Pierce Through Washington to Complete my Single Season Winter 48 - 2/16/2009 - Views From The Top

LRiz · 02-16-2009, 10:52 PM

I was determined not to start this thread before...

Sorting through the hundreds of pictures that I took this weekend
Gathering my thoughts and taking the time to write a detailed trip report

However, to be very honest, I'm just too ridiculously excited to wait the 2+ days it'll take for me to complete those two tasks.

After a whirlwind 54 days of hiking, starting on Christmas Day last year and ending, today (quite fittingly) on Presidents Day, I realized my goal of climbing all 48 NH four thousand footers in one winter season. Cath and Tim were there to accompany me on my final seven peaks - namely, the Northern Presidentials on Sunday (thank you, Cath

), and Pierce through Washington today. We could not have asked for better conditions. The winds remained calm, the clouds and lighting wonderfully varied, the company... well, just marvelous!

It's been a long, tough, yet infinitely rewarding journey for me. Initially, I didn't believe myself to be strong enough (nor tenacious enough) to even attempt such a conquest. I was told by some that it's simply too ambitious a goal to strive for. Nevertheless, as improbable as it may have seemed at the time, I was hell bent on at least attempting the "single season" challenge.

I'm glad that I did. Over the past two months, I've had the pleasure of meeting so many extraordinary people, and have come to realize that it's truly possible to accomplish anything when you set your mind to it. Previously an adamant solo hiker, I quickly learned that hiking in the company of others is fun - in fact, I infinitely enjoy it over hiking alone (my only solo hike this winter - Waumbek - was certainly strange and lonely)... and most surprisingly to me, I actually grew to love my snowshoes, after tripping over them countless times on my first winter hike and angrily stating that I would never climb a mountain again whilst wearing them!

To all of you who have made this dream of mine a reality - I cannot thank you enough. Here are a few pictures from my final four peaks today. I hope to post additional photos, and to write up more detailed accounts of my final two hikes as the week progresses...

Pierce (just a bit awkward) and Eisenhower:

Monroe and Washington:

...and what's a TR without a few silly pictures

:

Now, what to do next?

UNFROZENCAVEMAN · 02-16-2009, 11:01 PM

~ rock on, i knew you could do it! ~

rocket21 · 02-16-2009, 11:39 PM

Congratulations! An absolutely amazing accomplishment!

Dave Bear · 02-16-2009, 11:46 PM

Congratulations Larisa! What a way to finish, saving the biggest for last!

Its been a pleasure reading your trip reports and seeing your progress!

BIGEarl · 02-17-2009, 03:24 AM

Congratulations again. Never a doubt!

J&J · 02-17-2009, 03:26 AM

It was a pleasure to have bumped into you and your crew a couple of times this winter whilst you were in the middle of your quest. Excellent, excellent job. An extreme achievement! Congratulations!! And a hundred more accolades!!!

drewski · 02-17-2009, 05:16 AM

tough gal--and yellow snowshoes...where did you get those???

1HappyHiker · 02-17-2009, 05:17 AM

Well done! An accomplishment you’ll surely remember and cherish for a lifetime!

bobandgeri · 02-17-2009, 05:26 AM

Hmmmm... about 5 more weeks of winter left. We're thinking it should be enough time for you to put a huge dent into the 2nd round! Congratulations on an amazing journey!!

B&G
(Thinking we might just have to give Red Bull a try)

MadRiver · 02-17-2009, 05:34 AM

Well done!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't had my coffee yet so I will post later.

The Feathered Hat · 02-17-2009, 05:41 AM

Fantastic! Amazing! Wondrous and Wonderful!

What an accomplishment. It will be spoken of by your children, grandchildren and generations beyond.

Congratulations!

bikehikeskifish · 02-17-2009, 06:02 AM

Congratulations Larisa!

Tim

una_dogger · 02-17-2009, 06:04 AM

Huge congratulations!!! Way to go!!

And here I had the weekend off and haven't hiked any of your winters with you! Doh!

Silverfox · 02-17-2009, 06:50 AM

What a fitting day to finish off on Washington

You couldn't have planned it better...Great Job!!

