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Month #5 - The September EPIC Hike

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I had the pleasure of hiking on September 1, 2017 with one of my favorite people to hike with - Michele Asch! Michele is always up for an adventure, lots of hiking experience, great problem solver, awesome conversationalist and the much needed ability to laugh at herself! We are super good at taking selfies! This is called an EPIC hike because it was 8.5 miles and included a traverse of the entire profile of the face of Mount Mansfield. It was so EPIC that my watch battery died at 7.5 miles and so cold that my phone was at 1% battery at the end. Our round trip from Underhill State Park was about 5.5 hours, which included a leisurely lunch out of the howling wind at the Toll Road Welcome Center and a stop for tea on a rock with a view on Sunset Ridge. Our route was up Maple Ridge (less traveled and more challenging), across the face (fast and fun and crazy windy/cold), and down Sunset Ridge (beautiful, open views and crowded). Here is a map of most of the route: There is to...
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Day 4: August 4, 2017 A hike of remembering and a hike to remember...

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The plan was to hike on Saturday, 8/5 in the evening to have dinner on top and to remember with prayer. The plan was to watch the sunset and then do Kirtan Sohila paath (evening Sikh prayer) at the top of Mount Mansfield to remember our dear friend, Benjamin Wood-Lewis who passed away 2 years ago and to remember the 6 Sikhs who lost their lives in the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting 5 years ago. The ultimate goal of this plan was to feel Chardi Kala . This is the Sikh concept of eternal optimism. What better place than the top of the mountain? Our plans were to be foiled. Our often beautiful sunset behind the Adironack Mountains with Lake Champlain in the forefront was covered by clouds, wind, pelting rain and ominous thunder. Instead, hungry as we ascended, we stopped under cover and ate our sandwiches. We spent all of 2 minutes at the top deciding if we were going to risk the lightening risk coming down Sunset Ridge. And, although, Kirtan Sohila, is the shortest of the 5 daily p...
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Day 3: Three Padgetts Gals Ascend...

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July 5, 2017 Since my previous Mansfield hike, I have hiked Camel's Hump & 1/2 way to Sterling Pond with some great company! Goofballs (Katie Cate & me) at the summit of Camel's Hump Bud & me at the trailhead! This month on a glorious day of sunlight, perfect temperature and a light, lovely breeze, I hiked Mount Mansfield for month 3 of my 12-month quest. I was with family, Simran & Kristi. We did the classic up Laura Cowles, down Sunset Ridge. We went at a nice easy pace. We ate the requisite granola bar. All in all it was an easy and uneventful (except Kristi's 3 falls, which she predicted prior to even setting foot on the mountain-she's fine). Easy and uneventful but not forgettable. Great conversation, a few good laughs, many moments of stopping to admire our amazing surrounding and view and lots of love. This was the very best way that I know to start any day! One of the gifts of this endeavor is to feel love, support and excitement f...
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Day 2 - Month Two, Four Days Later...

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June 2, 2017. My second month up Mount Mansfield was very similar to my first month, minus the wind, plus a friend! It as a cool, cloudy day with spitting rain. It would have been easy day to complain or turn back or even more easy to not start. I realized that I often need to force myself out the door to run, ski or go to ParkWorkout. I never have to force hiking. A bad or tough day hiking is better than almost any other day. I realized this as my heart was pounding up Laura Cowles trail and as I overlooked wide vistas down Sunset Ridge. I'm already dreaming of my next adventure on that mountain!
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Day 1 - Mount Mansfield, Defining the Goal

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Two years ago I hiked Camel's Hump at least once/month for a year. The purpose: to get out in the mountains more. I took a hiatus from that endeavor but am back at it, this time on Mount Mansfield. Today was Day 1 (of at least 12 days). Forecast was for rain, wind, cool temps...so I went early. After encountering a CLOSED sign at the Laura Cowles (more protected) trail, I headed up Sunset Ridge (definitely less protected). I decided as the trees were getting shorter and the wind was getting stronger and colder that today was not a day to reach the summit via Sunset Ridge. So, I starting thinking about the goal...what is my goal? The beauty of hiking alone is time to think and so I thought about my goal. There are several possible goals: being in the woods, seeing beauty, getting exercise but I finally settled on my ultimate goal: ADVENTURE. When I popped out the woods and screamed into the howling wind because it was wild and fun, I felt the adventure. That was as far as I nee...
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