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Anticipation and the Breathing Boots
After the initial excitement wore off, I realized that I know absolutely nothing about hiking. Ryan was a mountaineering instructor back in California, so he’d be able to help with the basics of what I needed to know.
Plus, Tom let me borrow most of the gear, but there were a few things that I’d need to get myself –hiking socks and more importantly, a good pair of waterproof boots. So off I go to Eastern Mountain Sports to find something waterproof. How hard can that be?
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When I was younger and would cruise the malls on the weekends, we’d often stop into EMS to buy hacky-sacks, but it had probably been 10+ years since I’ve seen the inside of one of their stores.
As soon as I arrive at the EMS in Cranston, I feel like I’m in over my head: crunchy-granola type people milling about talking about kayaks and portable cooking stoves and breathable fabrics.
I notice that not all of the people in the store are young and fit, most of them are older, which puts me at ease. “If this old dude is a hiker, I can be one, too”.
I’m approached by a short fellow by the name of Vaughn and explain to him that I’m making my first hiking trip to NH and I need boots.
“We’re planning on spending 4 days hiking Mt. Washington.” I throw that last part about Washington in there for a couple of reasons.
First, I figure it will help him understand what I need the boots for. Second, I want to astound him with either my bravery or complete stupidity at attempting
the largest mountain in the Northeast on my first hike.
After about an hour of trying on boots from manufacturers I’ve never heard of, I settle on a pair of Vasque Breeze boots for $115.
Vaughn tells me that they’ll hold up beautifully in the Presidentials and if I treat them with waterproofing spray, they’ll be perfect.
I’m a bit concerned about the breathable mesh that runs the length of the boot, but if Vaughn says they’re good, then I’m good to go. I grab a few pairs of socks (at $9 a pair) and head back home.
It's at this point I realize there's no turning back - I'm financially invested in this hiking trip to Mount Washington.
A Test in the Blue Hills
I report back to Tom about my new purchases and he suggests a short hike to break in my new boots. Sounds like a great idea to me, so we meet plan a 3 mile loop up on a 90 degree day just outside Boston at
the Blue Hills Reservation. All the while there, I think to myself, “This should be easy.” Boy was I wrong.
100 yards from the truck and we immediately start to go uphill. It’s rocky with lots of roots sticking up and steep. It actually looks as though we’re walking up a dry waterfall,
but I put those thoughts aside and try to keep up with Tom and Ryan. They’re talking and laughing and in general good spirits. I’m sweating, heart racing, and somewhat confused.
“Why did I want to do this? Am I really ready for Mt. Washington? Where’s my damn water bottle?” It’s only 10 minutes into the hike at this point...
I push and push and begin to realize why this area is called “Blue Hills” – it’s a series of ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs, with each “up” seeming to be steeper than the last. But even more surprisingly is the fact that the “downs” are just as tough. I feel like we’re one step away from rapelling downhill at times, but through it all, the new boots hold up well.
The most grueling hill is aptly named Great Blue Hill. I climb and climb but the “summit” seems beyond my reach. Tom and Ryan (who are still laughing and joking and generally pissing me off)
encourage me to keep pushing. I look uphill and can only see trees, trees and more trees, but finally after what seems like an eternity, the trees break and I can see a stone structure in front of me.
I’ve reached the top of Great Blue Hill. It’s 625 ft tall. By comparison, Mt Washington is 6288 ft. tall.
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Read the previous chapter of our story, my first hiking trip or
>>> Continue on to part 3 of our story, d-day for boomslice.
or feel free to eyeball some of the pics that i took on the trip
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back to the nature photos
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