his feet dry while doing it

In addition to the gradual, sometimes muddy, trail, and the gurgling brook there were planks. I have a new found love affair with planks. They make me unexpectedly giddy. I don't question it.

Soon after you'll find a junction.

We followed trail left up to Mount Carrigain. It started to increase in grades and reminded me of a mountain biking path.

I was stoked that this was what I was going to be hitting on the way down. However, I had actually done my research on this hike and knew it wasn't long until the trail would stop being my casual friend and turn into a rocky uphill foe.

Exhibit A:

Rocks. Everywhere. Big rocks. Little rocks. Rocks that are angled just a little too much for my liking. Enter moderate hiking.

Yes, a reward! Mini view!

There's also this beautiful slab that you get to hoist yourself up:

Okay, fine. That part was fun. I'm sure someone isn't going to lead the entire hike again when the photographer is behind him, as well. This part was also pretty wet (hey, thanks for reminding me pictures!) and when we both looked at each with vast disappointment that we weren't going to be able to run the entire way down. Slippery, loose rocks are no beuno for someone that just had major knee surgery 6 months prior.

The trail was fairly narrow and lacked scenery. I was ready to get to the ridge line views pronto. It felt like it took longer than it should've to get to them and yes, it's entirely possible that my stomach was growling at this point and that is why.

Heck yeah, views!

Yay! The views. I was really excited! The views stretched in both directions for miles. I was ready to just set up camp here and drink in the awesomeness. While I was striking poses, I heard a bottle of bubbly pop up towards the fire tower. I turned to my cohort and immediatly said, "Someone has just reached their #48! How awesome!" I later found out that this assumption was correct, so see, assuming doesn't always have to end with making an...

But...it looks SOOOO far away!

We continued on our mission up to the tower. I was slightly taken aback that the trail became more pillowy with pine needles and rich earth. I was also happy with how quickly we got up to the tower as it looked so far away from me on the ridge (thank you self for getting Dire Straits stuck in your head).

The tower. Let's talk about it. I was petrified going up and down. I've always had a weird fear of falling between stairs to my death. Makes me wonder how I was able to work construction for a summer. But  once you get to the top. Wowza! The views were insane. There was also a guy sitting on the railing that I thought was slightly insane for doing so, but that is neither here nor there. I was so very elated.

Go ahead. Drink it in. It was a gorgeous day.

We ALWAYS match! Completely unintentional. We even were matching the day we met.

At this point I was also stoked to eat my pretzels with chocolate hazelnut spread. Justin's makes these perfect little packets for hiking. I'm a huge fan. You should get some, too. Just go to justins.com and stalk up or my favorite store on planet Earth: Target.

Anyway, it was a great hike with amazingly awe-inspiring views. There was definitely a lack of running on the way down due to the rocky conditions and then my knee decided to give me the old "I don't like you" speech. Seriously, I blame Cabot for my knee pain returning. It's not the lack of yoga in my life at all. Or my on again, off again, relationship with my foam roller.

Overall, the hike is pretty easy for the first 3ish miles then it gives attitude and turns into steady uphill of rock. Overall I think it took a little under 4 hours (again, it was soooo long ago!) Definitely worth the views on a clear day.

Happy hiking and stay tuned for when I get around to my most epic hike ever!