Cycle of the Solstice: Last Outing of the School Year 2010-2011

For one final hurrah I offered a challenging backpacking overnight to my Outing Club. I was fortunate enough to choose my best 8 (one backed out after reading the nitty gritty details of the trail because the next day he was doing the 160+ mile "Trek Across Maine" road ride to raise money for cancer research - and he realized that his legs would not be even close to fresh after this trip). So I took 7 students and one male chaperone (a student's dad originally from Boise, ID). Boy did I learn a valuable lesson about chaperone choice with the last trip. I will choose wisely (and did this last trip) from this point on. I am wiser and wiser with every trip. There is no perfect co-chaperone, but there are specific traits I will look for - Walt possesses many of the most important traits without even trying - this is a very good thing. I was able to choose the best two weather days of a three-day run (by asking the kids to etch out three days for the trip and wait for the weather) -- made the call on Monday that we would do a Weds/Thurs trip.

They were AWESOME. In typical Buotte hiking fashion, I led them up an incredibly steep trail and mountain - we started with Table Rock - one mile STRAIGHT up - then continued on to lunch at Baldpate Lean-To, summitted Baldpate West and East then headed down to Frye Notch Lean-T0. We talked with one SoBo female hiker and watched in awe as one Asian (he signed the log in either Chinese, Korean or Japanese -- sure wish I knew which) NoBo hiker sped by us. Holy cow did he fly. He was so thin (just endurance thin, not concerning thin) and his stuff looked ultra-light. He was doing GA-ME-Quebec - very cool - the time he was making is incredible. Typically the bulk of the NoBo thru-hikers come through late June, but more likely July and end of July -- even in August. He is flying. Since he was keeping such a pace, he was not sleeping at Frye-Notch, so we had the place entirely to ourselves. The kids were very helpful purifying water, helping with dinner, etc. The weather was perfect - it did not decide to rain until the boys were all in their tents and the girls were in sleeping bags (me included) in the lean-to. And it poured. It opened up, and with a metal roof, it was LOUD. And exciting. And by the time we were getting up (a VERY late 7:15 or so - must be summer for this cat who is usually up at 4:45) the rain had passed and the sun was out again.

We continued North on the trail. I sent the group off without me (as I always do) to enjoy some beautiful quiet after they were out of camp (although this group was not at all loud - they were contemplative and calm on the trail). I scouted camp to be sure we left no trace and then headed out after them. I told my lead kid to stop and wait for me if I had not caught up in a half hour. Just as they were dropping packs and waiting for me, I showed up on the trail. A kid from my homeroom said, "Only you Buotte." He was impressed and a little annoyed, I think, that I caught them so easily. Mauling trails is what I do. Love to cover ground, love sweat dripping off my nose, love a trail so steep I have to take a step up, put my hands on my knee and push up. And there was a bit of that on this section.

We scoped out a pretty little waterfall that was a bit off trail and once one decided to swim, most of the rest of us did too. It was COLD. It was take-your-breath-away, make-your-heart-almost-stop cold. It was INCREDIBLE. I swam in my tank top and shorts and then threw my polypro Tee back on over the tank and headed on down the trail. The kids were psyched. It was such a sweet spot and it was fun to share it with them.

We got to the cars (I had dropped mine off on Tuesday night and Jim, my mom and his mom were godsends and shuttled cars from Grafton Notch SP to East B Hill on Wednesday night) where I had stashed a bunch of really good juice on ice, turkey and cheese, bread, condiments, chips, etc. We lunched there and then headed for the HS. It went so well. I am really proud of my students and myself. This has been an incredibly successful start to our Outing Club. On the hike down a student and I brainstormed cool activities we could do to raise money so that next year we can go white-water rafting as a group. I think we are onto something good : )

I am fortunate to be in a position and profession to impact and influence young people in the way I was most impacted in high school. One Outing Club student gave me a card and a CD of Thoreau's "The Maine Woods" and wrote something along the lines of thanking me for giving her memories she will have for her whole life. And that's what it's all about - memories and learning that cannot be forgotten.

And yesterday I hiked alone, with a very light pack and three dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed being responsible for myself only and the quiet that embodies hiking alone. There will be many many more hikes like that over the summer.