Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 67 Entries. Thursday, February 22 View Page Never done a diary before. Here are some pics of Me and Gabe on our hiking trip along the Presidential Range in New Hampshires White Mountains last summer. We did it in the end of July. The First is the start. There was an evening Thunderstorm. We arived and It was still drizzling. I was planning on starting on a different trail, but this one was known as a bad weather trail (good footing) so we took this one. By doing so, we were not able to hit Mt Pierce or Mt Webster. Have to get those on a different day   Thursday, February 22 View Page This was the first Cairn we came to when we were just about at the tree line   Thursday, February 22 View Page Mt. Eisenhower from The Crawford Path. Clouds just clearing. This was amazing. I was wondering where that summit was, trying to compare the trail map to the signs I saw, then the wind blew the cloud away and there was a mountain so close I could hit it with a rock.   Thursday, February 22 View Page This is me and Wee Man against the cairn on top of Ike. The photo was taken by a family we had met from Holland. Pretty neat.   Thursday, February 22 View Page This is the Crawford Path. Strait ahead is Mt. Franklin, to the right is Mt. Monroe, and just beyond that is the beast, Mt. Washington   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabriel on Mt. Franklin summit.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabe on top of Mt. Monroe. In the distance you can see the Lakes of the Clouds. The two boys wearing blue are from the family from Holland we met on top of Mt. Eisenhower.   Thursday, February 22 View Page This is Gabe standing in one of the lakes. VERY cold.   Thursday, February 22 View Page These were our bunks in the Lakes of the Clouds hut. Home for the night. I dont know what happened to the pic. Its run by gas, solar and wind power. Really neat place. The only way you can get there is by foot or chopper, and as windy as it is there, by foot would be your best bet.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Day 2-After a good breakfast, we left the hut as early as we could so we could have a good time cushion. The Lakes Hut is in the col between Mt. Washington and Mt. Monroe. If you dont know, Mt. Washington has the world record wind speed. It's a real harsh environment. The weather report at the hut in the morning was 45-50mph winds and 30-50 feet visibility. We had climbed Mt. Washington last year so skipped it on this trip. The wind speeds would have been hurricane plus. Not worth it. This sign was the first milestone of the day. It was the easiest and fastest 2.2 miles of the trip. This was taken as the weather was clearing.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabe and Mt. Clay. The clouds just clearing. We are trying to summit all 48 4000 foot mountains in NH. Mt. Clay isnt on the list so we skipped it. If the sky was clear at the time of the trail junction, we probably would. We had just passed this on our way to Mt. Jefferson when the cloud cleared and we got this view   Thursday, February 22 View Page Mt. Clay again   Thursday, February 22 View Page More clouds clearing   Thursday, February 22 View Page Oops. Just found this pic of the Lakes of the Clouds Hut where we spent the night before. This was taken from Mt. Monroe's summit.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Jefferson Loop Trail sign with part of Mt. Jefferson behind it. Im pretty sure the Gulfside trail doesnt hit the summits. You have to take the Loop trails that cross over. Along the Presidential Range, from Mt. Washington-south is the Crawford Path. From Mt. Washington-north is the Gulfside Trail. If you look at the picture above of Mt. Franklin and Mt. Monroe, you can see how easy the footing is on Crawford Path. Gulfside Trail is MUCH different. We went at a rate about 1 mile per hour.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabriel on the Gulfside Trail   Thursday, February 22 View Page Cairn on Mt. Jefferson Summit. This pic was taken by a man out walking his dog.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Mt. Adams From Mt. Jefferson   Thursday, February 22 View Page Mt. Washington from col between Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams. In that last pic, if you look closly you can see the trail, then the slopes of the Great Gulf to the right   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabe and Mt. Madison in the back on the slope of Adams. The morning weather report called for possible afternoon thundershowers. Mt. Adams actually has 4 summits. While the Gulfside crosses between 2 of the summits, a big Black Cloud was comming at us. I thought we were going to have to find a big boulder to hide under. I decided not to summit it. Too bad, it would have taken us an extra half hour, and the cloud passed by us shortly after. Bummer.!   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabe, Mt. Madison, Madison Springs Hut, and an AT hiker. That man is 72 years old and hiking the AT. He had spent the previous night above the tree line. He spent the night at the hut. He got quite a kick out of Gabriel being his age and what he was doing. I got a kick out of him and his age. 72. Tough as nails.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabriel, the conquerer of big rocks. REAL BIG ROCKS   Thursday, February 22 View Page We saw lots of rocks................Gabriel and rocks   Thursday, February 22 View Page This is the caffeteria inside of Madison Springs Hut, home for night 2   Thursday, February 22 View Page Tilt your head 90 degrees to your left. This is Gabriel in his bunk. Mine was above him. This hut is much smaller and the spaces are much tighter than at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut.   