Two cones of light interrupt the vast late-night darkness up on Kilkenny ridge in the northern White Mountains as they move stubbornly and quietly north.
Thick clouds hide the full moon and sprinkle the forest with a light drizzle.
When the mud stops, large granite boulders block their path instead, sometimes reinforced by a tree that fell across the trail. After a monotonous hour or so, one of them says Break for five minutes . Then, silence engulfs them again. Trying to take advantage of the full moon in conjunction with comfortable hiking conditions and no bugs, we climbed Mount Waumbek on Saturday From the South Pond Gate 22 miles away. This report brings you the full story and shares the lessons we have learned.