A returning guest reached out asking about a backpacking trip with amazing views for her birthday. With all things considered, the lookout tower on the 52WAV-famed Kearsarge North seemed ideal. There it is possible to take in an incredible sunset, have a pleasant night’s sleep out of the elements (with no bugs), and awaken to an incredible sunrise (complete with the mountain’s shadow stretching out over the landscape), coffee in hand while standing on the tower’s fenced-in catwalk veranda. Complete with a loving daughter to share it with. And on the way out, for another first, they used Week’s Brook Trail. Pinch me. On lead for this amazing adventure was Redline Guide Debra McCown. Debra provided to following summary and photos. Enjoy!
65 is a good age for firsts: First overnight camping trip in a lookout tower. First sunrise on top of a mountain. First hike to a peak that she wasn’t sure she could do with a 20+ pound backpack. Though she did do it with no problem. And she had a blast.
It just goes to show that, even on a milestone senior-citizen birthday, it’s never too late for firsts. This week’s birthday girl and her daughter first joined us back in March for a women’s-only winter backpacking intro. The daughter says her mom has since been all-in on buying backpacking gear, even driving close to 100 miles ’round trip to get a deal on a secondhand backpack.
They returned to celebrate her 65th birthday with an overnight backpacking trip to the North Kearsarge lookout tower and hanging out with this cheerful, chatty mother-daughter team was an absolute delight. The birthday girl is already planning her next hike, and it’s a 4000-footer. She also hopes to take her young grandson backpacking in the future. Who knows what other firsts are yet to come? —Debra
