When I was a kid, my dad had the hiking bug. He would get my sisters and me up early on Saturday mornings, practically force-feed us oatmeal, and we would be off to the White Mountains. I never had any idea where we were going, and frankly, I didn't even want to be awake yet!
I don't have many fond memories of these hikes as a kid. I really couldn't appreciate the mountains and only saw them as a chore my dad wanted me to complete. I would have a backpack that felt like a million pounds, and I remember every step, wishing that we were at the summit already so we could get back to the car and go swimming instead. Little did I know that something I despised as a kid would become one of my favorite hobbies.
It all started in 2019. It was my second summer out of college, and I worked at a monotonous job. My physical health was in the toilet, and I was at the worst point in my life. I didn't have any hobbies, and it seemed that my entire existence was to wake up and go to this job, and well, that was it.
One day at work, I overheard some of my coworkers talking about their weekend hiking plans. They did this from time to time, but I never quite paid attention. They were always talking about places I had never heard of. I don't quite recall which peaks they were talking about, but one thing led to another, and I started chatting with them about it. One of them encouraged me to get Peakbagger, which is an app that shows practically every mountain, hill, and bump in the world. This opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for me. And suddenly, I had something to look forward to on the weekends.
Hiking is something I had dabbled with in college. Having gone to Plymouth State University, I was surrounded by them all the time but had only ever hiked Osceola and Cannon. I never had any intention of completing the 48 four-thousand-footers. Suddenly having access to Peakbagger and seeing all of the hiking lists, I saw that I had made quite a dent in the 4000 footers when I was a kid. I thought to myself if a 12-year-old could hike some 4000 footers, surely a 23-year-old could too! I was in for a reality check.
The first peak in my 4000-footer journey was Moosilauke. I had done this before as a kid, but I wanted to hike it again so I could remember what the hike was like. I invited a bunch of friends who also weren't hikers, and we made our way up the Gorge Brook trail. I was practically racing up that trail, feeling stronger than I ever had. My friends kept getting left in the dust. I remember summiting feeling like I had conquered the mountain.
Now fast forward to August 2023. The 2023 hiking season started with non-stop rain. All my plans to do hikes on the 4ks and the 52 with a view list had come to a halt. I hate hiking in the rain, and I wasn't about to start doing that. So I waited most of the season for a window to tackle the mountain I feared the most; Adams.
Something about Adams has always terrified me. I had hiked Mount Madison via the Howker Ridge trail a few years prior and had a horrendous time. Purely because I was out of shape and underprepared for a hike of that magnitude. But Adams was supposed to be more challenging than Madison! I had a hard time wrapping my head around how this could be possible.
I tried to convince myself that I was ready to tackle Adams. By this point, I had been hiking consistently since 2019 and felt stronger and more humbled by the mountains. I now carry a heavier pack, carry the 10 essentials, and look at every weather forecast possible before even attempting a Presidential mountain. Even on the day of the hike starting up Valley Way trail, my stomach sank thinking about what I was getting myself into.
The forecast for the day was about 50ish degrees with 30mph sustained winds and up to 60mph gusts at the summit. This was something I wasn't comfortable with at all. My hiking buddy insisted that we make it to Madison Spring Hut and see what the weather is like. Once we got to the hut, I was already exhausted. I had done super well with pacing myself until right around the cutoff for the tent site. After that, it felt like getting to the hut took forever.
We took a break, and I tore into some granola bars while we checked the weather and tried to warm up a bit. For about an hour, we watched people going up the trail and turning around. I was starting to think that where I was sitting would be the final destination for the day.
After fueling up and waiting about an hour, we decided, hey, we're here; let's just head that way and see what happens. We started up towards Adams, and the wind was indeed strong, but nothing that was scary. I just took it slow and steady and was careful about my every step on the loose rip rap.
After about 45 minutes with clouds completely socking in the summit, I pushed against the heavy wind to stand on the rock next to the Adams trail sign. The clouds cleared for a brief moment, which allowed enough time for my hiking buddy to take a photo of me holding onto this sign for dear life. I made it! I made it to a place that I never dreamed of standing. A place I had never thought I was capable of being because I wasn't strong enough to be there.
Adams was my 45th summit of the 48. But this is truly where I feel like I finished the 48. Not to say the final trips weren't incredible, but because I conquered my fears that day. I also proved to myself that I am capable of anything. I am capable of hiking.
I feel like so often we see these hiking superstars on social media that treat the Presidential traverse like it's child's play. While their accomplishments are impressive, I somehow feel like an imposter for never hiking enough. But that day on Adams, I proved to myself that I am a strong hiker and no matter how fast or how many mountains I do, I still love and appreciate them so much. They have completely changed my mentality, and I am forever thankful for this journey. Twelve-year-old me would think I'm crazy, but 27-year-old me is so proud.
Here's to many more hiking adventures. Thank you all involved with the AMC Four Thousand Footer Committee for all that you do.
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