Adventures of an endangered species

New Hampshire. Nature. Adventure. Instagram: spoonfulofgorp

[spoonfulofgorp]

Mt. Garfield (August 2014)

Coming home from Montana was hard, so we figured what better way to sink back into reality than taking a hike in the Whites. Mt. Garfield offers excellent views with moderate effort. It was a beautiful, warm August day on the higher summits.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Montana: Glacier National Park & Beyond (July 2014)

Our honeymoon was spent in the backcountry of Montana, hiking peaks taller than we ever had before, experiencing wildlife such as grizzlies and big horned sheep, and taking in the complete wilderness experience that Montana has to offer. We love you, Montana.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Wedding in the Great North Woods (July 2014)

I married my best friend in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, located 5 miles south of the Canadian border. We reserved Deer Mountain campground and spent the weekend under the blood moon surrounded by moose, wilderness and silence (other than the late night dance parties). It was certainly an occasion to remember. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”-Muir

[spoonfulofgorp]

Great Gulf Wilderness (June 2014)

A quick backpacking trip into the Great Gulf Wilderness took us through steep woods, boulders and over rivers, streams and waterfalls. A peaceful night below the Presidentials ensued.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Franconia Ridge (June 2014)

Franconia Ridge is one of my favorite places to hike in New Hampshire. Due to the growing popularity of hiking, solitude on the ridge is pretty unusual. However, the feeling of being on a spiny ridge hovering over the Pemigewasset Wilderness is enough to make the experience worthwhile.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Bachelorette in the woods (June 2014)

My wedding date was set for July 12, 2014 and I was itching for another girls get away. I didn’t want your standard bar-hopping bachelorette party though, and I’m thankful the girls that I had around were in agreeance. We headed to the north country for a weekend filled with kayaking, mountains, and jager shots. If I could do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Mt. Chocorua (June 2014)

[spoonfulofgorp]

Oregon (May 2014)

I had only been home for a month and already the wanderlust had taken over. One of my best friends had moved to Oregon the past year and I had yet to visit her. There was no time like the present. I set off to Oregon for a long weekend and jam packed every little piece of that mystical Ferngully land that I could into the time spent. From the nightlife of Portland to the forests and mountains, Oregon was surely something else.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Hedgehog Mountain (May 2014)

Back in New Hampshire the weather was started to warm up again. We figured we would stay on the lower summits to stay away from the snow and soak up some sun. Hedgehog Mountain is a beautiful easy to moderate hike that offers up great views for less the effort. Old growth forests and plentiful amounts of fungi surround the trail that seems to follow boulders and roots the whole way to the top.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Arizona (April 2014)

Going to Arizona is a necessary part of each year of my life. A little piece of me stays there every time I come home, and the areas to explore in the Grand Canyon state are nearly endless. This time the trip would be different, as it was a girls only hiking getaway to embrace the inner “wild woman”. Before taking your top off on a mountain was popular, we greeted the sunrise on Devil’s Bridge baring it all (thanks mimosas). Girl friends are good. Girl friends who like the outdoors are even better.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Glootopia (March 2014)

March 2014

We were off to our annual hang out in the woods of the White Mountains for a semi-secret event known as Glootopia to the Fool Scouts. We hauled our pulk a little over 2 miles to a clearing in the woods surrounded by the mountains and numerous birch trees. The highlight of this trip is a woodstove enclosed in an army tent accompanied by a projector to watch classics such as “Reefer Madness” on the back drop of a snow wall. New Hampshire wins again.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Black Pond (February 2014)

Today we wanted to explore the Lincoln Woods trail with mountain ponds as our end destination. Along the way, we found numerous fungi species and were able to harvest a large amount of Chaga.

If you haven’t heard of Chaga or its health benefits, I highly suggest you check out my friend Andrea’s website: www.chagagrove.com

A peaceful Black Pond met us at the end of our 3.5~ miles one way trip. Another great day in the White Mountain National Forest.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Odiorne State Park (January 2014)

Today was a beach day. A cold beach day.  We spent our day looking for Snowy Owls that were frequenting the area, but instead found numerous hawks. The Atlantic Ocean is a special place during the winter months.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Mt. Pierce (December 2013)

Yes, we were back to Mt. Pierce again. I think the reason we frequent this mountain so often is due to our ability to navigate it with our eyes shut (at this point). The weather forecast was rough this day:

In the clouds w/ snow showers likely. Highs: falling to around 0; Wind chills falling to 25-35 below°F Wind: WNW 65-85 mph decreasing to 50-70 mph w/ higher gusts

It was a mad dash to the summit, 6.5~ miles roundtrip. Worth it?  Yup

[spoonfulofgorp]

High Cabin (December 2013)

We had just gotten back from Mt. Cardigan, and it was time to go up again. This time, we were headed to a nice little cabin, sheltered from the wind and ice we experienced the weekend prior. A weekend away with friends is important, for both the mind and the soul. Mountains have a way of making you sleep better.

[spoonfulofgorp]

Mt. Cardigan (December 2013)

We wanted to be outside. That feeling never goes away, but sometimes your mind speaks against your most essential needs.

Sometimes, when I wake up on a Sunday morning, bag already packed, food made in the fridge, the New Hampshire winter plague has a way of telling me it's not worth getting up...stay in that warm, fluffy bed...there's always next weekend.

You cannot listen to that voice. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. If there was one thing I could change in my hiking habits, it would be to never listen to that voice. It's always worth going, enduring the discomfort, experiencing the trail itself. This was one of those days that I got up and went.

While the weather on Mt. Cardigan was despicable, and the ice being just minimal enough to elude spikes, it was the beginning of our winter hiking season. Our favorite. Plus, we found a delicious dinner at the end.  Fungi!

[spoonfulofgorp]

Franconia Notch Exploration (November 2013)

The month of October had us engulfed in Halloween festivities (in true New England fashion), but November came quickly, and with it, came the snow. We headed to Franconia Notch with no real destination in mind. By doing so, we found trails that ended up leading to almost nowhere in particular, so many that we explored 5 miles of land. Below the peaks but above the towns, we took our time and enjoyed views neither of us had seen before.

As cliche as it is, not all who wander are lost.