Hiking in the Whites

"Stop looking for people you love,

start doing things you love,

and you will find people you love."

some smart guy

Not that I have been intensively looking for people I love, but thats what we as a group kind of figured out again over that weekend. I signed up for the meetup-group "Hudson Valley Hikers" (HVH) and over Memorial Day weekend, they organized a big hike. Well it was supposed to be a big one. About 150 people signed up, the weather forecast of rain and degrees near freezing temperature (in late may!) diminished this number to 80 and on the last evening we have been around 25. Nevertheless, this group was awesome!

Here are some impressions with my most-listened music of the past month (Lindsey Stirling):

Just a 7-hour drive away (american feeling of distances..) we arrived some time in the night at the campground. Plans for the next day were discussed, tents set up and then quick into the sleeping bag to be ready. The main idea was to do the "presidential range", meaning to climb Mt. Washington and a few others. These are the highest mountains on the east coast and therefore named like a few well-known americans. High? Well with around 4000ft (~1500m), it was hard to believe for me that these are actually mountains. With the trailheads at a lower sea level than the Stephansdom in Vienna, the mountainness needed to be discovered.

Saturday morning - rain, rain and a little bit of view

Obviously we were not going to do the big project.

We wanted to go for a 6-hour hike with nice views over the presidential range. Well... it became a 8 1/2 hour without a view of the presidential range - the reason: Rain! However, I enjoied it and it induced some intense shopping at EMS!

In the evening we went to a pizzeria in a nearby town. This is not be imagined like a small village with an old inn and its mountain-family. Nay, it's again america! Tons of big hostels, restaraunt chains and thinks the like... however, the food was good but I didn't got to taste the beer/wine. Reason? Well no passport - New Hampshire (like many other states except New York and DC) does not accept forein drivers licenses. Ok for me, but also a fellow hiker, woman around 40 had troubles.. i will recap the conversation:

Waiter: "May I please see your ID?"

Heather: "Oh, thanks for the compliment."

Waiter: "You're welcome, but we ask the ID from everybody who looks like under the age of 40."

Heather: "Uh yeah, that's another compliment"

Waiter: "Nice, however I can't bring you a glass of wine without your ID..."

Well... he remained serious, she had her ID in another car which was parked at the campground - no wine for Heather either!

Sunday - the rain stopped, but snow was on the ground..

.. just an amazing winter adventure (on may, 26th!). I won't say much more about that.... except that we went over that trail and at the end we found this nice sign, saying "Due Ice and Snow the trails are closed". Uh, this reminds me of a friends quote:

I don't hike mountains with gondolas.

Why? Well you arrive at the top, after hours of walking in snow and wind, with your backpack and everything and what do you see? People in flip-flops and ladys in heels in the cafe. After we left the shelter again and a friend put on micro-spikes, somebody was smoking outside with tongues... that guy surely didn't went for the hike :).

In the evening, nice fire and I got to make "Smorts" (hope I write it correctly...). This thing with grilled marshmallow, crackers and chocolates - the american camper food I have been told.

About the last 3 pictures..

- Waste disposal car - US branded!! even that...

- a ford dodge... which is like the american brother of the Fiat doblo (check back doubleugoesfrance)

- my road trip crew... thanks a lot buddies!

And just to tell ya... these things are actually mountains!