Submitted by Nancy
Stats
Mountain: Bayle Mountain (1,853)
Date: October 26, 2024
Weather: 50s with a brisk 20 mph wind, mostly sunny
Miles: 3
Elevation Gain: 795
Yesterday, Pat and I were back out on the trails after a hiatus from hiking. We are whiter, wiser and wider…but inside we are the same — same hearts, same friendship, same determination. We chose to hike Bayle Mountain, one of the Ossipee 10 — we’ve already hiked 6 of the Ossipees when we redlined the trails in Castle in the Clouds Conservation area. With just 4 mountains to climb for another patch we are, again, on a mission, albeit a mini mission.
As we bumped along the dirt road to the trailhead, we passed a plethora of Trump signs, banners and flags, which ignited a conversation about our fears in the upcoming election. I was glad to get out on the trail and away from the reminders of the crazy world we are currently living in. We took a wrong turn on the trail almost immediately, checked Gaia, realized our mistake and turned around, but not before we saw this old car abandoned off the trail…it had definitely seen better days…kinda like us in a way.
It’s a short hike, but once we passed through the easy lead-up and got to the real stuff, we were both in our element — the sun, the breeze making it rain leaves, and our friendship. The last half of the trail, almost straight up, was covered with oak leaves which hid the downward facing roots and acorns underneath, not to mention the boulders strewn all over the trail…the hike went from a joy to a crazy slippery, treacherous climb. We never knew what we were stepping on and if it would hold us. There were a few tears (you know me) but we made it to the top for a celebration photo. I was already worried about having to go down that greasy mess. We made it back down, one slow focused step at a time, exercising my courage muscle the whole way.
The slippery slope up and down Bayle reminded me, again, of the upcoming election and our democracy. Where the truth, all common sense and any regard for the common man and the greater good has been replaced by lies and nonsensical gibberish from a fascist. I hope it is Trump who ends up discarded off the trail, like the old car, and not democracy.