Mt. Katadhin

Dates of Trip: 22-24 August 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Baxter State Park, ME, USA
Trailhead: Helon Taylor
Summit Objectives: Katadhin (Maine High Point)
Total Time: 10.5 hours
Summit: 5267 feet
Ele. Gain: 3410 feet
Distance: 9.8 mile

Car-camped at Katahdin Stream, then drove over to rolling brook trailhead. Ascended via Helon Taylor Trail, traversed the Knife Edge to bag all three Katahdin peaks: Pamola, South, and Baxter. Descended via Saddle (steep and LONG). Spotted a moose feeding at Chimney Pond. Tortoise's first class III!

Grays and Torreys

Dates of Trip: 8-9 August 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Front Range, CO, USA
Trailhead: Grays Peak
Summit Objectives: Edwards, Grays and Torreys
Total Time: 8.0 hours
Summit: Grays at 14270 feet, Torreys at 14267 feet
Starting Ele: 11280 feet)
Ele. Gain: 3600 feet
Distance: 8.3 mile

Camped at Grays Peak Trailhead with about 8 other parties, including a drunk one that stayed up loudly until 12:45am. Got up at 3:30a after a rather uncomfortable night of sleep. On the trail by 4am. Meant to head south to high 13er, Mt. Edwards, but got a bit confused and shoved off for the 14ers instead. Summitted Grays at 7:30a, followed by Torreys at 8:30a. *Massive* crowds of people of which I'd never seen the like on a mountain. Briefly considered making a run at Edwards at the end, but decided against, based on lateness of hour, weather observation, and tiredness. Back at parking by noon. Gnarly drive up and down the access road, but the Pontiac made it again. It's an off-road vehicle at heart. Got home and took solid 2hr nap.

The Great Gulf

Dates of Trip: 11-13 July 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Presidential Range, NH, USA
Trailhead: Six Husbands
Summit Objectives: Jefferson, Adams, Madison
Total Time: 10.0 hours
Summit: Adams at 5774 feet, Jefferson at 5712 ft, Madison at 5366 ft
Starting Ele: 1412 feet
Ele. Gain: 5300 feet
Distance: 10.0 mile

Packed in 4 miles up the Great Gulf trail to the Six Husbands/Wamsutta Junction and camped at an established site just beyond. Struck out along Six Husbands by 7:15, and scrambled up Jefferson's Knee to summit Mt. Jefferson. Then took Gulf Side trail across Edmund's Col to Mt. Adams and summitted. From there, a quick jaunt over to Madison Hut and the Mt. Madison summit. We then descended back to the Grest Gulf via The Buttress trail, arriving back in camp just after 5 pm. After one more night in camp, we packed out with very sore quads and soaked in the Peabody River before heading out. Distance/time listed is for summit day, not including pack-in.  Elevation gain is estimated cumulative, including pack in.

Old Rag

Dates of Trip: 29 June 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA, USA
Trailhead: Ridge Trail/Saddle Trail
Summit Objectives: Old Rag
Total Time: 5.5 hours
Summit: 3268 feet
Ele. Gain: 2300 feet
Distance: 8.7 mile

Fun class 3 scrambling!!