These pictures are fairly high-res (I hope you're not using a modem), constrained on this page for viewing on my tiny monitor. Choose View Image (in Netscape) or save to disk to see them in full splendor.
Here is most of the group on Hector's 15 mile, 5000' delta elevation
tour de force. We saw this hike's description on the whiteboard ("probably
not fun") and knew it was for us.
I'm the one looking seriously away from the camera. I spent most
of the day behind the pack with Justin [halfway through an apple] and Olya
[doing something with her hair]. (Justin helped me write this page.)
Hector is the guy who looks most surprised at being photographed.
Hector says: "I would say, the hike was an easy advanced hike instead of a death march, we broke some sweat, but I think everyone was pretty okay by the end. I was hoping to break some people, but everyone did excellent, and were hardly tired by the end. You can say I was surprised to get so many people to sign up. I tried to make my trips hard, or at least sound hard to keep the group size small. It turned out a bit on the large side, but everyone was great and the size was not a problem."
The view was incredible.
The top of Mt. Mousilake (pronounced Mouse Lake). There was a very brief race to the top--brief in that everyone but Hector and Stan thought better of it. Hector had his stove lit by the time I limped in.
For the record, it was the first time I was on that trail, so I had no clue what to expect. On a good note, I was impressed by the fact that it is 3000 feet of vertical gain straight up.
Eva
Jan, Christian, & Anna
The next wave of slightly less hard core people arrives.
Later attempts to set fire to the mushroom Jan is carrying were only
slightly successful.
An & Mike
Justin & Olya. The usual slowpokes.
All the pain and suffering was worth it, because Hector had hot cocoa ready for us! Yeah! Don't forget to mention the animal crackers. Oh, Hector passed around a bag of animal crackers, and I busted out a box of Hostess Powdered Donuts. There was much rejoicing.
A first for Mt. Mousilake: Justin flies a kite. I was very impressed with the kite.
Justin has mad skillz, but others had trouble keeping it up.
By setting the timer and throwing my camera in the air, I was able to get an occasional picture of myself.
Olya on the rocks. Shaken, not stirred.
Get a room, kids.
Olya was kidnapped by a horde of mountain bandits...
...but reclaimed after a brief skirmish.
Hector: Another story you can add, was our quick stop by the Dartmouth
Ravine Lodge, where they had an orientation for a group of 150 freshmen.
I, having found some colored paint by the rails near the entrance of the
cabin, decided to camouflage myself with it. I stood in the form
of a tree, almost in the walking path to the cabin, and two students walked
right below me (within 1 inch of my arm) without noticing!!
Regarding exaggerating my exploits, you are free to put what you want.
Cool! See next page.