This summer in August, over the weekend our family and two other family-friend families had planned to go and hike Mt. Katahdin. That meant driving up on Friday, and sleep at the bottom of Mt. Katahdin, and then Saturday we would do the hike. Saturday night we would stay at a Motel, and we'd drive back on Sunday. We had made reservations and a great deal of planning, like making large camping shopping trips to L.L.Bean for appropriate hiking gear. Guess what happened to all of that deep time and thought and planning the fun trip? RAIN. Heavy, poring rain all weekend.
Friday was supposed to be real great weather, but of course we couldn't climb the mountain on Friday because it takes a day to get there, and some people had different plans for Thursday. The big hike was officially canceled. All the dads didn't give up though. They still figured we should get moving somehow this weekend. They at least wanted to hike Mt. Monadnock, which wasn't all that bad. We had done Mt. Monadnock last summer. It was a big challenge once you get to the summit, because you literally need to go on your hands and knees, looking for some little smidgen to put your foot on. The rest of the way wasn't too bad, plus they had free blueberries halfway up. What a treat! Who doesn't love fresh blueberries when they are hot, sweaty, and by the time they have reached the top of the mountain all of their once-was-freezing-ice-cold water was very warm, gross water??? Finally you get something FRESH!
So at least we were going hiking. We weren't doing THE hike planned, but we where still doing A hike. That's good.
We kicked off bright and early in the morning, all fresh and ready for action. We had appropriate hiking pants, non-cotton tees, and a lot of water. One thing I absolutely positively hate is those 'Camel Back' things. I can drink from a straw, duh, and people always say it's just like drinking from a straw. They're wrong. It's like putting this big tube in your mouth which always gets all gross and slobbery and wet, and you need to bite down in a specific place, and it's just so icky! Plus, when you're not drinking it, it hangs there with your slobber all over it and it's getting all over your shirt. Eeew! Sorry to all you hikers out there but I just simply can't stand that gross system.
I think I could do this mountain much easier without loads of water weighing me down on my back the whole trip. It's one thing at school to have a heavy backpack, which I can stand. It's another thing when you have a heavy backpack and your climbing tall rocks and you don't know where to put your foot.
We finally got to the tip top of the mountain and collapsed after that. I found a nice little dent in this large rock that I could call my bed. I just lied there for some time, then I finally got up and had my lunch. A treat was being handed out: Oreos! Woohoo! I love those cookies. If you gave me a pack of Oreos (one of those big family packs) I will devour them all. Om nom nom. :)
All of us decided that it was way to chilly at the top to stay any longer, and that we should all start making our way down. Classic way to get down the summit rocks: butt sliding. WARNING: make sure that during your butt-slide you are wearing appropriate pants that are not easy to rip. Pull your knees toward your chest and have a nice takeoff. During landing, make sure to slow down and stand up before your behind hits the edge of the rock. Thank you and have a nice hike.
I hate going down mountains. I feel like I always need to go on all-fours, when most people just hop down. I get so scared going down, like I'm going to trip over a big rock or something. I don't know.. it's just my least favorite part, other than the dumb Camel Back water systems. (You can't trust the system!! If you saw the Saturday night live clip, you'd know.)
Once we were all about half way down the mountain, it got a lot easier. Its just the whole 'going down the summit on two legs rather than all fours' part that I just don't get how the heck people do. I was getting really tired, so one of the dads of the whole hiking pack gave me this little pudding like pouch thingy. Apparently it really helps, I don't know how, but it did. It was also very delicious! :)
I was so busy talking about summer vacations or something that I didn't even realize that we had reached the bottom, when the rest of the people were like hurrying to a near by picnic table to crash. A little while later I'm just like, 'wait a second... bathrooms, buildings, cars... we're at the bottom!!!' Wow... I was a little slow there.
We all decided to meet at a restaurant for dinner called 'The Old Mill'. That place I have never heard of before but I still absolutely love it. It has a little pond with ducks and a mini waterfall, and when you walk inside it's like you're in a log cabin and everything's all country style. They have these little mini pancake things for appetizers - those are totally the best. For my main meal I had this Maryland white crab ravioli. When I saw it on the menu, I saw the word 'ravioli' and I knew that's what I was getting. I just love ravioli! It's like little pasta pockets, only mine had a whole lot of melted cheese on top. Plus they also have a gift shop in the restaurant. (Sorry for probably making you all real hungry as you're reading this!) Now let me tell you a little story: In my family, on your 13th birthday, you get to pick a restaurant to go to to celebrate. I want to go to 'The Old Mill'. :)
Anyway, I'm glad we still got to do a hike that weekend. It was a ton of fun, and the weather was great, plus we got free blueberries. Woohoo!
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