Mountain Journal

From Mt. Washington, we went on to other New England mountains. Steve and I climbed Mt. Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. It was a rainy climb, and we stayed in a hut with several other people. We also climbed Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The first time was another rainy trip, but it was memorable because we saw many moose. While on the main trail up the mountain, in a light rain, we came face to face with a moose and her two calves. We all froze for a minute or two, and then the moose calmly stepped off the trail and went around us. The next day, which was sunny and nice, we came face to butt with a big bull moose. He wasn’t more than 15 feet from us, and calmly turned to check us out while munching on some greenery. I think I actually got a photo of him. A few years later we went up Katahdin again, and spent 2 nights in a lean-to by Chimney Pond. The weather was much better this time, and we got to do the famous Knife Edge trail. It was spectacular!! A real rugged climb with some great exposure and good views. I remember bathing in the cold clear water in a place where the water was studded with giant boulders you could bask on or hide amongst. After a while the mountains began to draw many more people, and regulations were enforced that prevented us from camping where we wanted. Summer climbs just weren’t fun any more, and Steve doesn’t really like the cold. One year we took a young guy from Rotman’s up with us on one of our annual after Thanksgiving climbs. His name is Bob, and he likes the snow. Eventually Bob and I progressed to the point where we could survive anything the mountain could throw at us, and climbed many a winter night.