friends, with benefits

the days: march 8 & 11. tuesday was mostly sunny but cold~ish in the teens °F with a very stiff wind: ~20mph above treeline with gusts towards the 40s. the rain on sunday made for a solid, often icy trail. friday, mostly overcast but much milder in the mid forties °F with barely a breeze blowing. the trail was about 70/30, bare/softening ice.

the adventures: d1: up cardigan, via the west ridge trail, down mostly on the ski trail. d2: up the AT, leading to smart's mtn, down the same, leading to the truck.

the memories: d1: billy and tracey were up at billy's brother's house in new london. billy, an old amc pinkham friend, always likes to get out and hike, preferably up above treeline if possible. tracey is always game for adventure--if she has the proper kit. tuesday, on cardigan, she was all set for comfort at low temps and high winds, but the creepers she borrowed did not inspire much confidence under foot. 

d2: billy and tracey came back on friday for a second trek up a section of the AT with a fantastic outlook a bit more than a mile up. with much softer and far less ice--plus a better set of microspikes under tracey's feet--the trail was far more hiker friendly. the mild temps also allowed for many few layers at times.

notes:

• good creepers/microspikes are your friend 
• such bare trails in early march are not so friendly to lovers of winter
• friends who hike together smile together--especially for selfies of a wee coorie at the summit

go outside and play!

snow today--rain tomorrow

the day: march 5. beautiful sunny day, somewhere in the 20s, but feeling much warmer because of that sun. a bit of wind when it can get down through the treetops, but not at all uncomfortable. the ground and most obstacles--ie stones--covered, with about 4~ish inches of fresh stuff on top. all around, pretty perfect to celebrate WORLD TELEMARK DAY!

the adventure: up and over town hill, all the way to the marsh, and back.

the memories: all around a very pleasant day, enough coverage to avoid major ski bottom damage and sticky enough that i didn't need skins, even on the steepest parts. going to the marsh with pam is always fun--and sometimes funny. like when she stops to check her stocks. i usually end up skiing away, glad to not have a phone.

notes:

• when the snow is good, go outside and play! -- before it rains
• a little paraffin can go a long way--backwards if you aren't careful
• people who get outside together, smile together

go outside and smile!

a snow storm and skiing with friends

the days: february 25 & 26. a good cold~ish snow all day friday. a bright sunny cold~ish day all saturday. no wind in the woods.

the adventures: d1, friday earlier: town hill, to top of east steep and back. d1, friday later: shaker wildlife management area, up and down 3rd left with a finish on the big hill. d2, saturday earlier: up and down 3rd left, up 2nd left, down 1st--glades. finish on the big hill. d2, saturday later: 'secret sherbie', east side of moose mtn.

the memories: the d1 storm was not a huge dump, but it's steady build was very welcome. our first go out--skip and i--was right from the dooryard, in 4-5 inches of light stuff. not quite enough coverage and fast, turned us at the steep, rocky section, before descending to our deaths. coming back down to the house was mostly dreamy. 

when we got over to swma, coverage still seemed thin, but coming down 3rd left was maybe even dreamy-er, the big hill even creamy-er. 

d2 morning was super fun with laura and simon joining skip and i. the snow 6-8-10 inches--depending on exposure--was still super light. a warm up run on 3rd left got us excited. but going up 2nd left, we opted to skip the down there and head for the glades. still totally bummed the state dropped those trees at the best section, but a good time was had by all. the finish on the big hill was sweet.

simon, skip and i then over to moose mountain and took a run down the 'secret sherbie'--

--it was super fast!

notes:

• the sun on the snow made things really fast--especially in the afternoon
• if we hadn't had the two big warm spells with rain, this winter's snow pack would be stellar
• in fast snow, on narrow trails, leave a good amount of time/space between other skiers

go outside and play! 

a moonlight skate--abbreviated as it was

the day: february 17, early. the temperature alread around 32°F. not much wind even out on the wide open lake. the clouds were building, but had a few clear spots.

the adventure: skating by moonlight out on mascoma lake--the 'north of the bridge' trail.

the memories: .the moon was out, but as i was putting my boots & skates on it dropped behind the hill and clouds were coming in. i got the blades on, took off toward the dam, and whipped out the camera as i skated to get this shot. in another couple hundred yards, the ice got really rough, as in unskatable rough. i turned around.

notes:

• maybe i should have not made tea and toast before getting out--it's not often the moon lights up a skating trail
• good ice is good--sometimes really good.
• ok ice is ok--just ok 
• bad ice is bad--sometimes really bad 

go outside and play!

a quick, cold, solo hike up cardigan

 the day: february 16. the temperature maybe around 20°F, maybe. but there was a really strong wind from the south east. above treeline that made it feel well below zero. there was some sun, but it was mostly veiled by high thin clouds. the snow was now totally frozen into one thick crust. 

the adventure: hiking the west ridge of cardigan, mostly on the regular trail. i took one detour up the lowest section of the ski trail.

the memories: cold and windy at the top but with a very faint view of a snow capped moosilauke off in the distance. mostly, i took this photo because i was out of the wind behind the tower looking north. because the wind was out of the southeast, it was extra cold on my face going downhill. my left eye was watering enough that it actually froze at one point. after thawing it out i kept a hand up to shield it.

notes:

• googles are good on windy days
• just because it's about 20°F with no wind at your house, don't forget a buff for up high--and goggles
• no micro-spikes were used in the making of this hike, though goggles would have been nice

go outside and play!