Appalachian Mountain Hospitality

 
All right, here we are, thinking about all the places that have been travelled and many more to go... Where to begin? Perhaps the latest, with a lot of jumping back and forth, as the mood takes hold. Last week it was the Presidential Mt. range in New Hampshire, just amazing really. The sheer beauty of the ascent, the great tiredness as day ends and the fantastic camaraderie of fellow hikers as stories are passed along each night. Here it is late June and each day every bit of weather that can be thrown at you, is. Start out with little wind, end with gusts so intense, you can't hear yourself think. Soaking rains, that evaporate into sunbursts, followed by unbelievable winds again, back to sunshine, then intense fog, and circles of snow, returning to green grass and flowers.   

  Thinking prior to our trek how nice it will be to sit on Adirondack chairs at night with a whiskey, quickly fades away, as we sit huddled inside the huts with sweaters, hats and boots on, the wind banging and blowing outside the door. Great food, family style, from one end of the table to the other, starting each night with homemade soup and loaves of bread, that cascade into fantastic platters of honeyed chicken and rice, lasagna and garden peas, or baked ham with rice and mexican corn, and for dessert cheese cake, the first night, molasses sugar cookies the next, and chocolate cake with raspberry jam another, unbelievable. And guess what? You eat every bit, and burn it up quickly on the next days ascent. It doesn't sound too daunting, but an average of six constant hours of climbing, with never a flat area to put your foot, can leave your knees screaming for a break by evening.

The best part is getting to know others and listen to stories of why each person is here, and where else they have been on their travels. Passing along the whiskey, or wine, intimacies build and friendships form without even realizing it.

Sleeping in bunks four high with snoring, talking, and laughter is perhaps better with ear plugs, but why bother that now. Lights out around nine, but with headlamps friends gather around over cards or "pass the pig", then, better put away the drinks and head to your bunk, as daybreak comes early and breakfast is your only friend till the next evening.