“No synonym for God is so perfect as Beauty. Whether as seen carving the lines of the mountains with glaciers, or gathering matter into the stars, or planning the movement of the rivers.– still all is Beauty! ” . . . John Muir

Mt. Pierce (4310)

Trail:
Date: April 21 2013

Attending: Ben Leveillee, Simone, & John Chicoine

Miles: 6-mile Round trip Time: 2.75hrs up, 4.5hrs. total

AMC huts, / shelters / camping site:

Weather: Mid 20’s at base, 10’ish on summit, 20-40Mph. wind, bright and sunny

Simone and I have this unspoken rule that any of the boys we work with to help get their Gold Medal, should climb at least one 4000 footer before they climb the podium, and this is Ben’s. And!!! If the mountain just happens to have snow on it when we do it, that’s even better!

Congratulations Ben (On your first 4K and the GMA!!!)

What can I say about this hike… Just enough challenge on the trail to make it worth doing and just enough ferocity in the wind and the cold to make it memorable. The views are always just spectacular enough to renew our spirit and remind us to make more plans to do it again. For those that have never experienced such beauty,,, the understanding of why someone would drive 7 hours, hike up a relentless trail for 2.5 hours, and again down for 2 more hours, escapes them. For those that have experienced such beauty,,, the understanding of why someone wouldn’t drive 7 hours, hike up a relentless trail for 2.5 hours, and again down for 2 more hours, escapes us.


I can’t help but mention,,, This was Simones birthday wish… To stand again on the top of this summit on her birthday, and breath the cold fresh air that can only be found on a winter summit in the White Mountains. (I’m smart enough not to mention which birthday she was try into assure herself,,, that she’s still got it.)

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The wind will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
……. John Muir

Ben, I don’t know if you’ll ever find this page on our web site,,, But if you do, It was great having you along on this hike. Just like the GMA, Just like it is with everything worth doing, it’s not the event that is of the greatest importance; It’s how that experience changes you. It’s who you become from the experience that is of the greatest value. And when we seek after experiences of such great challenge, such great goodness, and such unspoiled work of the hand of God,,, We become more like Him.

This was just one of so many great hikes in the Whites, and so many great challenges you can find regardless of what season you get up here. Hopefully we’ll have many more great hikes. Even more so,,, Hopefully this is just the first of a lifetime of great hikes you’ll experience.

“Men go back to the mountains, because in the mountains they must face up to the challenge of nature. Modern man lives in a highly synthetic kind of existence; rarely does he test all his powers or find himself whole. But in the mountains, the character of man comes out.”
……. Abram T. Collier


One thing Simone and I learned that totally took us by surprise; As we drove by the old lookout spot for the Old Man in The Mountain, we could no-longer have the great pleasure of introducing our old friend to this new White Mountains hiker. It really was an emotional moment. We used to get so excited every time we drove by, twisting our necks to grab a quick glimpse; “There He Is” someone would always shout… Like it was the first time we ever saw him. And what was worse, Ben had never even heard of him. How useless were our words to try to impress upon Ben just how truly majestic that old man was.

Always remember… To wade about in the cold water of a swift running snow melt brook in the White Mountains is an experience worth taking advantage of at every opportunity that presents itself. It washes away more than the sweat.

Links to all the pierce hikes:

  1. Pierce 1 – (2014, Carrie, Winter)
  2. Pierce 2 – (2013, Ben, Winter)
  3. Pierce 3 – (2010, Tyler, Winter)
  4. Pierce 4 – (2000, Gabe, Winter)
  5. Pierce 5 – (2002, Shawn, Gabe, Winter)
  6. Pierce 6 – (2004, Gary, Shawn, Gabe, Winter)
  7. Pierce 7 – (2004, Dale, Chris, Fletcher, Gabe, Spring)
  8. Pierce 8 – (2005, Shawn, Gabe, Winter)
  9. Pierce 9 – (First summit, 1999, Winter)