We (4-hearted Fittons) recently spent a couple of weekends hiking and
letterboxing in the White Mountains.

The first weekend, Carol and I dropped off the kids at a soccer camp in
Fryeburg, Maine and then went to find Petlink's covered bridge letterbox in
Bethel, Maine. Much to our surprise, Wanda, of Pete and Wanda had recently
been there too. I wonder if she found the location to be as buggy as we
did. I swear the more bug repellent we put on, the more mosquitoes there
were. We actually ran to get away from them after quickly stamping up. We
considered going for their #2 letterbox, but instead found our way to the
Sunday River Brewing Company, where we had a good meal and a few local
brews. You have to try their Amber if you ever make it there. After a night
at a B&B, we did some driving and then some more hiking in the network of
trails near the Basin a little south of the Old Man.

The next weekend I came up solo to pick up the kids on Friday and the 3 of
us spent the weekend at a motel in Franconia, NH. Saturday, we found one of
the Dead President letterboxes. It was my kids first 4,000 foot mountain
climb! When we got to the top, there were about 25 people already up there
and they gave my kids a round of applause. That was very nice. We took a
break, ate, hydrated again, and then waited for these people to leave so we
could go about the business of finding the box. The mystery nature of this
letterbox prevents me from naming the mountain we climbed, but it was a
great day. We were the first to stamp up at this particular letterbox too.

For those of you used to Connecticut hiking, the long pants one wears to
prevent a case of poison ivy are unnecessary in the White Mountains. At
least on the mountain we climbed.

My daughter Katie, nearly 10, wants to go on a 3-4 day hiking adventure
next summer across the Presidentials in the White Mountains and along the
Franconia Ridge for our vacation. My nearly 12 year old son, Matt, wasn't
so keen on the idea. We'll probably go in late July or early August. Sure
it'll be hot, but if anyone wants to join us, great. The more the merrier.

Mark, of the 4-hearted Fittons