Queen of the Hill

Route: Blueberry Ledge Trail → Rollins Trail → Dicey’s Mill Trail →Walden Trail → Dicey’s Mill Trail 

This was my first time hiking either of these mountains for #16 and #17 of my 48 4000-footers. It was my longest hike to date, so I was a little nervous at the outset, but I felt strong and ultimately cruised through at a pace I am proud of. Best of all, I did not feel like shit the next day! At first I was worried, since my left leg developed a wicked bad knot and I was limping around before bedtime, but with stretching, foam-rolling and icy-hotting, the issue was resolved by morning. 
A couple hours into the hike, somewhere higher up on the Blueberry Ledge trail after the first traces of snow, I connected with a younger hiker from Manchester. He was carrying an overnight pack to condition himself for a Pemi loop later this month (before the Lincoln Woods closure).
We were hiking at a similar pace and ultimately stuck together until the bittersweet end at the parking lot. Along the way we saw three piles of moose droppings, but no moose. Good conversation about previous hikes, including his trips to the Adirondacks, and pleasant exchanges with the few other hikers we bumped into.

Stats:

• Mileage: 11.84
• Elevation Gain: 3,865
• Moving Time: 5:57:08
• Protein Bars: Two Aloha bars were consumed on the way up, one lemon and the other mint chocolate. All the gains.
• Feet: Trusty old Vasque boots (grippy as fuck and great for cold weather), two pairs of Smartwool Hike (not at the same time), Outdoor Research gaiters (why did I take them off though?!) and EXOspikes (worn for roughly 3 miles).