Hedgehog Mountain 2/23/14 UNH Trail (the shorter one)

Sadly, vacations come to an end.  Grand things were planned, but I felt that familiar post-vacation plague coming on, so I went for simple.  I saw reports about Potash, but Hedgehog was lower and the mileage was less.  Yeah, that should have been the first sign.  A note on the Kancamangus...FROST HEAVES, and curves.  No wonder I felt nauseous at the trailhead.

Mountain Crack

I was happy to see the trail packed down well.  It was a nice trip...then you begin to realize the truth behind shorter trails...they are freaking steep.  Not all, but this one was pretty steep.  It is a beautiful trail and it has some nice views through the trees.  Allen's Ledge is up there as well, but I can see it another time.  Maybe in the fall.  

First blowdown at beginning of the trail.  Walkaround.

Almost there.

Wait. What?

Second blowdown near summit.

 There are a few switchbacks on the trail, but it is steep.  I had all day and well, I took my gosh darn sweet time.  And it was a nice day, so why not enjoy the ride.  I kept looking for places to slide down.  It is harder with the curves though.  But the snow walls were good.  One thing I did notice were postholes...

RANT ALERT:
Look, you can find cheap snowshoes anywhere and they will be fine on most of the 52s.  BUT when the snow is new or soft, barebooters or people with microspikes will leave holes in the trail.  This makes it dangerous for the rest of us.  Anyone could fall through and hurt an ankle or worse.  Plus I cannot imagine postholing up a trail is enjoyable.  Please, think before you go out.  The AMC, REI, and EMS all have great programs to help you figure out winter hiking.  Ask friends, other hikers.  They will tell you what you need and why.

"Minor" postholes at second blowdown.  I fell into one on the almost summit.

FINALLY (there is a false summity area), I made it.  Nice snowcapped views with some sun peaking through cool clouds.  Because you know I can't have blue skies at the summit.  I was unusually tired, so I sat down and had a nice lunch of cheese, nuts, and chocolate.  I thought I had the summit all to myself when a two hikers come up.  It was their first 52.  YAY.  We took each others pictures and they were off.  I said it wasn't too steep.  OOPS.  It seemed so much steeper on the way down.  I literally flew. No luging, but running.

Lunch with a view.

It was windy at the summit, but sunny and nice.

Not the summit, but nice view.

Another nice not summit.

I slowed down toward the end and noticed something was missing.  So I made a snow person.  I mean how could I not.  The snow was perfect, there was lots of natural material to be creative, and well I was there.  Made it back, endured the Kanc, got pizza and coffee from the usual suspects (Elvio's and Goode's Mobil) and homeward bound I was.  4 days later, I am slowly recovering from what I am calling the Hedgehog Plague.  If you had it, you know the pain.  I am hoping I can get some sort of energy to do a Carter on Saturday.  Heck, a few more 52s will make me happy too.  I just need my mountains.

Hope she is still there.

Middle Sugarloaf 2/22/14 Zealand Road, Sugarloaf Trail

I had such high hopes for this weekend.  Heck, I had high expectations for this week.  However, Mother Nature and teacher exhaustion put a damper on my plans.  So Wednesday, I made a decision.  I realized that if I did not leave Thursday, I would be stuck at home for the rest of the week.  A storm was coming in and I wanted to get above the Notch before it was too late.

I had planned to read all day Friday.  Finish a few books.  Then the sun came out, so I went out.  Zealand had a HUGE snowbank at the entrance, so no Sugarloaves.  Another snowbank for the approaches to Martha/Owl's Head.  So I settled for Willard.  After getting pelted in the face by stuff from the sky and looking for goggles, I made a return trip for no view.  Last time I had a view but no camera.  BOO.

View of the trees.

I would not pee here.  Just saying.

