Only God knows what possessed three retirees to tackle hiking the forty-eight peaks over 4,000 feet in New Hampshire. Each one of us, in our own way, reached out eagerly and embraced everything this adventure handed us. Each had a different reason for wanting to be a part of this journey and each approached it with varying amounts of excitement and trepidation. We discovered that every mountain is different and none are easy. Each one presented challenges and provided experiences that solidified a bond between us. We now close this chapter in our lives with shared memories, a thousand stories, and an ache unique to each one of us. In the end we are all richer for having lived it. This book is for the days when we can no longer make it to the summit.

The book outlines the routes taken, provides some historical perspectives on the names and places trekked, and gives the reader an inside view of the experiences that poured the foundation of a friendship. The story of our adventure provides important details that may be helpful for others wanting to achieve the same goal and perhaps some reasons for doing so.