This was my first FOT48. I stumbled upon a mention of the event online late last year and added it to my to-do list. After waiting months the signup opened and I managed to lock myself into Mt. Eisenhower. Being content hiking nearly 40 years by myself I have never hiked as part of a group and was somewhat anxious. My concerns, however, were without merit. Upon meeting the team it quickly became apparent I was surrounded by a great group of hikers with the same goal. We headed up Edmands Path making quick time and having some good laughs along the way. The winds on the summit were a bit more than predicted but easily managed with a well-engineered pole system. At noon we had a moment of respect for our country & for those we lost while our National Anthem played at the base of our Flag. The wind also made the day a bit cold but we found a nice spot on the downwind side of the summit to hang out, chat and warm up while using cameras and binoculars to seek out every other flag we could find, I think the final count was 15). Thanks to clear skies we were able to see all the way to Franconia Ridge, Vermont & Maine! To help dull the aches & pains of our ascent, a thoughtful team member handed out “special-Jack Daniels” homemade chocolate fudge to snack on. We had a visit from Team Pierce (Scout Troop 13) as well as many other day hikers that passed over the summit during the day. I look forward to participating in the Flags On The 48 event next year!