 A good meal and sleep led to decisions for Saturday.  The Willey Range was always an option, but my legs were not having it.  So off to the Sugarloaves.  I had the trail almost to myself, except for a 3 hikers and skiers coming down from the hut.  Yeah, I think I will stick to hiking.  Oh yeah and snowmobiles.  Once on the Sugarloaf trail, everyone seemed to disappear.  I had it to myself, nothing but blue skies and a few woodland creatures.  I hadn't hiked anything with much elevation in 3 weeks, so I took my time.   It is a very nice trail and some nice people on snowshoes packed it well.  That is one thing about winter hiking, you almost can't get lost.  You can, but if you are on a well traversed trail, you are golden.

Beautiful day on Zealand Road.

Tight squeeze.

The trail is mostly flat until about halfway, then there are some steep sections.  Not terribly steep, but steep.  The path to Middle Sugarloaf is steep, but with some winding.  And the ladder (stairs).  I took off my pack and snowshoes and slowly headed up the ladder to the summit.  By now the sun was taking a siesta, but the views were awesome.  I am sure there were more, but without snowshoes, I was limited.  It got windy, so I headed back.  I was thinking of North, but I was tired and wanted a nap.

The Ladder

Now going up, the steepness was hard.  Coming down is another story.  At the split between Middle and North, I donned my rainpants and prepared for the fun.  Yes, I butt luged about half the trail down.  And let me tell you, my cheap rainpants can go fast.  It was the first time I had used them in 2 years.  I really liked this use.  In between flying, I tried barebooting, but the snow was too soft and I sank a bit.  I covered the places where my foot sank.  I finally went back to snowshoes and made my way home.  It was a warm day, so the snow was quite soft on Zealand Road.  It made for a hard mile.  When I got back to 302, I took off my snowshoes and walked back to the car.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Friends don't let friends posthole.

A great day on a great trail.  I hope to get back to 4Ks before winter ends.  The snow complicates things, but it also makes some hikes easier (no rocks, roots, bugs).  It is like a smooth, frozen, wooded highway.

Alan welcomed me back to Carlson's Lodge when I returned.  He is spoiled and loves the attention. 

More Trail Dames praises

Wow, two posts in one day.

Please take a few minutes to watch and like this video.  I know I have sung the praises of the Trail Dames, but we are preparing the next Summit in NC this June.  If you can go, you should.  It is an awesome time. And definitely join Trail Dames.  There are chapters all over the country.

I finished the AT! The West Virginia portion.

Keys Gap to Appalachian Trail Conservancy (I did ATC to MD two year ago). About 6 miles.

Fun with Victoria and Flat Stanley

Deepest snow was in this area.  Yes, this is WV.

Note: I wrote this on Sunday. As I drove through PA, I hit a nasty 1 inch an hour storm and made it as far as Bethelem, luckily finding a room at the inn. Left at 3am, only missed half of a class and immediately started teaching when I got there. Yeah, I'm gangster like that.

It took about two years.  Cause you know, it’s West Virginia.  It’s wild. First attempt was a derecho. I almost didn't make it out of DC.  Then I was sick.  There might have been a hurricane.  Then it was just rainy.  Today, it was icy, but you know, I hike in NH.  It wasn't that bad.  I did slide on my butt, but it was fun.  In fact, it was all sorts of fun with a great group of women.  This was the best way to spend a Saturday.

Why yes, those are snowshoes on my pack.  WHEEEEEEEE.

Thanks to the Trails Dames of Maryland (and my friends Terri and Maria), I was able to finish this part of the AT.  Don’t know the Trail Dames?  If you are a woman and you love hiking you should check them out www.traildames.com.  We laughed, we slid, we traded camping stories.  And since it was not a 4K or other tough NH terrain, no huffing or puffing or profuse sweating.  It wasn't a cakewalk, but it was an enjoyable walk in the snowy, icy woods.  

We shuttled from the ATC to Keys Gap, got our stuff together and started hiking. It was pretty icy.  We had just gotten several inches of snow at home, but the mid Atlantic had an ice storm.  It was mostly a ridge walk then there was down hill going into Harper’s Ferry.  Most of it was icy snow covered, but there was some mud.  Only a few places were completely bare.  The climb back to the ATC had a few small patches of snow and a downed tree.