Bobby · 02-17-2009, 06:53 AM

Congrats! Awesome job

02-16-2009, 10:52 PM	#1
LRiz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Will run for beer Posts: 249	Pierce Through Washington to Complete my Single Season Winter 48 - 2/16/2009 I was determined not to start this thread before... Sorting through the hundreds of pictures that I took this weekend Gathering my thoughts and taking the time to write a detailed trip report However, to be very honest, I'm just too ridiculously excited to wait the 2+ days it'll take for me to complete those two tasks. After a whirlwind 54 days of hiking, starting on Christmas Day last year and ending, today (quite fittingly) on Presidents Day, I realized my goal of climbing all 48 NH four thousand footers in one winter season. Cath and Tim were there to accompany me on my final seven peaks - namely, the Northern Presidentials on Sunday (thank you, Cath ), and Pierce through Washington today. We could not have asked for better conditions. The winds remained calm, the clouds and lighting wonderfully varied, the company... well, just marvelous! It's been a long, tough, yet infinitely rewarding journey for me. Initially, I didn't believe myself to be strong enough (nor tenacious enough) to even attempt such a conquest. I was told by some that it's simply too ambitious a goal to strive for. Nevertheless, as improbable as it may have seemed at the time, I was hell bent on at least attempting the "single season" challenge. I'm glad that I did. Over the past two months, I've had the pleasure of meeting so many extraordinary people, and have come to realize that it's truly possible to accomplish anything when you set your mind to it. Previously an adamant solo hiker, I quickly learned that hiking in the company of others is fun - in fact, I infinitely enjoy it over hiking alone (my only solo hike this winter - Waumbek - was certainly strange and lonely)... and most surprisingly to me, I actually grew to love my snowshoes, after tripping over them countless times on my first winter hike and angrily stating that I would never climb a mountain again whilst wearing them! To all of you who have made this dream of mine a reality - I cannot thank you enough. Here are a few pictures from my final four peaks today. I hope to post additional photos, and to write up more detailed accounts of my final two hikes as the week progresses... Pierce (just a bit awkward) and Eisenhower: Monroe and Washington: ...and what's a TR without a few silly pictures : Now, what to do next? Last edited by LRiz; 02-17-2009 at 08:04 AM.

02-16-2009, 11:01 PM	#2
UNFROZENCAVEMAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Proctorsville, VT ~ A: Home Sweet Home Posts: 374	~ rock on, i knew you could do it! ~ __________________ "Not all who are lost wander." - Me "The Great Way is very level but people greatly delight in tortuous paths." - Te Tao Chin "Strength without flexibility is rigidity. Flexibility without strength is fragility." - It's all about YOGA

02-16-2009, 11:46 PM	#4
Dave Bear Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brookline, NH Avatar:Ice Cave on Cascade Brook Posts: 470	Congratulations Larisa! What a way to finish, saving the biggest for last! Its been a pleasure reading your trip reports and seeing your progress! __________________ The heart of the journey is in the path not the peak! Last edited by Dave Bear; 02-17-2009 at 06:16 PM.

02-17-2009, 03:26 AM	#6
J&J Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: On the summit of Jefferson Posts: 259	It was a pleasure to have bumped into you and your crew a couple of times this winter whilst you were in the middle of your quest. Excellent, excellent job. An extreme achievement! Congratulations!! And a hundred more accolades!!! __________________ J&J

02-17-2009, 05:16 AM	#7
drewski Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 208	yellow shoes tough gal--and yellow snowshoes...where did you get those???

02-16-2009, 11:39 PM	#3
rocket21 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,856	Congratulations! An absolutely amazing accomplishment!

02-17-2009, 03:24 AM	#5
BIGEarl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 1,216	Congratulations again. Never a doubt!

02-17-2009, 05:17 AM	#8
1HappyHiker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bethlehem, NH Posts: 1,480	Well done! An accomplishment you’ll surely remember and cherish for a lifetime!

02-17-2009, 05:26 AM	#9
bobandgeri Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Merrimack NH... Avatar: Mt Washington January 2008 Posts: 1,484	Hmmmm... about 5 more weeks of winter left. We're thinking it should be enough time for you to put a huge dent into the 2nd round! Congratulations on an amazing journey!! B&G (Thinking we might just have to give Red Bull a try) __________________ Bob & Geri bobandgeri@rbhayes.net http://www.facebook.com/bobandgeri http://rbhayes.net/recent.htm

02-17-2009, 05:34 AM	#10
MadRiver Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Thornton, NH Posts: 1,306	Well done!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't had my coffee yet so I will post later. __________________ Circus Boy: Nuff said!

02-17-2009, 05:41 AM	#11
The Feathered Hat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 180	Fantastic! Amazing! Wondrous and Wonderful! What an accomplishment. It will be spoken of by your children, grandchildren and generations beyond. Congratulations!

02-17-2009, 06:02 AM	#12
bikehikeskifish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,715	Congratulations Larisa! Tim __________________ Bike, Hike, Ski, Sleep. Eat, Fish, Repeat. Working on: NE67, NEHH Last edited by bikehikeskifish; 02-17-2009 at 06:06 AM.

02-17-2009, 06:04 AM	#13
una_dogger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Avatar: North Percy Posts: 2,986	Huge congratulations!!! Way to go!! And here I had the weekend off and haven't hiked any of your winters with you! Doh! __________________ NE115~34/48 NH48x3~NE67~ADK46r # 6247~NEHH 99/100~~YAlpine 77/100~2010 BOSTON MARATHON bib # 26266~Terra the Traildog NH4L48 #106 May You Walk Gently Through the World and Know Its Beauty All the Days of Your Life~Apache Blessing doG is my CoPilot

02-17-2009, 06:50 AM	#14
Silverfox Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Meredith New Hampshire Posts: 726	terrific What a fitting day to finish off on Washington You couldn't have planned it better...Great Job!! __________________ ..350

02-17-2009, 06:53 AM	#15
Bobby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston, MA Avatar: on Owl's Head summit Posts: 631	Congrats! Awesome job __________________ "Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." Crash Davis -"Bull Durham" My albums

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