Traverse

The trip was cancelled previously due to high winds, soggy conditions, and risk of hypothermia, but this weekend the weather cooperated and Mitch's epic adventure across the Presidential Range became a reality. The hike, called the Presidential Traverse, crosses a string of mountain peaks in excess of 4,000 feet named after US presidents including Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce. Its a strenuous and sometimes dangerous hike with the area known to have some of the worst weather in the world including the previous world record wind speed of 231 mph. It gets so windy at times that buildings near the summits need to be chained down so they don't blow away! Having said this, the area is pristine wilderness, home to some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in New England, that attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.

We, along with our friends Dan and Laura and Todd and Kari, decided to explore the area this past weekend. Thursday night, we made the 2½ hour drive from Boston to New Hampshire and camped at Sugarloaf I Campground in the White Mountains National Forest. Friday morning we woke up bright and early at 4:30am, tore down camp, ate breakfast, and shuttled cars to each trail head before 7:00 am. Our two day traverse across the Presidential Range began at the Appalachia trail head and followed the Valley Way trail upward from there. The trail meandered around a river most of the way before we split off on the Watson Path. Watson Path was a steep climb up through the tree line and was more like bushwhacking than following a well-groomed trail. Eying the time, we decided to ditch our summit attempt of Madison and take the Pine Link half a mile to the Madison Spring Hut. Slowly we crawled over the boulders that separated us from a well-deserved lunch at the hut. After a refreshing break, we headed out along the Gulfside Trail past Mount Adams, Jefferson, and Clay. It was a well-planned and well-marked trail that took us through alpine tundra, past breathtaking vistas, and even over a patch of snow. We eventually spotted Lakes of the Clouds Hut off in the distance and decided to abandon our Washington summit attempt in favor of dinner at the hut. With the 6:00pm dinner time quickly approaching, we headed across the Westside Trail, got our pictures taken by some tourists on the Cog Railway, and made it to the hut with half an hour to spare. We were fed like kings and slept like babies.

Saturday morning we woke up to a cloud-filled wonderland as the hut staff serenaded us with Danny Boy. They filled us with a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and pancakes and sent us on our way. The Crawford Path quickly took us past Mount Monroe and over Mount Franklin. With plenty of energy we decided to summit Mount Eisenhower and Pierce before heading down the steep path to Mizpah Spring Hut for lunch. From there we took the Mizpah Cut-off back to the Crawford Path. We eventually met up with Gibbs Brook and briefly stopped at Gibbs Falls. From there it was a downhill trek to the parking area. After two days and 18.9 miles of trails, we safely and successfully traversed the Presidential Range! We rewarded ourselves with a pizza dinner and roasted marshmallows before turning in for the night at Sugarloaf II.

Sunday was spent relaxing from the hike with noteworthy memories including a stroll around Saco and Ammonoosuc Lakes, a brief encounter with a bear, and roasting kielbasa over the fire for lunch. The drive back to Boston was uneventful except for a stop at Cracker Barrel, Bekah's favorite restaurant, for dinner. Here is a compilation of pictures from the trip.

Boston Med

Today Bekah got a sneak peak of the first episode of Boston Med, which will premier on ABC Thursday at 10PM. It is a documentary with "real life drama" from three Boston hospitals, including Brigham & Women's Hospital, which is where Bekah has now been working for almost two years. The series runs for eight weeks and is guaranteed to be full of powerful stories. In addition, you will be able to get a feel for the fast-paced environment and world-class colleagues Bekah is surrounded by each day while at work. To see some additional previews and to read more about the show, click here. Although Bekah found herself in front of the cameras a handful of times last summer while the filming was taking place, she does not expect to see herself in the final product. We'll be curious to know what you think of the series!

