Crag - The Final Assault

Those readers who have been to Crag invariably have taken the Spur Trail.  Because we (the four adults) had "been there, done that"  30+ years ago, we decided to take a new trail (for us), Lowe's Path.  Janel assured us that "paths" are invariably easier than "trails."  Lowe's Path traverses up the other side of the ridge (Nowell Ridge) from Crag and you cut-over to Crag via Gray Knob.

The trail, because of the more/less continuous rains in the area, was either muddy or an intermittent stream.  Our first stop, 2-1/4 miles in, was at the RMC's Log Cabin shelter.

Janel is seen pondering the Guidebook and Dorothy, showing an overabundance of energy, is raring to go onwards.  Incredible as it may seem, her white shorts stayed mud-free for the entire trip.  I was sweating so much I was freezing and was ready to call it quits.  According to Janel's guidebook, the trail then ascends "seriously" from this point forward.  My 1972 guidebook only says the last mile is very steep.

Continue on we did, eventually reaching Gray Knob, which also looks much better than any of us remembered it.  We didn't stop to look around, however, but continued on over to Crag.  The path to Crag was much as Janel and I remembered it - flat and muddy with a few rocks thrown in to keep you on your toes.  The one part neither of us remembered was the steep descent down as you approached Crag.   According to the map, Crag is < 200 feet lower in elevation than Gray Knob but it seemed like a lot more.  Our collective memory was that it was a more/less flat walk between the two cabins.

We reached Crag about 1:45pm and found only two other people there.  The cabin is, of course, new but they had replaced the old organ, which had been destroyed many years ago, with one of similar vintage.  Surprisingly, there is no running water in the cabin; an outside spigot is present but hikers are warned to drink from it at their own risk.  Although King Ravine was socked in, the clouds did lift for a few minutes so one could get a good view of the ravine and Mt. Madison.  The group photo, shown at left, gives the illusion that we are none the worse for wear.  That was about to change.

We departed about 2:00pm and headed down, this time taking the Spur Trail.   It was as steep and treacherous as we all remembered.  Ladders had been added, however, in three locations over the worst parts.

The trip down was excruciatingly painful on the legs and feet.  As seen in the photo below, the happy hiker in the group picture is looking a little ragged.

For the final two miles we retraced the first two miles of the Randolph Path.  For a section of path that had seemed to be plain and easy on the way up, it was now brutal going down.  My legs were like Jell-O and the last thing you wanted to do was fall.  Janel's boys, Foster and Cooper,  were a constant reminder of what 30+ years do to you; they were continually running up and down the trail, coming back to see if we were OK!

We finished up at 6:00pm - nine hours on the trail with the distance being about eight miles.  We all hobbled back to home or the hotel - Tom heading back to southern NH where he was vacationing with his family.  The next day was somewhat painful but it was the total fatigue that was most noticeable.  It was a strain to get up and go anywhere.  Two days later the fatigue had subsided but the pain in the legs was much more noticeable.  It took several days for normality to return.

While I don't think we'll take on Crag again, it was certainly worth the effort to have an opportunity to relieve the price-less memories we all had of the place.   The fact that we all made it is a clear statement that we're not yet ready for the "home" and can look forward to other, more modest, hikes in the future.

Speaking of which, we're be back in the area in mid-to-late September next year for anyone interested in a stroll in the woods - see "Favorites" page.

"A Mini-Reunion"

    Bruce, Tim, Janel looking over old camp pictures in a room that Tim and Anne had added on to the back of the original camp kitchen.

A few days later we reconvened at Janel's for a reunion with Margie Brinckerhof.