2016: Year in Review

2016 has been taking a lot of heat lately for being one of the worst years in recent memory. In many ways, I couldn’t agree more; but rather than focus on all of the negative events and themes that defined this sorry excuse for a year, let’s take a brief stroll down recent memory lane and remember that it wasn’t all bad.

January

Hiked through the snow to Arethusa Falls in New Hampshire.

Long weekend hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park.

February

A week in Martinique. Lounged on the beach, hiked a deadly volcano, and ate our body weight in bread.

March

Mostly just played in the snow.

April

Hiked to Lake Solitude in New Hampshire.

May

Checked off two of New Hampshire’s 4,000 footers with Osceola and East Osceola.

June

Hiked the Bonds and Mt. Zealand in the White Mountains.

Celebrated our anniversary in Vermont.

July

Long weekend in the Outer Banks unexpectedly turned into a bear safari in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

Followed up our weekend searching for bears in North Carolina by spending a few hours in a stranger’s house in the woods of New Hampshire watching bear cubs play in their yard.

August

Watched whales on a whale watch in Gloucester.

Camped for three nights in Denali National Park.

September

Survived a flight in a single engine airplane over the Wrangell Mountains in Alaska.

October – December

We worked tirelessly on renovating our house, suffered through the presidential election, watched the Red Sox get swept out of the playoffs. and did almost no traveling/hiking. Spending time with family and friends was the one bright spot.

Overall this turned out to be a useful exercise. Looking back, 2016 was less awful than it seems. Thanks for reading and we have some big plans for the coming year so stay tuned.