0830 hit the road with Don, Mike, Brent
1215 arrive at Ravine Lodge off of Rte 118 from Woodstock, NH
1235 hit Asquaam Ridge Trail to the peak
1440 arrive at Beaver Brook/Asquaam juncture - set up camp approx 100 yds beyond
1520 leave packs behind, put on cold weather gear and head for the peak
armed with cameras and water.
1610 arrive at the peak 4802ft. Wind is howling at 20-25 mph gusts.
Temps are in the low 30's. Sun is nearing the horizon with maybe a
little over 2 hrs of sunlight remaining.
1645 head back to camp - encounter Canadian Jay - stop to hand feed peanuts.
1720 arrive at camp, begin preparations for dinner and camp fire, cutting
downed tree for firewood - all is very damp.
1815 80% of food is cooked and ready to consume. Don's Whisperlite
International fails to ignite but the MSR Shaker is still going
strong. Several failed attempts to light the campfire as temperatures
approach sub 30's.
1930 Everyone has hot food to consume. Campfire still elluding us as
darkness falls. Last attempt with downed birch bark as fuel.
Last resort is to use starting block of fire starter.
2000 Campfire lit, Mike's birch idea works and efforts to maintain fire
are underway. Wet logs and branches are stacked alongside
campfire to dry in the heat.
2010 It's SoCo time...cheers!
2040 Clear dark sky, no clouds visible in the tree line. Several
satellites are visible orbitting the planet. One particullarly
large or low orbit (MIR?).
2050 It begins to sleet/snow. Don curses vehemently.
2100 Precipitation ceases
2130 Clouds begin to appear on and off along with precipitation
2210 Time to hit the sack! Snow steadily falls although lightly.
0800 Wake to have "breakfast"
0830 Pack up camp
0900 Begin descent
0930 Came upon moron group of 10 or so hikers camping right off the trail and actually
cooking food on the %!@# trail, What a bunch of !%@$#!