Cabot & Waumbek: Elmo or Cookie Monster?

The route was as planned: Cabot via Unknown Pond (and side trip to The Horn) - an out and

back. Drive to Starr King trail, Waumbek out and back: sunset on the ascent, headlamps on

by Mt. Starr King. While these two summits are among the lowest of the 48, this was no walk-in-the-park: About 18 miles and about 5,300ft vertical.

Also of note was the recognition that we'd have to repeat this feat of endurance 11 more times for the grid - yet this trek and our last tag of Cabot & Waumbek in one day was ALSO in November when tMail, MadDog and I did the Kilkenny Ridge Traverse.

It's like we're being punished for something we didn't do.

Mutha's Trip Report (Pics Here): Outstanding camaraderie and typical trail talk, covering everything from ... um ... Elmo to Cookie Monster. Trip highlights (just the first few to come to mind - I'll leave it to the others to fill in the details):

Presidentials (by Mutha)

• Blaze orange gear, courtesy of MadDog: vests & hats
• Knee brace adjustments galore!
• The Horn and views of the Presidentials (see pics)
• Stupid Mount Cabot
• Getting back out of the car at the Starr King trailhead
• Finding socks on the trail
• Ascending Waumbek in the waning evening light, gorgeous sunset and snowy trail
• Headlamp hike to the summit cairn and back.

tMail's Trip Report (no pics due to failed camera): A great drive up from the flatland to meet the green mountain boys at Starr King Trail head...jumped in Tmail's hotrod and headed to wonderful Stark, NH
1. MadDog's glow in the dark orange colorful vests and hats.
2. Westie's pre Combo's hike snack
3. Heading up to Cabot talking about MadDog's eat habits he counts the number of almonds he eats per day. Sunset (by Mutha Z)
4. MadDog's diamond drill story.
5. Mutha's shit sludge drink
6. Cabot summit
7. Drive to Starr King and efficiency of transition and DD Lancaster.
8. Listening to Mutha's theme song.
9. Heading up and down Waumbek talking about things from Frank Zappa, Elmo, Queen Elizabeth.
10. The Palin ban on Pink Floyd in Jericho, vt
11. MadDog burning his pants @ PPAC and not knowing which way to turn his head.
12. Talking about the sound of Steak slapping against counter top.
13. Westie taking the high boots and summer dresses.
14. Westie and Erin Burnett
15. Awesome summit on Waumbek.

Dinner following the hike, included 3/4 pound burgers with fries...highlights from the diner, 2 waitresses pregnant, one was drinking while serving. TV choice at bar was UFC, one guy saying Chuck "The Iceman" Ledell is deadly. Seeing one guy put half the salt shaker into his beer.

Westie was in a coma until Boston.

MadDog is a litter bug:

DD cup
Peanut butter crackers wrapper
Luna bar wrapper

MadDog leaves his gear everywhere:

I picked up Northface down vest
Blackdiamond trekking poles
61 cents in change from his side of the back seat
Mutha picked up 4 snow tires (don't ask).

MadDog's Trip Report:

• 1. Cabot or Waumbek
• 2. Ridge hike or river walk
• 3. Boots or heels
• 4. Salmon or prosciutto
• 5. Morocco or homegrown
• 6. Left knee or right knee
• 7. Ginger snaps or Tmail craps
• 8. D&D or greek bandaids
• 9. Day hike or night hike
• 10. Headlamps or no headlamps
• 11. Bra or no bra
• 12. Seven fish or seven sin
• 13. Metallica or king crimson
• 14. Houdini or handcuffs
• 15. Carter north or Carter south
• 16. Marty's or Tim's
• So much to choose from :-)

Westie's Trip Report:
1. tMail picked me up at Carson Beach in Southie at 05:30 sharp
1. 2. Stopped at THE convenient store near Mt Waumbek to grab the bare essentials: local honey, local cheese tub & 2 packs of combo’s.
2. 3. Met up with Zucker & Madddog at 08:30 and drove to Mt Cabot trail head
3. 4. Suited up with fashionable bright orange hats and vests sponsored by Home Depot and ate 1 pack of combos before the hike
4. 5. Great views from The Horn of northern NH especially the northern presidential range
5. 6. Tear gas coming out of Maddog
6. 7. Shot over to Mt Cabot and quickly descended back to tMails jeep
7. 8. Quick stop at DD for hot cocoa which hit the spot
8. 9. Up Mt Waumbek with headlamps and a beautiful pink sky as the sun set
9. 10. Humorous conversation the entire trip especially near summit and on decent
10. 11. Black mini skirt & black boots or red heels & tight red pants?
11. 12. After sun set sky was crystal clear, stars bright and headlamps working effectively
12. 13. Total trip: 18 miles 5,300ft vertical elevation gain and my left hip flexor is tight
13. 14. Post hike meal at Cabot Motor Inn & Restaurant. We sat down at the bar. UFC was on TV. Bartender drinking a margarita. Band planning downstairs very loud as the floor was shaking for a minute. Ordered cheese burgers & fries tasted great. tMail was wearing his Yankees cap and I thought someone was going to pull out a pistol and shoot him. Luckily I was wearing my NASCAR hat which may have comforted the locals.
14. 15. Couldn’t stay awake for the drive home THANKS for driving Tmail!! THANKS to all!!