I'm finally able to get up for my 5 a.m. wake up call and re-enter the park a second time. I've decided to hike the 8 miles to Russell Pond. The Russell Pond Trail is a stark departure from the norms of the previous 3 days. It winds its way through a mountain valley along a river, and thus I get to experience hiking through the solitude of the woods rather than being blasted by winds above the treeline. Although the bugs get bad at some points, the almost impossibly clear waters of the river and the feeling of true remoteness more than make up for their nuisance. In the 16 miles of trail, I encounter only 2 people. It's an excellent way to end the weekend.
Driving home, I start thinking about future adventures to plan. I would be lying if I didn't admit that the Presidential Traverse, a 27 mile hike that takes you over 3 of the Presidential Range mountains (including Mount Washington) is high on my list. There is also a 32 mile loop in a mountain range close to the Presidential Range that I would like to attempt to run. Back in Minnesota, I would love to attempt to complete the Superior Hiking Trail in a week. For now, however, I’m simply focusing on icing my legs and more fully appreciating flat stretches of land.
Happy Trails!
Mike
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