and what better way to get high--on 4-20 no less--than ski up into the mtns, oh yeah, and fly back down!
the last post on goap! mentioned that the ski trail on cardigan was in fine shape, just waiting for a late season snow. none of the MOC were available, but skip was primed. i picked him, his skis, and sled up just past noon. we got to the parking lot without any of wednesday's nasty road hassles and quickly geared up. we were dragging sleds along behind us just in case the skiing was more furious than fast. i convinced skip to forego putting on skins thinking we could scale it without slippage, especially as it seemed to be getting warmer.
by the time we stashed our sleds up near the creek past the mower garage, we were in a couple inches of fairly sticky snow. the skins may have helped to keep from clumping up, but i was glad to keep them in the pack. the steeper sections were no problem going up, skip even started to wonder if coming down would be an issue. i was confident that once we were sliding, it would be plenty slick, maybe too much so.
down below the second ski trail section, all the ice that had been in the trees wednesday, was shed. you could feel it under ski buried by the fresh snow from thursday night. when we got to a little below the waterfall, we started noticing it still up coating branches. it got thicker and thicker as we gained altitude.
by the last ski trail section, i tried for a picture of the multi-cicles along the trail. you can almost see them in the picture with skip. (yes, the same person picks out our clothes for us.) the ice was pretty thick, especially on some of the lower spruce. i whacked one bent over branch and felt like i was hitting a wall.
we made it up to the top of the chute where we saw the two hikers that had tracked up it. it did look inviting even though it is way off trail. they were obviously kind of lost. when skip asked if they knew that the trail was way down below them, they said yes and that they were going down to it--and then promptly turned and kept going up hill and away. they were probably the ones in the car with connecticut plates--not that i begrudge out of staters the north country. but i have driven more than a couple groups around the mtn to the alexandria, east-side when they come down to canaan on the west.
it can be confusing up toward the top. we pointed our tips down and pitched over the icy cornice at the top of the chute. it was way fast, almost loud. i took a video of skip, check turning his way down.
we zipped along the 'hurricane' cut off and tipped into the upper ski trail. after whooping it up hopping over the ice flows i hockey stopped and got another video of skip.
at the top of the falls i hooked the big corner and slid to another stop for yet another video--this was skips day.
maybe i should have stopped and videoed the next ski trail section as the conditions all of a sudden got really favorable. a good group of buttery soft turns prompted a quick back up to hit that section again. what the heck, we didn't need skins.
after that, i didn't stop until the last steep part on the bottom ski trail section. it wasn't exactly planned, but it was better than hitting a tree--after all, i didn't have my helmet. oh, and i took a last video.
when we picked up the sleds, skip suggested we get a gopro for efficiency of filming. that might not be so bad, but if i wanted him in the picture, i would have to trail him fairly close. i am not sure we would still be smiling as big after that...
go outside and play! it will make you "happier, healthier, and more creative"...
ps according to sarah coons and seth burke, that spot of blood on my nose makes the trip official--"it's not an adventure until koby bleeds."
the last post on goap! mentioned that the ski trail on cardigan was in fine shape, just waiting for a late season snow. none of the MOC were available, but skip was primed. i picked him, his skis, and sled up just past noon. we got to the parking lot without any of wednesday's nasty road hassles and quickly geared up. we were dragging sleds along behind us just in case the skiing was more furious than fast. i convinced skip to forego putting on skins thinking we could scale it without slippage, especially as it seemed to be getting warmer.
by the time we stashed our sleds up near the creek past the mower garage, we were in a couple inches of fairly sticky snow. the skins may have helped to keep from clumping up, but i was glad to keep them in the pack. the steeper sections were no problem going up, skip even started to wonder if coming down would be an issue. i was confident that once we were sliding, it would be plenty slick, maybe too much so.
down below the second ski trail section, all the ice that had been in the trees wednesday, was shed. you could feel it under ski buried by the fresh snow from thursday night. when we got to a little below the waterfall, we started noticing it still up coating branches. it got thicker and thicker as we gained altitude.
by the last ski trail section, i tried for a picture of the multi-cicles along the trail. you can almost see them in the picture with skip. (yes, the same person picks out our clothes for us.) the ice was pretty thick, especially on some of the lower spruce. i whacked one bent over branch and felt like i was hitting a wall.
we made it up to the top of the chute where we saw the two hikers that had tracked up it. it did look inviting even though it is way off trail. they were obviously kind of lost. when skip asked if they knew that the trail was way down below them, they said yes and that they were going down to it--and then promptly turned and kept going up hill and away. they were probably the ones in the car with connecticut plates--not that i begrudge out of staters the north country. but i have driven more than a couple groups around the mtn to the alexandria, east-side when they come down to canaan on the west.
it can be confusing up toward the top. we pointed our tips down and pitched over the icy cornice at the top of the chute. it was way fast, almost loud. i took a video of skip, check turning his way down.
we zipped along the 'hurricane' cut off and tipped into the upper ski trail. after whooping it up hopping over the ice flows i hockey stopped and got another video of skip.
at the top of the falls i hooked the big corner and slid to another stop for yet another video--this was skips day.
maybe i should have stopped and videoed the next ski trail section as the conditions all of a sudden got really favorable. a good group of buttery soft turns prompted a quick back up to hit that section again. what the heck, we didn't need skins.
after that, i didn't stop until the last steep part on the bottom ski trail section. it wasn't exactly planned, but it was better than hitting a tree--after all, i didn't have my helmet. oh, and i took a last video.
when we picked up the sleds, skip suggested we get a gopro for efficiency of filming. that might not be so bad, but if i wanted him in the picture, i would have to trail him fairly close. i am not sure we would still be smiling as big after that...
go outside and play! it will make you "happier, healthier, and more creative"...
ps according to sarah coons and seth burke, that spot of blood on my nose makes the trip official--"it's not an adventure until koby bleeds."
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