Going up the mountain.
I like to think I can pass athletically, but as good as yoga is for your body it doesn't do much for your cardio fitness. Pretty soon Jack was ahead of me, and I was huffing and puffing and my heart was pounding in my ears, my body reminding me how hot it was - about 80 degrees with fifteen pounds of supplies.
I need to run more.
Mount Washington is a really enjoyable climb, despite the description above. Shortly after our first climb, we did Mount Greylock and were severely disappointed by the comparison. Driving halfway up the mountain, walking a mostly-flat dirt path, seemed no challenge next to Washington. The miles of uphill climb, the rocks to scramble up, the incredible views, the first time we had ever reached heights that rose above a tree-line - and, as you'll see soon enough, the incredible Lord of The Rings/Davis Trail.
After we made it up to the shelters (about an hour and a half or so), we walked around the Hermit Lake, searching for the best hut. We were worried that there wouldn't be enough huts, or we might have to share. But after admiring the view of Tuckerman's Ravine and wandering further down the path, we found our hut - love at first sight. Waterfront property.
We dropped about five pounds of our equipment and continued up to the summit. Along the way, earning our subtitle, and realizing what happens when you come prepared...