after the North Peak jaunt
PRESQUE ISLE – Saturday, Oct. 27 journal entry for betty sunrise hike to North Peak at Aroostook State Park. Written post-hike at 8 a.m.
We made the command decision Friday night to go ahead with the Saturday “Sunrise Hike” even though the weather report called for 80 percent chance of rain by morning.
We were counting on “morning” meaning what it does to most folks on a Saturday (about 10 a.m). We’d be at Mojo’s by 6 a.m. and at the top to meet the cloudy sunrise by 7:06 a.m. I didn’t get much sleep Friday because I kept listening for rain against the windows. When I did sleep, I would dream my backpack was stolen. Finally I rolled over and turned the alarm off before it woke up my husband. The plan: to meet at the store. I would leave to finish the hike earlier than the group in order to have coffee, hot chocolate and snacks ready. I would pay the gate fee, so the group could get right to the business of hiking when they arrived. But a few things I didn’t plan on.
It’s really dark at 6. when the stars and moon are cloud-covered. With my headlamp on, I started the hike from the parking lot and talked to myself all the way up. Hello wildlife. I know I’m in your house, please leave me alone. I wondered just how long before the group would join me or find me in case I ended up being breakfast for something big and fast. I’m afraid of the dark–always have been, always will be. I know today’s hike is about more than my fear; it’s about the seven women behind me and their apprehension and desire to explore.
I would have no way of knowing until they joined me that the darkness is what led at least one woman to attempt the hike in the first place. It turned out that in the light of day, she would have taken one look at the steepest sections and said no. What scares me the most was the saving grace that hid what someone else was most afraid of.
Anyway, I was happy to see everyone when they arrived. We did see all we would’ve seen of the sun for the rest of the day. We spent a good deal of time drinking coffee, hot chocolate, lemon and peppermint tea and enjoying whole grain Fig Newtons. We managed to complete the hike before any real rain started. The mountain gods let us have our hike and companionship in relative warmth, dryness and comfort. It was a morning well spent. I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Contributed photo/Dawn McPherson
IT WAS A CLOUDY SUNRISE viewed from the top of North Peak at Aroostook State Park, but the hikers avoided the rain that started later in the day.
Contributed photo/Dawn McPherson
WITH A HOT DRINK IN HAND the Betty Sunrise Hikers enjoy the view after their pre-dawn hike. Participants included (from the left) Carol Beal, Mitzi McKenney, Jessica Grass, Erin Bartlett, Pat Wood and Melanie Stewart. Dawn McPherson was behind the camera.
