Happy New Year 2014!!!!

2013 has left the building!! Here is to a happy, healthy and exciting new year for my family and yours ! Doug and I got married in October and were fortunate to spend New Years Eve with good friends and family, eating Chinese food, playing board games. :) Hope your night was excellent, too and year 2014 super! 

To read my full blog post, head over to Operation Break My Jaw

Doug sporting his Happy New Year glasses :)

Ringing in the new year in style :)

Mt. Moosilauke

Cascade waterfalls throughout the hike followed the trail.

On the way up on Beaver Brook Trail.

Yesterday dad and I climbed Mt. Moosilauke. We took the Beaver Brook Trail up which is actually a route the Appalachian trail hikers take, and saw many hikers up here from Georgia and Kentucky!! 

We saw the sign below when we were starting out and thought, ha! No worries. But it was quite steep! and a severe thunderstorm stopped us from summiting .5 a mile away from the top :( 

Warning sign.

We got soaked from head to toe on the way down. My waterproof rain coat turned out to be not very waterproof! Our pants and shirts stuck to our bodies and I was cherishing the fact that my trusty hiking shoes were bone dry until I spoke a moment too soon. By the time we reached the parking lot they were sopping wet, too!

The best view we got since we turned around before summiting.

But we had already hiked a different trail up Mt. Moosilauke before and know what the summit looks like anyways!

My best (and first!) bundt cake ever made!!!

Vanilla on bottom, chocolate on top, and finished with a delicious chocolate glaze!

I tried out a new recipe for this one, as I've always wanted to make a bundt cake. Dug out the old bundt cake pan and... voila! It came out fabulous and did not last long around the house :P

And a little dab of whipped cream =)

Mt. Monadnock

Last Wednesday, I hiked up the Pompelly trail of Mt. Monadnock. The 9 mile round-trip trek was long, tiring, and buggy, particularly for the first hour starting out. The outside temp was also quite warm, mid 80's, which added to the turmoil. Our packs were loaded to the brim with h20 (which felt like bricks on our backs), and was definitely a struggle starting out. Dad, my Vasque's and I, eventually summitted at 4:30 pm, having begun at 1:30pm, and enjoyed a 30 minute lunch break at top before starting back down. By 7:30pm we had completed the descent and only had to swat at the non-biting midges flying in our eyes and ears for about an hour or so again on the descent. Overall, I would give this trail about a C. The bugs were a pain in my rear and the hike wouldn't have been half as bad without them and the hot summer heat. Lafayette was my fave thus far, I'll keep you tuned in for our next summer hiking excursion. Stay tuned!

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Mt. Lafayette

Dad and I climbed Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Lincoln and Haystack this past Monday. The 10 mile round trip trek was fabulous! My limbs can certainly feel it, especially my calves, knees and shoulders. The views were spectacular and as we raced down to beat the clock (and the dark), we felt winded, yet accomplished. This hike was great preparation for our Mt. Katahdin expedition which will be completed sometime in the upcoming months. And to top it all, my Vasque's are the perfect little climbers and a great companion for a journey such as this.

Wooooo! Here It Is ... Em's Blog Post #1

Hello! This is my blog. Yesterday, I got a new pair of kicks. Not just any kicks either, but a pair of new, Vasque hiking boots that are going to be my feet for some intense climbs this summer, (courtesy of hiking companion and daddio, Ken B), =). On our agenda is Mt. Major, Mt. Monadnack, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Washington and the grand finale with big ol' Baxter, Mt. Katadin. Here goes nothin'!