We've Been to the Mountain Top...Memories of Mt. Washington, 2003

Saturday, June 21, 2003-- Mt. Washington, N.H.

Heard at the top as Pixie Harrington joined her husband Bob
Gillis, the couple having just completed its 22nd mountain run between them. “Big f---ing deal. You’ve been coming up here for 21 years and for what? It ’s just a pile of rocks. With bugs.”

Mark Asaro, exultant at having arrived back at near the top of his considerable game, proved that on Mt. Washington as on Mt. Everest people don’t die going up but going down. His adrenalin ran amuck, he explained, still lamely, days later.

John Barbour went to the top seeking redemption only to be told it was New Hampshire and they don’t take back returnables. But they honored his.

And Peter Watson bought and ate (before getting through the cash register line) his usual egg salad sandwich which is what he goes up there for each year.

Still, it was not your usual run of the mill Mt. Washington Road Race. Nobody beat Team Gloucester’s master’s mountain-running team to the top of the world as we New Englanders know it.

Nobody. Nobody. Nobody.