The 2006 Edition of the July Fourth Butt kicker!!

“This is a tradition that began in 2003, when I ventured in the back country for the first time in ten years with my brother. He had gotten into backpacking a few years before and was always trying to get me to go. Finally, I conceded and he and I drove to North Carolina to tackle the highest mountain range in the east, the Black Mountains and Mt. Mitchell. I had a backpack that was older than me. We hiked up Mitchell from the bottom to the top and upon setting foot on the lofty summit, already ass kicked, I thought I was done, that we'd find a place to camp. My brother was scanning the horizon. He looked to the north and saw the extension of the range and the peaks rose from its ridge and he pointed in the direction of those peaks. He said, "Rob, let's go that way and find a place to camp!" "You mean, over those peaks?" I asked. He wasn't kidding and we trudged along over several of the highest mountains in the east before finding the night's lodging in Deep Gap, some 5 miles north of Mitchell. I was energetically destitude, another step would have proven fatal. I loved every minute of it and thus was born the tradition of the July Fourth Buttkicker Trip.

The following year, I returned with a band of TTers and we traversed the entire Black Mountain Crest Trail from Bolens Creek to Mitchell and then descended the summit to Black Mountain Camp Ground. Everyone was definitely buttkicked that weekend, but we all had fun.

Last year on the second anniversery of the tradition, Pennsy, Gemini and myself took on through-hiking the entire 60 mile Loyalsock Trail in Pennsylvania in less than 72 hours. By the second night, we were entirely bushed, but we were loving it.

This year the tradition must continue. The location must be storied. The vistas must be grand. The scenery must be breath taking, but the terrain must be difficult to the core.

Such a location will be chosen. It will exceed expectations. Days will be long and miles will be excessive. Muscles will ache and hikers will trudge forth and love every step of it!”

“New Hampshire...
White Mountains...
Presidential Traverse...
Tack on mileage at either end as appropriate...

'Nuff said, eh? (Ya hoser..)”

“there will be a group size limit of six on this trip.”

“Just curious... have you ever considered doing some trail out West? I know all those cute little trails you mention are picturesque, I've hiked some myself when I lived there, and I know those are all great trips.. BUT... you're presenting this as a "Butt Kicker", so why don't you try to get a group together to actually hike some real mountains?”

“I'd seriously love to do that wanderer, but it's a matter of financials. I know if I went west, I'd see that west is best and I do hope to get out there, this year if possible. We'll see. I love these mountains we have out here though.”

“SouthWest Airlines now does BWI (Baltimore-Wash Intl) they also do Pittsburgh, PA, I'm not sure of the other destinations, but if you plan ahead & you can get some cheap deals!”

“cute and little? Cant even compare them to the mtn. whitney trail. some of those east side trails kick whitneys ass.”

“ENS come to the Smokies!!! I'll join you!”

“ENS - There's a traverse of the Northern part of Yellowstone that should be just what you're looking for (and the threat of grizzlies is a huge bonus).

Flying out West ain't very expensive.”

“ENS, you know i'm always up for a b-kicker in my neighborhood. : )”

“Hmmm....wasn't FYAO in your neighborhood????”

“hmmm. FYAO was somewhat, as the crow flies, but not w/ that darn lake in the way!
nh is only 45 min away from my front (and only) door.”

“Okay then, yer off the hook.

BTW, thanks for the webshots viewing.”

“looking at your pics was such a pain in the butt. ; )”

“Yeah? Well you should have tried pulling a sled for 3 miles with no snow.....THAT was a pain in the butt, lol.”

“Me thinks it's going to be in the whites this year”

“ENS, you are the trip hostin'Extraordinaire. I'm sooooo not in shape for a trip like this, but I've been dyin' to get to the whites. I think I need a good ole fashion 10 and 10.”

“I don't think Mt. Washington likes to be called cute.”

“I could be up for this if ya have room, been too long since I hiked out east,big miles sound good to Me. always nice to stretch the legs and I have time off over the 4th”

“ENS, we could do Falling Water trail....that is a "cute" route to take. ;)”

“Why not try doing a section of the Vermont Long Trail? It has plenty of miles to kick your butt on.”

“i love how u call it cute. keep going...you may convince me to go.”

“We have a lot of "cute" trails here in the Northeast.”

“This is a cute warm up trip for the northeast.
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/818.php”

“I think the Falling Waters Trail is as cute as it gets. Especially for night time descents.”

“I think the Falling Waters Trail is as cute as it gets. Especially for night time descents.

and especially in the icy winter time!!”

“The Long Trail is nice, but not nearly as epic as the Presidential Traverse...”

“I can never plan anything this far ahead.”

“I'd do another Presidential traverse.

What are we gonna do the next day? :)”

““I'd do another Presidential traverse.

What are we gonna do the next day? :)”
pepsi
8:34:02 PM
2/24/06
ignore this user

The Pemi Loop?”

“Keep It In New England
“The Long Trail is nice, but not nearly as epic as the Presidential Traverse...”
PhantomSoul
7:17:26 PM
2/24/06
ignore this user

Psst, the Long Trail is harder than the Presidential Traverse.”

“The Long Trail it is. I need to get the guide book and maps, but you can bet your adams apple the hike will include Mt. Mansfield.”

“Unfortunately if all goes to plan I won’t be able to join you because I’ll be on the trail at that time or just getting back from it. If I’m on the trail at that time it’s possible that I might run into you because I’ll be covering the part of the trail that goes over Mansfield.”

“Lincoln Gap north to Smuggler's Notch is a butt-kicker and covers some of the Long Trail's biggest and best.

You won't find much in the way of western-style wide-ass trails with switchbacks.

Many places are "hands-on" as well.”

“http://www.extremeultrarunning.com/mchart.htm

Take a look at this for mileage.”

“Vt. Rt. 125, Middlebury Gap to Vt. Rt. 108, Smuggler's Notch is 74.2 miles.

I could see doing that in no less than five days hike.

That would be butt-kickin' enough for me.

30 June through 4 July?

Head up Thursday evening?

Drive all night like fools?
last edited: 3/22/06 9:09:59 AM”

“Hello......................boneheads!!”

“Bow Wow !!”

“talkin' to yourself again?”

“That's right!

With or without you guys I'm gonna get a piece of The Long Trail this summer.

I will definitely be talkin' to myself as I hike it..........and singin' too!”

“I'll send a nice padded van to pick you up. 8D”

“Oh, how nice!

Now I won't have to hitch hike back to my car!”

“I just saw this. I'll take a look at it over lunch.”

“Lincoln Gap to Smuggler's Notch is 56.9.

I like this distance even better.

I don't want to drive 550 miles home after a long day on the trail.”

“MarkO, you could stay at our house before you drive back home, if you want! I'd have to check with Tarpy, but I'm pretty sure we'll be around then. I might even give you a monkey to cuddle while you fall asleep.”

“Oh..........thanks!!
I hope I'm not allergic to monkeys like I am with cats.

There is also the Sassafras And Birch In Late July In Vermont thing.

Vermont twice in one month....I don't know.”

“We don't have any cats, don't worry! Yeah VT is gonna be lousy with TTers in July, LOL.”

“Are you flatlanders still in Woodstock?”

“Yep we are! We're looking at houses though (our lease is up at the end of May)...but if we do move between now and then, it'll be to somewhere in the same general area.”