On Saturday, some friends came over for an impromptu gathering. When Louisa was on her way out, she mentioned that she and Jeremy were going hiking the next day… I asked her if we could come along since JeT and I were planning on going to Purgatory Chasm for a bit anyway, and it would be much more fun to go with other people. She said they were going to Mt. Monadnock, a place that I have heard of quite a bit, but had never actually gone. Back in the Outing Club days there had been several trips, none of which I had attended. So the plans were set.

The next day, Louisa and Jeremy arrive with Frank, Jeremy’s brother, and his girlfriend, Christy (or is is Chrissy… darn, I’ve forgotten… oops). Travelling in two cars we get to Monadnock State Park on a very drizzly, foggy mid morning. What began with a desire to get my butt off the couch (or away from the computer) resulted in much panting, huffing, puffing, and alternately sweating and freezing and soaking wet. And that was just the trip up. My legs were doing great, woo hoo for strong legs… my heart and lungs however were appaled that I ever had that urge to get off the couch. But dammit it was for their own good.

We reach the top. In ideal conditions, this would have been the point at which we all stood at the summit in awe at the beautiful view and marvelled at our strength to huff and puff our way all the way up. Instead, I crawled to the place where the little commemorative “coin” thingie is imbedded in the rock signifying the highest bit (crawling for the wind was quite fierce, and the rocks quite slippery from the drizzle) and proceeded to crawl my way to where my friends were hiding– behind a little boulder area, a shelter from the wind. There we ate lunch. yum. The only view was of the rocks we were standing on and the grey surrounding everything.

By the time the meal was finished, the cloudy foggy stuff had completely surrounded us. It was pretty neat, actually, if bone chilling and soggy. We began our slow decent. Most of the time was spent sliding down on my butt,sometimes voluntarily, most not, since everything was quite slick. . We were all quite thankful to be back under the shelter of the trees. If my heart and lungs were put to the test on the way up, my legs got the most of the burden on the way down. By the time we reached the area where we parked the cars, if I even stood still for five seconds, my legs turned to jelly and began wriggling uncontrollably. Rather amusing, I’d say.

Feeling exhausted, but whole heartedly fulfilled, we climbed into the cars and headed home. I had apple pie for dinner, and an early bedtime for dessert.

the end.

Replies: 2 comments… woo hoo!

Joelle and me have a psychic connection…we’re just a lil slow sometimes. Joelle! I’ve been thinking about heading to Purgatory or Mt. Wachusett sometime this weekend or next week.

We should plan a gathering!

Posted by EvillMonkey @ 10/14/2003 04:32 PM EST