Hiking Whitecap with Aziret and Bailey

Aziret & Bailey Hiking down the Orange Trail on Whitecap
Click photo to enlarge. 

Hiking app with mileage and elevation
Click on Photo to enlarge

 

Hello, Kyrgyzstan! Today, Aziret, Bailey, and I climbed Whitecap Mountain. This mountain is 8 minutes from our home and has a good view of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, Sunday River Ski Resort, and The Mahoosuc Mountain Range in western Maine. Bailey and I hike this mountain 60-80 times a year in the all seasons, including winter: Whitecap in Winter.  Aziret hiked like a pro and talked about his grandfather's hiking day. Both he and Gabri are fit, athletic young men. Bailey loved hiking with both of the boys. 

Hiking app.
Click on Photos to enlarge. 

For Aziret's sister. 

The smile for Aziret's mother

Happy man photo for Aziret's father. 

Aziret remembers his grandfather and his hiking trips! 

Old Dog, Young Dog... Steep sections... great work

Rich & Bailey at "Bailey's Cairn." When we 
die, some of our ashes will be planted here. 
A fun thought for me! 

Bailey waiting in airport for Aziret

Bailey waiting in airport for Aziret

Road Trip... Labor Day Weekend

I said, "Gabri, this one's for your mother. SMILE!" He did. 
(Click pictures to enlarge.)

I gave Gabri the standard western Maine tour through the Height of Land, Rangeley, and Weld on a spectacular Maine day. The Height of Land has the famous Appalachian Trail (AT) shooting through the area. It's always fun to run into hikers who are attempting the entire 2100 mile trail, from Maine to Georgia. Earlier this year, I ran into two hikers who were attempting an 8000-mile hike on the AT and two other trails in America. Here's their story: Calendar Year Triple Crown Hike.  

There's nothing fun about being quarantined, but Gabri is making the best of it.  Too bad he didn't get his C-19 vaccines before coming to America. Ah well. The lake behind Gabri in the picture above is called Mooselookmeguntic Lake, a Native American name. Here's where it's located in Maine, just north of Rumford. 

Famous bench on the Appalachian Trail

This bench is a famous rest stop for hikers of the AT

Mooselookmeguntic

Appalachian Trail symbol 

Mooselookmeguntic without a smiling person and dog. 

From the Height of Land overlook, we headed to the tourist town of Rangeley, Maine and then on to Weld where my family has family camps (cabins) on the lake. We went up to the overlook after stopping for a burger and hot dog in the town. In Maine, we have red hot dogs and that's what Gabri ordered. When he opened up the package, he said, "They're red!" Yes indeed. 

Center Hill, Weld, Maine... 

Center Hill with Tumbledown Mountain and the Jackson Mountains
in the background

Our loop today... oh, we took The Rig, my travel van, so I could charge its batteries:

The Rig

Bailey's bed in The Rig

Hiking Whitecap with Gabriele

 

On the first ledge.
Click on photos to enlarge.

We are hosting Gabri from Italy for a while and coaxed him up Whitecap Mountain that is 8 minutes from our home. He's a good sport. I wrote the following on AllTrails, my hiking app report: 

"Fall was in the air as we trekked up Yellow and immediately down Orange. There’s ok water for the first 1.3 miles. The colors haven’t begun, but when they do, I’m guessing it’ll go fast. Today, we hiked with a young man from Italy  just 3 days in America. HYOH, Gabri!"

Hiking buddies

Contemplating life 

"Are you coming, old man?" 

Second ledge

Following his pal. 

The mountains in the background are New Hampshire's Presidential Range. 

Mount Washington in the far back

Sunday River Ski Resort and Mount Washington

Let's go home! 

Professor Emeritus

Fancy leather professor bag from my sister

I can hear my friend Betty Wood now: "Aren't you 'sumptin, Dear?"

My mother would love this news, and I'm sure her father--my Grandpa Burt--would be pleased. If my sister were still with us, she might buy me another briefcase! She bought me one when I received my undergraduate degree and landed a job; she bought another, a big leather professorial bag with a strap when I landed a position as an assistant professor in 2003. I shouldn't much care about titles and such at this stage of my life and career, but I do like the gesture as well as the kindnesses shown by friends and colleagues who made this happen.