By: Bill Urbanski In recent years, the CampTheSummit team has been drawn to New Hampshire for a variety of adventures: rock climbing in Rumney, winter ascents of Mount Washington to name a few. Last Saturday, Patrick and I loaded our duffel bags with crampons, boots and ice tools in hopes of adding ice climbing to the list. In the event ice conditions were not favorable, we threw in our packs and trail shoes for a hiking alternative. Well, we never did get on any ice, but we did manage to find a trail. It was however a trail unlike any other we had ever encountered before – it was the Presidential campaign trail. Tuesday was the first in the nation Presidential Primary in the Granite State and we were at ground zero. We spent a good deal of time in and around Manchester, the state’s biggest city and consequently the epicenter of political activity. One of our first stops was the Occupy New Hampshire movement where we scored a “bird dog” list, a comprehensive listing of all presidential candidates’ schedules. Using this list, and checking individual candidate websites, we made the rounds from event to event. As members of the media, the CTS team had up close and personal access to major political candidates, attending a town hall meeting with Speaker Newt Gingrich, a private house party with Governor Jon Huntsman, and a rally with Senator Rick Santorum.

Patrick working the Jon Huntsman event

Meeting non-candidate celebrities was also part of our experience and in many ways was more interesting and entertaining. Faux candidate Vermin Supreme provided us with pure American political drama at the Santorum rally. (Supreme is the only candidate to support full funding of time travel and is the only one who regularly wears a boot on his head). We met fellow Pennsylvanian and MSNBC political commentator Chris Matthews at a Barnes & Noble book signing. One highlight in particular was meeting the Huntsman girls – Jon Huntsman’s daughters who have been stumping for votes along with their Dad. After a full day of politics on Sunday, Patrick and I turned our sights on the Whites and drove into the North Country in search of snow. We found it in places like Franconia Notch, the Cannon Cliffs, and on the grounds of the famous Mount Washington Hotel. At the Appalachian Mountain Club lodge in Crawford Notch we were treated to a photography exhibit featuring the work of legendary alpinist Bradford Washburn.

Patrick shooting the Mount Washington Hotel

Our day concluded with a visit to Dixville Notch, near the Canadian border, where in the Ballot Room of the Balsams Hotel, we witnessed the first nine ballots being cast in the 2012 Presidential Primary. For a couple of outdoor enthusiasts, it was disappointing not to swing our ice tools and kick our crampons into New Hampshire ice, but the weekend of Presidential politics was a thoroughly unique experience, and it was packed with every bit of adventure we’ve come to expect in our more regular, non-political, natural pursuits.

Cannon Cliff