That picture is a RIOT! We are going to e-mail it to everyone we know!
Anyway, here is how the weekend went, for all those interested:
We went up to Vt. Thursday night, snowboarded at Killington Friday, and then headed to North Conway. Had 9 people at Cafe Noche Friday night (GREAT mexican food, for those of you not yet indoctrinated...)and then went back to the New England Inn for some rest before the BIG DAY! 7:00 we had all 13 of us in the lobby of the lodge "grabbing" breakfast and getting into respective cars. Drove over to Pinkham in a caravan, and John and Rick tended to everyone's gear issues. After the ceremonial group photo by the Pinkham Notch sign, 12 of us were on the trail by 8:25. We lost one 3/4 of the way to HoJo's, but the 11 of us met the Justice of the Peace (Kim "Schroeder" Steward in case you are in need of one...) by 10:30. We were told by JOSH of the AMC that it was 0 to 15 below in the bowl and that the wind was howling. Also, people were mentioning that the hike from HoJo's to the Ravine was a bit hairy (icy, etc), but that the way back down would be really trecherous. We decided that the ceremony would be held at Hermit Lake rather than risk anyone's safety by hiking all 11 people (only 3 of us had been there before...)into the Ravine. After the ceremony, we would make a decision about who would go where.
The ceremony was beautiful, the scenery couldn't get much better, and our friends gave a whole new dimension to the word "friendship" -- these are not hikers or even really "outdoorsy" folks -- they were just our friends who made a personal sacrifice to see us get married. Right in line with the comeraderie and good feelings at Tuck's (and on the way up!).
So, after the ceremony, most of the group was pretty chilly from the long stop, and a group decision was made to head down to the parking lot. I was disappointed at first, but then I realized three things:
1) It was over-ambitious to begin with to think that all of these fine folks could make it safely to HoJo's, into the bowl, up a route, ski/ride down, and then hike all the way down. It takes a person in pretty good shape to do all that, AND not sleep through dinner!!!
2) That our friends made this awesome sacrifice (driving 8 hours, getting up at the CRACK, hiking 2.5 miles up-hill and back, only to get in the car and drive 8 hours home the next day!), meant that I should sacrifice MY momentary wishes and desires and keep the group together and do the "group" thing.
3) That there are MANY more years to hike/ski at Tuck's!
So, we headed down, head a champagne toast in the parking lot, a late lunch in town, and a FAB dinner at the Stonehurst Manor. A little after dinner imbibing at Tuckerman's Tavern, and a GREAT time had by all. My stomach muscles STILL hurt from laughing!
John and I went to Sunday River Monday for some more snow boarding, and headed home RELUCTANTLY yesterday. Honeymoon in September either in Australia/New Zealand or Tibet/Nepal/Thailand!!!!!!!
GREAT to meet MATT (M@) and the SAXMAN -- hopefully we can all make a few turns together next year. Actually, the new husband and I are contemplating putting a team together for next year's INFERNO!!!
Thanks to the many who congratulated us -- many people took pictures, too. If anyone has a great shot, please e-mail it to me at
njtrekgirl@yahoo.com
Ilene
Best Place to Get Married at Tucks
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