Trail Magic From A Legend
At the outlook 1.5 miles up Kinsman Ridge trail looking over to Franconia Ridge
I was debating hikes forever before finally deciding on Cannon this morning. I wanted to fit in a bigger hike before we started to get lots of snow in New Hampshire. I figured with cloudy overcast that I should do a hike without a view. Cannon was the shortest of the 48s so figured it was a good choice to 'burn' a hike on considering the weather. Ohh... how could I be so wrong. Every time I have underestimated a hike it simply doesn't comply and I find something truly amazed about it. Cannon reenergized my love for doing this adventure. Where I thought it was going to be socked in from clouds it was only low level and where there was no direct sun it sort of created this neat bright vista. The hike itself was only 2 miles to the top however it was a nonstop straight up with no warm up. I found myself taking tiny breathers every five minutes just so I could keep a good rhythm. I powered through to reach the outlook that showed the Franconia Ridge directly across and south down 93. I mouthed the names of each peak as I looked at the ridges bigger brothers.
At this point it flattened out a bit and you could see the tower on top of the Cannon summit. The East side of the mountain was switchbacks and no trees which made it a nice exposed walk up the trail. Some trails you only get windows of views, but after 1.5 miles of the Kinsman Ridge trail you had an ongoing vantage of Franconia Ridge. I wore my spikes from door to door as the trail had packed snow and had softened and then hardened to ice. Thank goodness for hikers coming before me to pack down the snow. There was footsteps of someone who did not wear shoe shoes and had "postholed" which must have been a real effort. The hiker community looks down on doing that as it makes the hike more treacherous. I was grateful for a flat, although very inclined, hike up the mountain. Note to self - wait some time after a snow storm so others can do the hard work.
There was one other vehicle, a red truck, in the parking lot a 7:30 AM this morning and I figured I would cross paths with the other crazy hiker. I saw him when I got to the summit as he was coming down the radio\fire tower. He told me where the actual summit was, which told me he also was interested in the 48s. We chatted about the weather and other things to which he seemed nice. He told me I would probably pass him on the way down as he was older. I stopped on the way down at the outlook for another look and tried to soak it all in and be present. When I did catch up to the other hiker he told me that he had some beverages in the bed of his truck and I was welcome to them. I smiled and said "trail magic" to which this was my first experience and was excited to see what it could be. I then said that this was "my 15th 48 and I started in September". He smiled big, gave me a thumbs up and said good job. I was happy about that declaration but I realized down at the car how silly it would sound.
As I got to the parking lot a couple was there who turned around and came back down because the woman said she "was a noob". I assured her that the trail was in good shape.
I began to tell the couple about the trail magic and to set their minds at ease that it was offered to me. The guy said "oh you met Ed?" to which I said yes and he replied "did you see his license plate?". I leaned down and his plate said '100X48K'. Ed from Chester had done the 48 4000 footers one hundred times!!! This guy is a legend… and here I was bragging about my 15th summit when he has over 4,800 summits!! And he is doing Cannon which means that he is still going - guess maybe there is mojo in those PBRs. After doing some research 'Ed' is Ed Hawkins who runs "The Grid" website which is all 48 4000 footers in each season which is 576 summits to which Ed was the second person to accomplish that feat and he completed that 7 times! He has been featured in Outside Magazine and Boston Globe for his accomplishments. I mean he really is a legend and I stood with him at the top of Cannon. It reminded me when I was little and went to Red Sox Spring Training and met Ted Williams and it did not dawn on me until afterwards. Anyway, it was a great hike today and I learned never to discount a hike because it can always lead to an adventure.
Date
December 14th 2020
Distance
4.65
Elevation Gain
2,247 feet
All Trails
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