Mount Resolution

Submitted by Pat

Stats
Mountain: Mount Resolution (3,415)
Date: July 9, 2017
Time: 5.5 hours
Weather: Warm, humid
Miles: 8
Elevation Gain: 3,562
Trail: Davis Path — Parker Trail

  • two hikers taking a selfie at the trailhead
Nancy and I meet at the MacDonalds at the intersection of Rtes. 25 and 16 at 6:45 am. We talk as I drive to breakfast at the Sunshine Shack. It’s a popular place and we luckily get a table. I thoroughly enjoy my pancakes with lots of butter. We talk about the possibility of my not going with her to visit Olympic National Park.  Nancy is compassionate, sad and without anger. Talking with her, I feel better than I have in days. Relief floods me when I finally make the decision not to go, to stay here and deal with my abscessed tooth.

After breakfast, we start on the Davis Path off Rte. 302 at 8:30 am. I lead the way as is my wont at the start of a hike…but immediately after we cross the bridge over the Saco River, the mosquitoes come out in hordes. We stop to put on bug dope and resume hiking. The first mile or so is relatively flat, kind to my legs and lungs, but soon thereafter we start to climb. A lot of trail maintenance has been done to the Davis Path. The climb begins on a huge staircase made with large rocks with stair rises made for giants. I take 2 or 3 steps on the side so I put less pressure on my knee and that delay my inevitable shortness of breath.

I become winded and begin to sweat. I expect a big fat sun but the sky is cloudy as we  hike; it’s almost chilly since paired with the clouds is a sweet breeze. I’m not sweating like I did last weekend but am definitely sweating. My emotional state, outside of the tooth pain and the difficult decision, is much more positive than last week’s. I’m struggling but don’t feel the same level of frustration at my physical weakness. I just keep plugging along. Nancy is ahead of me, though she waits for me from time to time. We don’t talk much. I turn inward and listen to myself, to the tree leaves rustling, and the bird songs filling the air.

When we reach the spur trail to Mt. Crawford the terrain begins to change again. We come to a ridge and begin to climb rocks and ledges, open and treeless with amazing views to the south. I turn around for a moment and take pictures, which is another clue that I’m enjoying myself. Eventually the trail levels off with only small undulations in the trail. The Sheep Laurel is in bloom and Nancy can’t stop photographing them. Sheep Laurel, moss, reindeer moss and places where the path is clearly delineated makes me smile. I feel so happy.

We reach the intersection of the Davis Path and the Parker Trail and continue on. After a short delay because we take the wrong trail, we backtrack and get ourselves back on the right trail and start climbing. We reach the summit of Mt. Resolution and eat our lunches, enjoying the 180-degree view and each other’s company. We leave the summit after a 45-minute break and begin the four mile slog back to the car. We meet lots of hikers heading up.

My toe tips and my feet are sore and eventually the big stair steps down take their toll on my knees and I reach that amazing tipping point of “dun-ness” and can’t wait to get out of the woods, away from the mosquitoes, and out of my boots. Down and safe at 2:00 pm.