Date: October 26, 2018
Trails: Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail
Miles: 4.1 redline miles, 11 total miles
Summit: Mt. Flume
Elevation Gain: 3415

Nancy’s Facebook Post: Pat and I climbed Mt. Flume via the Osseo Trail yesterday to get 4.1 redlining miles out of our total 11 mile hike. We went from a beautiful fall day to a winter wonderland in a few hours — so crazy! I did not retouch any of these pictures. That WAS the color of the sky! We were quiet on this hike, busy catching our breath, negotiating the staircases (I think there were maybe 17…) and experiencing winter for the first time this year. I struggle with cold and the first winter hike is always hard for me. So glad I have Pat who knows my fears and supports me through it.

Pat’s Trip Report

Nancy and I plan to hike the Osseo Trail up toward Mt. Flume.  I choose the trail and feel very excited about hiking all week, like a kid waiting for a snowstorm.  Friday arrives and with my pack crammed with clothes and other gear I joyfully get up at 4:30 am to have coffee and make last minute preparations.  The drive to Lincoln over the Kancamagus is an adventure.  First, I come upon a tree that has fallen and blocks the lane in which I am traveling.  In the dark, I respond quickly and smoothly move to the left lane and bypass the branches.  The temperature hovers at 34 degrees and slowly descends as I climb higher, reaching 26 at the high point.  Some light snow has fallen, making for a slick road and slows my pace.

Seeing Nancy is always a joy – a hug and we move her gear from her car to my car – then breakfast at Flapjacks Pancake House before we head to the Lincoln Woods trailhead parking lot.  All the facilities are closed but I gratefully use a porta-potty as I have been experiencing a touch of diarrhea.  The air feels cold though it’s only in the low 30’s as we cross the bridge and begin the 1.4 mile walk on the Lincoln Woods Trail to the junction of the Osseo Trail.  The Lincoln Woods trail is an old railroad bed, wide enough for 3 or 4 hikes across, and follows the East Branch Pemigewasset River.  It’s straight, flat and boring.

Nancy and I are quiet on this morning.  After a while I begin to feel the stirring of intestinal cramps that are the harbinger of another bout of diarrhea.  Just what I need.  I try desperately to breathe through the cramps and hold it all in and fail.  I pull off the trail and take care of my business.  Once empty, I feel great relief from the cramps but it isn’t really all that fun to shit in the woods.

We reach the junction of the Osseo Trail in no time and take a left.  The path is leaf-covered and fairly flat until it moves up the side of the ridge following the Pemigewasset.  There are spits of snow along the trail as we walk.  The trail rambles up and down before beginning a more continuous climb.  The snow increases in depth as we hike, our boots providing us good footing.  The temperature drops steadily.  When we reach the zig zags the world around us is predominantly white.  I love snow, adore it, always have, love how it looks, how it feels, love the sounds my boots make as I walk, fascinated by all the different types of snow.  True love.  I love crisp, new snow and cold, frigid air, love sparkles and rime feathers clinging to the trees.  I love hiking in snow.

When we reach the steepest part of the climb we hit the first of 17 ladders.  They provide excellent footing.  Thank you, trail workers!

As we near the intersection of the Flume Slide trail the snow depth is around 6”.  We clamber up to the view, meet a couple of hikers and two dogs, and take pictures of the blue blue sky and the contrasting fall to winter views.  On go the microspikes and we scramble down to the trail intersection so Nancy can change clothes.  She is cold, struggling.  Despite all the years we have hiked in winter we have not found a solution to her anxiety about cold.  The act of changing – stripping to naked skin – is excruciating and when dry clothes finally embrace her it takes time for her frigid hands to catch up and she huddles in misery waiting for the relief found in warmth.

We notice boot tracks on the Flume Slide Trail.  Wow!  Hiking the slide covered in snow?  Not for me, man, but here come 3 young, strapping hikers, led by a woman wearing a wreath of beautiful curly hair approach us with a huge smile on her face.  She says there is only one slick spot toward the bottom.  Huh? Nuh uh – not for me.

We eat standing up.  Lunch doesn’t thrill me and I’m not sure what would have done the trick.  I was hungry, just not for a cold turkey and cheese sandwich…maybe a hot turkey dinner would have made the difference.  Afterward we gear up and make our way down.  The snow has been churned up by other hikers and footing isn’t as good.  I step where others have stepped not to risk a slip or turned ankle…but I really want to walk on the untouched, virgin snow.  Then look back and see my footprint. Just to see it and smile.

My legs are pooped by the 8th mile.  My knees and back ache and my right foot hurts.  This is a long hike, a little over 11 miles, and we both agree that maybe we don’t have to push so damn hard anymore.  All the young people who post their 30-mile-in-a-day hikes on Facebook – good for them – but they are not us, with 65-year-old bodies that have many miles on them, long and hard miles, years of them, and we have a right to slow down a bit.  I feel the strain and the aches.  I recover pretty well but the ache does take the edge off some of the joy.  I want to feel fantastic as we ramble down the trail at the end of a hike and I usually don’t.

We agree to go a little easier on ourselves in the future.  It’s Nancy’s turn to choose the next trail.  I can’t wait to hear what she picks. Can’t wait! Next Sunday can’t come too soon!