Tom St.Martin for State Representative

I've been a bit distracted during this campaign, and on fair weather days have frequently been absent. The cause lies in a hike 30 years ago.

My wife and I did a lot of hiking together after I got out of the Navy. After 4 years at sea, it was good to have solid NH granite under my feet

One of our hikes took us up Mt Lafayette, and I have returned there a time or two since. From Mt Lafayette, looking into the Pemigewassett Wilderness, you can see several other mountains, particularly Mt Bond, West Bond, and Bondcliff. In this picture from last year, Bondcliff is the precipitous ridge along the right.

Since the first time I saw Bondcliff 30 years ago, I've wanted to go there. Family, school, politics, work, something always took priority.

I'm not getting any younger, and the kids are moved out now. I decided I'd better get out there if I ever was going to get it done, and this past 6 months I've been getting into hiking shape. To visit Bondcliff, West Bond and Mt Bond is a 20 mile hike with more elevation gain than bears thinking about at my age; this is not an afternoon trip to Pawtuckaway. So since March I've been taking advantage of every available day to hike some hard hills - Chocorua, Isolation, Moriah, Monroe and others - to get ready.

This past weekend I loaded up my backpack (27 lbs worth), and walked into the Pemi. I camped out two nights under the stars and the moon, and finally succeeded in reaching the summits of South Twin, Bond, West Bond and Bondcliff. 30 years in the wanting, 6 months in the planning and preparation, and 3 days in the doing. Here I am, blissfully squinting into the sun on the top of that ledgy precipice:

I guess I can pay a little closer attention to other things now