7/8/22
White Mountains Guide Day Twelve

It was like a switch had been flipped on that rocky path July 6. The winds whipped around me, clouds rolled in, and I should’ve been scared, I would’ve been scared normally, but something changed in me. Instead of being afraid and rushing for treeline, I sat on a pile of rocks and reflected on the trail, on the past two years, on everything that I’ve endured and overcome to get to where I am now. I felt nothing but peace and sadness. Deep, deep sadness for all that has happened. It was in that moment something changed. I realized all of those things that were scary to me before, all of the hikes that seemed too hard, or too much for me, became easy. There couldn’t be anything harder than what I had just gone through. I reached the peak and it would all be downhill from here. I’m no longer afraid. Hiking The Cornice and Caps Ridge for the first time since 2019 wasn’t intimidating, it was amazing. I sat on The Cornice and had a snack. I climbed up the rock slab on Caps Ridge and marveled at my strength. I navigated the rock fields one step at a time and went at the pace that felt comfortable to me. No, it’s not easy, I’d be lying if I said it was. Hard can be beautiful too. 

Daily Miles: 5.14
Overall Miles: 120.45
Daily Vert: 2,671’
Overall Vert: 41,948’
Guide: 5.3% -> 5.5%
NEHH: 2/100 

Trails:

Caps Ridge Trail
The Cornice
Jefferson Loop Trail
Gulfside Trail