Mt. Stinson with SE'ern Mass. AMC

12/17/11 - Nice views from the summit where the old firetower once stood, and a view over Stinson Lake when you bushwack a bit on a spur path leading southwest.

Thanks to leaders Cheryl Lathrop and Bob Vogel from the AMC's Southeastern Mass. chapter for a lovely day on the mountain. 3.6 miles, 1,400' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Stinson (2,900')
Route: Stinson Mountain Trail

Mt. Chocorua via Liberty Trail

12/4/11 - This was a special hike, for several reasons -- it would have been my mother's 71st birthday; it was the first time I'd ever summitted Mt. Chocorua; and John and I descended in the dark (something I tend to avoid). We'd meant to take the Brook Trail up and Liberty down, but ended up on Liberty and decided to stick with it. After meeting the Hammond Trail on the right at 2.7 miles, the trail continues another half-a-mile to the rustic Jim Liberty cabin. After that, there was some ice and some moderate ledge scrambling. The wind on the top is reminiscent of Mt. Monadnock, but we were able to find shelter on the south side of the summit and eat lunch -- which included Mint Milanos and Lindt Chili Chocolate. Yumm!

Several stream crossings and my no-longer-waterproof, three-season boots meant wet feet. Happily, though, I lost, then found, my winter hat in the dark while taking a separation break at the end of the hike!

7.8 miles RT, 2,700' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Chocorua (3,500')
Route: Liberty Trail to Brook Trail (last 0.3 miles to summit) and back

A fun fall day - Mt. Monadnock hike and apples

Sunday 10/16/11 - Weather conditions calling for rain in the White Mountains caused an early-morning change of plans from Mt. Osceola to Mt. Monadnock. The weather around Jaffrey and Dublin, NH was just fine for a fall day. Sheeba, Alex and I hiked up the White Cross Trail, Alex stopping to take photos along the way. We had a lovely time on top, seeking shelter below the summit for lunch.

We stopped for apples -- and my first caramel-covered apple -- on the way home.

4.2 miles RT, 1,800' elevation gain (2 hours up)
Summit: Mt. Monadnock (3,165')
Route: White Cross Trail

Haunted Hancocks before the snowstorm

10/29/11 - A snowstorm was predicted so about one-third of the registrants for this AMC H/B hike bailed. I volunteered to drive two others from the Dascomb Park-n-Ride lot to the trailhead -- a decision which I regretted at day's end when the storm started and made driving difficult and treacherous.

But the hike was epic! The summit of Mt. (North) Hancock is wooded, but there is a nice view from a side path of the Sandwich Range, including the Tripyramids. A gray jay visited us on the summit. I was delighted to do these two 4,000-footers for the first time!

The trailhead is on the Kancamagus Highway just after a hairpin turn coming from the west. There are many river crossings but the trail climbs only moderately until the Hancock Loop Trail, which is at times very steep and rough. Thanks to Brian Glenn and Erika Bloom for leading the two groups!

9.8 miles, 2,650' elevation gain
Summits: Mt. (North) Hancock (4,420') and South Hancock (4,319')
Route: Hancock Notch Trail to Cedar Brook Trail to Hancock Loop Trail Trail -- north link to Mt. Hancock, then the Ridge Link to South Hancock and return.

Beavers and volunteers reconstruct Manchester, VT after Irene devastation

9/3/11 - 9/5/11 - With more than 200 roads and bridges closed after the devastating flooding and runoff from Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont was quite literally back in business quickly. Within one week, only about 20 roads and bridges were closed in the state. By Columbus Day, the group calling itself "We are Vermont Strong" had rallied to ensure strong tourism for the state's busiest and most profitable weekend of the year.

My visit to the Manchester, VT area with Henry included a hike to Antone Mtn (2600') in the Merck Forest (Rupert, VT), a maple sap vat in the Merck Forest, browsing at Northshire Bookstore, canoeing, watching beavers at dusk off of Route 11 in Peru, VT, and holding my breath as my car nearly flooded and stalled on the drive back to route 91.

Clear view of Mt. Washington from Mt. Pierce's summit

9/10/11 - The view of Crawford Path toward Mts. Eisenhower and Washington from the summit of Mt. Pierce was clear. Stunning. And enticing. I yearned to continue on.

We ate lunch on the sheltered summit and took group photos. I chatted with Rick D, a leader from the AMC NH chapter with whom I've hiked in the past. He's the one who nicknamed me "Nickelback Vicki".

6.0 miles, 2,392' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Pierce (4,312')
Route: Crawford Path

Farmcoast Delights: Beaches, seafood, fresh produce

I'd heard it called "Vermont with beaches". That's a perfect description of the Farmcoast -- a small group of picturesque coastal villages and farmlands in southern New England.

The RI towns of Little Compton and Tiverton, and the Massachusetts towns of Westport and Dartmouth comprise a beautiful region of farms, beaches, nature preserves and galleries that's only an hour-and-a-half from Boston. Much more restful than Newport (most restaurants stop serving at 9pm).

Highlights of my weekend trip:

• Open Studios for South Coast Artists (July 16-17 and again August 20-21).


• Saturday farmers' market in Tiverton Four Corners


• fresh produce stands all along Route 77


• sunset over the Sakonnet River, visible from Route 77


• dinner al fresco at Stone Bridge Restaurant, with a view of Grinnell Beach and boats in the harbor


• South Coast Beach, where you can walk along the sandy crescent of beach for a mile or so, reaching Goosewing Beach and watching children on their boogie boards ride the current from inland out to sea (unless their parents catch them first :-) )


• Fogland, a slipper shell and pebble-strewn beach with a beautiful, kid-friendly cove, windsurfers and kitesurfers


• a hike in Tiverton's Weetamoo Woods, a 450-acre nature preserve with Atlantic white cedar trees and thus a rare "cedar swamp"


• begonias and lillies at Young's Family Farm (next to the Edith Pearl B&B in Little Compton)


• Dell's Lemonade!

I'll go back, if even for a day trip. Things to see and do when I go back:

• Other Little Compton beaches, specifically Sakonnet Point, Warrens Point and Briggs Beach


• Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary along Route 77


• The Boat House Restaurant in North Tiverton


• The Back Eddy Restaurant (recommended by the B&B innkeeper)


• ice cream at Gray's Ice Cream stand in Tiverton Four Corners


• The towns of Dartmouth and Westport (including its three villages -- Westport Point, Central Village and Head of Westport).


• Maybe a trip to Newport!

Disappointing "30 Seconds to Mars" concert

5-1-11. It takes a lot for me to be disappointed at a concert. But 30 Seconds to Mars did not deliver on its promise in Boston at the Agganis Arena. A combination of factors made it practically sit-down boring.

* Lead vocalist Jared Leto seemed more interested in controlling the audience than singing. He spent more time talking (actually presumptiously instructing the audience) than singing.

* he only sung about half of the lyrics. He did say late in the show that he'd been suffering from an Ebola-like virus which had affected his voice.

* he kept stopping in the middle of songs (I hate that!)

* the Agganis Arena has poor acoustics for music


The show picked up at the end with two acoustic numbers and "Closer to the Edge". But all in all, it didn't hit it's mark.

Stingrays in Grand Cayman

Pet a dolphin? Done that. Swim with a dolphin? Check. Kiss a dolphin? Check again.

Touch and kiss a stingray? Well, it may sound hokey, but it sure is fun! My family and I enjoyed getting up close to numerous stingrays an arm's length long in Grand Cayman. Consider adding it to your bucket list.