Dickey Mountain 2734' and Welch Mountain 2605'

5 +/- Miles 1800' Elevation gain

Welch/Dickey Loop Trail

Kevin, Judy and Emma

We have long maintained that some of the best hikes in the Whites do not require long, grueling hikes to remote peaks. Although some like this are overly crowded on weekends with hikers of all ages and abilities, if we choose our visiting hours carefully, we can have just as rewarding "wilderness experience" as the long, deep into the woods backpacking trips we have made. On a night such as this the quality of the experience far outweighs the fact that we didn't have to kill ourselves to have a great overnight, even if it was only a couple of miles from civilization.

All things lined up for a perfect evening to spend on a mountaintop. I could bemoan the fact that there wasn't much color for sunset or that as far as photography goes the sunrise was a dud, but I really don't consider those factors. The entire experience is what I try to take into consideration. The weather was cool enough so the hike up wasn't a sweatfest. There was just enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay, but not enough to need a jacket. Overnight the there was little to no wind which made the summit beautifully quiet for a good night's rest. The sunset was nice, the moonrise was nicer and experiencing them simultaneously is always a special treat. Add being serenaded by coyotes as the moon crested the horizon, and I guess I'd have to call the experience complete.

I stayed up as late as I could watching moon-shadows cross the bald summit and listening for more coyotes. Emma stood guard, ever alert and aware of the fact we were in the coyote's playground. I surmised that on a full moon night they had descended to the valley to enjoy the smorgasboard among the campgrounds and neighborhoods of Waterville. Beautiful cloud patterns were wonderfully backlit as they crossed the moon. Every care of life seemed to fade into the shadows, if only for one night.

Dawn brought the song of killoweet like an alarm clock just above our heads. Unlike the rest of our lives this alarm brought no groaning, no rolling over and hitting the snooze button. Killoweet was up to celebrate the morning sun, the dawning of a new day full of endless possibilities. His song lifts all care from our shoulders as we break our fast with Twining's Earl Grey and Drake's coffee cakes. Life is good! Emma eats enough to sustain our pack of coyotes for a week. Reluctantly we pack up and begin our descent, passing dozens of poor souls who may never know the beauty of a night under a full moon spent on a peaceful mountaintop.