Up with people

December 06, 2008|Tom Haines, Globe Staff

(Page 3 of 3)

"This is a presidential day," Hawkins says. "There're probably a lot of people up in the pressies."

Aldrich, sitting on a rock, says, "Yeah, but they don't 'need.' We 'need' these peaks."

Why hike Adams on a banner November day if you've already done it in November, and not South Twin?

Hawkins, retired after a career at Coca-Cola, hiked his first official 4,000-foot peak - Mount Moosilauke - in May 1993, at age 47. He has also climbed the 67 4,000-footers in New England 16 times, including each of the past 12 years. He has done the loop of 48 4,000-footers in New Hampshire 52 times. He has climbed a 4,000-foot peak, as of mid-November, 3,080 times.

Hawkins sometimes hikes in a pair of 14-year-old shorts, patches of fleece sewn by his wife over holes in the crotch, and on the seat. He drinks Diet Coke on some breaks, and passes out Butterfingers and M&Ms on others. Atop each summit he extends a hand and looks each hiker in the eye as an offer of hearty congratulations.

After South Twin and Galehead, the hike ends near dusk. Hawkins has been singing the praises of bottled beer - more carbonation, fresher taste - and offers the hikers a round of Pabst Blue Ribbon longnecks. Talk turns to a hike up Owl's Head three days later. Weather is iffy, though, and it looks as though the next day may be a good one.

Will Hawkins really be heading toward another 4,000-footer by sunrise?

He sits on the tailgate and pulls off his boots. With a grin, he says: "I'm thinking about it."