Thursday, February 22 View Page After we rested our feet after that LONG 7 mile trek, we went back outside and started walking around. We began climbing up Mt. Madison, which began pretty much outside the hut doors. After all that hiking, little man wanted to climb the next rock. I didnt have the camera and super was coming up, so I told him we had to turn back. Kids are amazing.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Day 3- VERY steep face. Mt. Madison was tougher than he looked. Pretty much a granite rock pile. No wind at all on this day. Ive never seen so many black flies in my life. This was also during one of New Englands few heat waves. It was even hot at 5500 feet.   Thursday, February 22 View Page Gabe and dad (the dope to his left) with Mt. Adams in the backround. The woman that took this picture began video taping with the camera. I didnt realize until a couple months later. If there is ever a way to put video clips on here, I will. Its pretty cool......   Thursday, February 22 View Page The end of a journey. The Daniel Webster Trail seemed to go on forever. If anyone reading this enjoys hiking and is ever in the New England area, this is well worth it. To stay at the huts, they book fast. You have to book Months in advance. While on this adventure, my pumpkin I brought to the weigh offs was pollinated. Bummer. Open Cross.   Thursday, February 22 View Page This is another pic I just found of the bunks inside Madison Spring Hut. You can see Gabriel inbetween the bunks. Real tight.   Thursday, February 22 View Page These next 3 are from 05 when we hiked Mt. Washington. Gabriel was 5 at the time. 6 when we did the presidents. The Ammonusuc Trail starts at the Cog Railroad, climbs the ravine to the Lakes of the Clouds hut, then on to the Mt. Washington Summit. This first pic of a hikers behind show in june ice flowing down the waterfall. The trail runs along a large brooks. The sites are priceless. Cold as well. Wasnt expecting deep snow so my feet were quite wet. The snow disapeared as we aproached the tree line   Friday, February 23 View Page I had a pack that I carried my daughter in. That was the last time I used that. She is a big (and upset looking in the pic) girl. This photo was taken in the Lakes of the Clouds hut. We stopped to take a break and have a cookie.   Friday, February 23 View Page Gabe on top of Mt. Washington. This picture had made the local newspaper. They ran a small article on him because of how young he was. We cheated and took the Cog Railroad down. That was quite a day. Kids are amazing.   Friday, February 23 View Page And finially, pumpkins. Behold, for all those that have been waiting, the infamous, 812 Truoung.......   Friday, February 23 View Page My 407 from the 781 Frantz. 781Xopen   Friday, February 23 View Page My daughter Amanda (left) and Zacks daughter Chloe on the flat bed with the 407 and 812 ready for Cumberland   Saturday, April 14 View Page .   Saturday, April 14 View Page Today was the start of Gabes first hockey clinic. Last night he couldnt wait for this (notice the excitement in his eyes). We plan on having him in a summer clinic as well. His favorite hockey team is the Lewiston Mainiacs from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League are the JR. Mainiacs, which he wants to play for. Last December was his first time on the ice, so were trying to play catch-up with these clinics   Saturday, April 14 View Page I should get a 2 million candle power flash for the camera. As dark as this photo is, it is one of the best ice shots I got...........   Saturday, April 14 View Page Coaching staff was great. For 30 or so kids, I think there were 7-8 coaches and 5-6 helpers   Saturday, April 14 View Page A lousy shot taken through the glass. He's the one on the right   Saturday, April 14 View Page They worked their tails off for an hour. Drill Drill Drill. Superman looks pooped   Friday, April 20 View Page Amanda got ahold of a pair of scissors. Nice.   Friday, April 20 View Page Lucky for us, KathyT (mom to me) used to be a hair dresser.   Friday, April 20 View Page John Bernier that plays for the Mainiacs was a number 1 draft pick for the LA Kings. Hes the number 1 Goal tender in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. And best of all, hes Gabes hero. Gabe spent his Birthday money to get this hockey Jersey so Bernier could sign it. Well, he signed it.   Saturday, April 28 View Page Gabriels 7th Birthday was today. We rented the Kennebec Ice Arena for an hour, an hour after his hockey clinic. Then we got the conference room for an hour and a half for cake, presents and games   Saturday, April 28 View Page Amanda and Carangi on the ice   Saturday, April 28 View Page Amanda and Carangi on the ice   Saturday, April 28 View Page Todd and Graham   Saturday, April 28 View Page Courtney   Saturday, April 28 View Page A lousy pic of Gabriel and Martel   Saturday, April 28 View Page He had his cake and ate it too   Saturday, April 28 View Page "It aint no Thaaang!"   Saturday, April 28 View Page Gabe and Nathan   Saturday, April 28 View Page Goober   Saturday, April 28 View Page Carolyn   Saturday, April 28 View Page Diggin in   Tuesday, May 15 View Page The Maineiacs won the Memorial Cup. Saturday night they had a rally at the Civic Center. Here is a pic of Gabriel and his hero, John Bernier   Tuesday, May 15 View Page Heres Gabe and Chad Denny. Denny has been drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers.   Tuesday, May 15 View Page Gabriel and the Memorial Cup   Tuesday, May 15 View Page He got his hockey stick autographed by all the players and coaches. Sebastien Piche, Mikal Korenko and John Bernier.   Friday, May 18 View Page My supportive wife, Jessica   Saturday, May 19 View Page Did I forget to add, the love of my life?!   Tuesday, May 29 View Page Cucumber beetles have arrived. The battle begins......   Saturday, July 7 View Page Today, Amanda Climbed Her First Mountain. Streaked Mountain In Buckfield Maine. Nice.   Saturday, July 7 View Page Gabriel, Amanda, And Their Buddy Ivan.....   Saturday, July 7 View Page Our Adventure Comes To An End....