Honoring Jenny Bennett

This blog entry is by Peter Bennett, Jenny’s brother.

After the hike up Lester Prong, I drove Jenny’s car to Sylva North Carolina. I was able to find new homes for most of her belongings and packed the remainder into the car.

The red Subaru parked on a street in Sylva.

Then I drove north to Arlington Virginia where we grew up.

The house on 3rd street where we lived. It has been remodeled, but the brick is still original.

Glencarlyn Park is right next to the house. These are the woods where we played and explored.

I found a private spot in the woods behind the house and spread some of Jenny’s ashes.

Leaving Arlington I drove north to visit my other sister Betsy in Massachusetts. We had a good visit and reconnected with each other. Once our time together was complete, I drove north up through Vermont and then over to New Hampshire and the White Mountains.

Mount Jefferson is where Jenny and I had one of our hiking adventures. On that trip many years ago we got lost in the fog on top and had to yell back and forth to keep from getting separated as we descended the mountain.  I arrived at the Caps Ridge trail head about 5:00 PM and prepared Jenny’s pack for the ascent.

I found a granite ledge with a great view just as the sun was starting to set. I spent the night on the ledge under the stars.

I got up at first light and continued the hike. Looking out to the valley there were patches of fog in the low lying areas.

The trail was steep and rocky in many places. Just the kind of hiking Jenny loved so much.

Scrambling up the rocks with a frame back pack was not easy, but with Jenny’s trusty hiking pole I was able to keep going.

Trail sign near the top.

Jenny’s backpack and hiking pole on the top of Mt Jefferson.  Mt Adams is in the background. When Jenny married Chris Hebb they had a second ceremony on top of Mt Adams that I witnessed.

Mt Washington is near by.

I found a spot away from the trails and scattered more of Jenny’s ashes. She had climbed all these mountains many times and I knew she would want to have a final resting place here.

Descending the ridge from Mt Jefferson.

I felt it was important to honor Jenny by scattering her cremains at these important places in her life. Her life was full of adventure and the hikes to her final resting spots were the kinds of challenges that she enjoyed the most.

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