Chatham

This past weekend, we and a bunch of our Boston friends spent a relaxing weekend on Cape Cod. Everyone chipped in to rent a beautiful and spacious cottage in the heart of Chatham, MA. While most had the day off on Friday to head up early, Bekah and Dan had to work and brave the weekend Cape traffic late Friday night. Saturday we woke up early to watch the World Cup, had a delicious cinnamon roll breakfast, Mitch and the guys went on a morning ride around Chatham, and the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing on the beach and playing bocce ball. That night, we barbecued a steak and chicken feast, gave the Adam's and Mack's their going away gifts, and enjoyed ice cream at Emack and Bolio's. Sunday was spent watching the World Cup, playing tennis, touring Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, cleaning up, and of course braving the traffic back to Boston. Click here to check out our pictures.

Century

It was a bit of a long shot, but they did it. Mitch and his biking buddy, Adam, successfully rode their bikes 100.90 miles from their apartments in Boston, MA to Chatham, MA! The trip took just over 8 ½ hours, with the bikers beginning their trip at 8:00 in the morning and finishing around 4:30. Having only ridden his bike a maximum of 52 miles previously, this was a massive biking feat for Mitch. Calculations indicate that it took over 5,600 calories and 2 gallons of water for each biker to make it to their final destination. Mitch alone consumed 4 cliff bars, a ham egg and cheese English muffin, a Boston cream donut, and a king-sized snickers bar en route. The weather was sunny and clear making for an unseasonably hot day with temperatures on the black asphalt peaking at a sweltering 98.6 °F. Memories include several turkey sightings, stopping for lunch in Plymouth, climbing over the Sagamore Bridge, and begging for water at a local thrift store. To check out the ride in greater detail and see ride stats and splits follow the link. Pictures will be posted soon.

Bethany

After spending two years in Zambia with Partners Worldwide, Bethany has returned to the states. Being home about a month earlier than her husband, Kyle who is still in Zambia, Bethany decided to take a road trip from Michigan out to the East Coast to visit friends. Bethany visited us in Boston for the weekend and got to see all the sites, despite the wet weather. She received a full tour of the Freedom Trail from underneath an umbrella, enjoyed a chocolate mouse cannoli from Mike's Pastry, attended Park Street Church, shared a ride on the swan boats with Bekah, strolled through the Fenway Gardens and the Fenway Rose Garden, and joined us in watching some World Cup soccer and the Celtics. It was great to see her and to hear her stories from Zambia!

Pass

For those of you who may not have heard yet, Mitch passed both sections of his qualifying exam. Yippee! Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. Having passed the exams means that Mitch can now move on to the next phase of his doctoral program: research.

Green Mountains

Needing some rest and relaxation after his qualifying exams, Mitch met up with some friends from Calvin for a few days of camping in Vermont's Green Mountains. Having no car, Mitch bought a Greyhound ticket and headed off to Albany without incident. There he met up with Sam, Christina, and their 6 month old daughter Abby. They continued on to meet Neil in Vermont at Merck Forest. Everyone had camped together before, but this trip was extra special since it was Abby's world debut camping experience. Whether its old age setting in or the fact that they weren't sure what Abby would be up for, they took a slightly softer route by reserving the Ridge Cabin. It was a charming cabin about a 2 mile hike from the cars furnished with a primitive table to eat on, wooden bunks to sleep in, and an old wood burning stove for heat. They practically had the whole forest to themselves and are proud to say they saw more wildlife than people. Notable sightings include a snake, humming birds, a deer, woodpeckers, and porcupines. They even got to learn a fair amount about maple syrup production by visiting a sap house (for which Bekah was very appreciative of her pint-sized souvenir). Of course, Mitch took pictures.

Parents

Worried about Mitch's mental state after his qualifying exams, Mitch's parents decided to make a trip up to Boston over Memorial Day weekend to spend some time with him. It was an enjoyable weekend that included several trips to REI, a tour of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, dinner in the North End, a stroll along the Charles River, a morning in Chinatown, and an afternoon in Beacon Hill (pictured above). The time flew by, but everyone agreed it was well spent: Mitch's Dad enjoyed looking around REI, Mitch's Mom savored the homemade frozen yogurt, Bekah discovered she likes bubble tea, and Mitch was relieved he no longer had to study.