But also as I'm writing (Saturday night, NPR on, post softball game over at the RMC), the rain is starting so that's nice. We had one nice weekend day and though it'll mean I can't get the lawn mown, I'm okay with a rainy Sunday.
I'm back in New Hampshire as, presumably, all of you know. Although who knows who reads these things, eh?
The picture above was taken on my back porch, or rather the porch of the connecter bit of the house that attaches mine to my landlady's. Affectionately called The Link. My porch on the old house is steller but needs some serious repair, both structural and screen repair and this one is very bueno for starting (and continuing plants on. The gondola was from Wildcat ski area down on route 16. They auctioned them off when they took them out. I'm told they were great for hot boxing.
Below is the house I live in. It's ridiculously large for one person. Three bedrooms, very rustic and very cozy once I got over being one person in a regular house. I think the ideal house size for one is something like the cabin I lived in last year. One room, small bath, but maybe with a kitchen area and better storage. I've managed to spread my life into this one nicely though I do spend most of my pondering and hanging out time in the kitchen.
The house was built in 1936 or something and the wall under the shingles is all there is. No insulation, just studs but nicely done so it doesn't look unfinished. Woudn't want to winter in it though. My landlady, Marian's house is full-on winterized and they both have great views although I think she sees a little more of the presidentials. Pretty awesome to roll over in bed in the morning and see the field, apple trees and the mountains.
When I first got back to NH, I caretook up at Gray Knob, one of the Randolph Mountain Club cabins for a few days which was a great way to chill out and not really work while working. It was kind of crazy though being alone for long periods (relatively) because I realized I hadn't been alone since leaving NH really. South Pole was always people and then I hung out with folks almost constantly in New Zealand. Really nice to be able to do that though. For pictures of the cabins and such you can check out the RMC site link on the side. The one companion I did have over one of the nights was good old Nate of Rumney who was at Pole with me. Nice to have a compadrew visit on snow shoes. The trail (usually pretty icy at that time of year) was pretty good hiking as the North Country had just gotten a good whack of snow. Did some butt-sliding up above tree-line and on my descent back to the valley. Below is Nate and I on the rock I spent a couple sunny days reading on.
I went back to work for the Appalachian Mountain Club Construction Crew after caretaking and then took a week off in June to work for my old Trail Crew. It was awesome hiking for the week. Four days we patrolled, cutting down blowdown trees with axes and chainsaws. Mostly though we hiked; the trails weren't too badly blocked after this winter.
Below is the beaver dam on the Four Soldier's Path down by the Pond of Safety. It's been there since we built the trail in 2002 but this year the beavers really made it big. It was never actually on the trail but now (or at least in June) you had to walk on the dam. Mad animals. Pretty smart though.
When we patrolled to the pond we got to eat lunch there. When we were camped there while building the trails years ago, we often saw moose sucking the weeds from the bottom of the pond in the morning before work. No moose this year, though I did see a doe and fawn on my way to work on this short cut road the other day. Same road I saw a mamma bear and her we (small lab-sized) cub who high-tailed it up a tree before sidling back down after I passed.
My garden, over at Doug's house went in again. It looks a whole lot different now but this is the beginning picture. Normally you can see Madison and Adams over the trees behind it. Must have been fogged in.
Dinner at Storm's house one night. First barbecue of the year. That's Sally, who is a caretaker at one the AMC shelter site's currently and planning on winter caretaking Gray Knob. The dog (the most awesome dog ever) is Gecko, Storm's faithful companion and helped him caretake up at Gray Knob one winter a few years ago. Winter caretaking is too bloody cold for my liking.
And then the rest of these photos are of my view. It really is awesome. Sometimes I wish there was more to do around here, like music to go out to and whatnot but mostly it's pretty great and there are a good number of steller folks around if not multitudes of people in general, if that makes sense.
Okay, I lied, the two photos below are of Tuckerman Ravine on the side of Mount Washington. The building is Hermit Lake Shelter, home to the Tucks caretaker. Their responsibility other than search and rescue is to feed info and chocolate bars to the ridiculous numbers of hikers that come up to the ravine or through it on their way to the top of Mount Washington. Pretty impressive place though.
