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Traversing the White Mountains
August 6-8, 2023
Troop 2908 of Stockton Springs embarked on a highly anticipated hiking trip through the White Mountains. After spending the better part of a year planning their adventure, the troop set a date, a starting point, and a plan.
“We consulted with an experienced AT hiker, gathered all of the necessary gear, planned our trail food, and took a practice hike with all of our gear that was equivalent to our longest day on the range,” says Troop 2908 Leader Kristina Braga.
The troop set out on their multi-day journey on Monday, August 6, beginning with a hike up Mount Madison to their hut for the night just in time to miss torrential downpour, thunder, lightning, and 100 mile-per-hour winds!
After sharing a hot supper and conversation with other hikers staying in the hut, the troop decided to make some adjustments to their hiking plan given the weather and its impact on the trails.
“We talked with other hikers and planned alternate routes that would take us below the tree line,” says Kristina.
The next morning, Troop 2908 enjoyed a delicious and filling breakfast fit for a hiking crew before they had to make a difficult decision regarding the remainder of their journey.
Although the troop had originally planned to begin a 6-mile trek towards Mount Washington and the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, poor weather and an ankle injury forced them to turn back the way they had come down Mount Madison and head home.
“We reluctantly made the determination that our presidential traverse was not to be completed on this trip,” says Kristina.
Although their hiking adventure didn’t go exactly as planned, the troop learned valuable information about everything from map-reading to packing skills to sustainably camping and so much more. In true resilient Girl Scout fashion, the troop already has plans to attempt the route across the presidential range again!
