The Last Week of Preparation...

Today was our Safety Meeting where we got assigned into our different teams and received last-minute hints on what to pack and anticipate this Friday. Here is some background on how the teams were divided: Teams of 4-6 women, comprised of hikers with similar styles and abilities, will go on one of four trips that differ in mileage, difficulty, terrain and lodging. Three of the four trips will utilize Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) huts for overnight accommodations, while the fourth itinerary will use backcountry campsites (Backcountry Camping trip). Two of the other trips, the Zealand Notch Exploration and the Southern Presidential Traverse, include stays at full-service AMC huts with running water, bunks, and hot meals prepared by the hut “croo.” The last trip, Rugged Carter Notch Adventure, will get the chance to cook meals together in a historic AMC self-service hut (this hut offers running water and bunkbeds, but groups must bring and prepare their own food).

There are a total of 54 women (8 are doing the Backcountry Camping trip, 12 are doing the Zealand Notch Exploration, 18 the Southern Presidential Traverse, and 16 the Rugged Carter Notch Adventure). I have been placed into the Zealand Notch Exploration, where I am teamed up with 3 other women, consisting of Jessica, Idit, and Katherine. It just so happens that I have already hiked with Idit and Katherine, so I have an idea of what our upcoming adventures and hiking styles will be like, which is very exciting. Here is an outline of what is to come this coming Friday:
--Arrive at 5:30am at the Riverside T Station to check-in and then load onto the 2 buses that will be waiting for all of us there.
--Travel time to Trailhead is approximately 3 hours where we will do warm ups and break into our teams and say our goodbyes to everyone else.
--Day 1: Leave from Zealand Road (off of Rte 302). Hike following route over Mt. Hale (~5 miles) to Zealand Falls Hut. Stay the night at Zealand Falls Hut.
--Day 2: Enjoy day hikes in the area – hike through Zealand Notch to Thoreau Falls (~4.8 miles), or up Zeacliff for great views and on to “summit” Zealand Mountain which is a wooded peak (~5.8 miles), or summit Mt. Tom (~7.6 miles).
--Day 3: Hike out to Crawford Notch through A-Z trail.
--Our reception will be held at the Highland Center on Route 302 in Breton Woods, New Hampshire at 3:30pm on Sunday and then we take the buses back to Boston.

I think after months of training and sweating with these other women, I can almost say that myself, and fellow donators, are a part of the Elizabeth Stone House family. It will be an incredible experience to hike with these other women next weekend and in these last few days of preparation, I am gearing up for the 3 days.