It was nice to have a relaxing hike for a change.  No worries the freezing cold, sudden weather, postholing.  The pace was slower than usual for me, but that is a good thing.  I didn’t get winded after 3 steps or have to wait for my heartrate to go down.  I could actually talk and converse about all things hiking.  It was cloudy, but a nice high 20s.  With the exception of about maybe 1.5 miles, there was no crazy ice.  A few ups, but I loved how I felt.  We crossed into the National Park and the snow was a teeny bit deeper.  Then it started to get steep and the fun began.

I was lucky, I had my Hillsound Trail crampons, but some people were bare booting.  They made it, slowly, but safely.  On a few sections, some just sat and slid.  I did once, just because.  And it was steep.  Not Ammonoosuc Ravine trail steep, but WV steep.  We all made it alive, took a picture, then down some more icy steeps.  I did some bushwacking.  Made to the bridge and there wasn't a need for the spikes anymore.  Another picture and off we went.  We got a few cat calls and honks.  Hey, they were probably just jealous that we hiked the AT and they were in their cars.  

Climbing down to the Potomac.

Maria warned us about a tree going up to the ATC.  There was a small walkover here, another small walkover there, but no big tree.  Maybe it got removed and then WHAM.  Big ole tree with a small space to crawl under.  But not me.  I am from New England, we survey the situation, and decide to go the hardest way possible.  We are hardy like that.  So while people waited to go under, I went up and over.  We’re hardy like that.  We winded our way back to the ATC on a blue trail through the old Storer College and sadly, the fun hike was over.  Or was it.  Some of us went to The Anvil for burgers and then to the Bloomery Plantation Distillery for some FABULOUS limoncellos.  Great day.  

Yeah, go ahead and duck, I'm climbing over this thing.

Sadly, I must leave until next month when I tackle The Rollercoaster...the hard part.  I love my trips down here.  Yeah, the drive is a pain, especially after work.  But it is worth it.  Yes, the CRV made it.  She even got to spend the night in another National Park.  

I'm smiling because the hike was over and I was warm.

The day after, I got my patch.  Hopefully the next one will not take 2 years to get.

Mt. Pemigewasset and Flume Gorge

Mt. Pemigewasset 2/2/2014 Mt. Pemigewasset Trail

I said I wanna do the Hancocks, my body said NO NO NO.  In fact, it didn’t want to do anything.  I was wonderfully comfy in bed and 6am turned to 7, then 8, you get the idea.  Slowly, surely I made it out of bed.  The drive up was hard, made worse by the fact I had to settle an onion bagel.  Really, a DD without Everything bagels.  And the price, OUCH. Whatever, I just wish DD didn’t monopolize gas stations.  I could have used coffee too.  

Of course, I had my pre-hike “why am I doing this again” conversation.  The lot was not plowed after the snow, but I go there so late the cars and snowmobiles did it for me.  I have gotten so much better about getting ready before I leave the house.  Boots/Hillsounds on, snowshoes secured for their ride.  Gaiters, last check, etc.  Off we go, summit attempt #2.  

This must be the place.

Standing on water...kinda.

It was warmer than the last time, a whole lot warmer.  Thanks to a Rhode Island group, the new snow was packed down nicely and I could use my Hillsounds all day.  Maybe that was why it seemed easier this time.  I had the trail all to myself.  I did meet a nice couple about halfway up.  We talked about the very fickle nature of the snow this season.  One town 4 inches, next town over 10 inches.  All winter it has been like this.  To top it off, I was confused with Cheryl Strayed.  Hey, I will add it to my list.  I still like parents call me Kerry Washington though.  Not a bad mistake.  

I pushed my way up.  Lots of huffing and puffing.  I love to hike in winter.  My body, not so much.  There is the added weight on my pack, added weight on me, different trail terrain, etc.  It is a chore.  But it is always a chore for me.  I am slower than 95% of hikers out there.  I keep hearing hike your own hike, but that kinda means only if you are on your own.  I see so many awesome trips and opportunities out there, but I don’t join or chicken out if my friends don’t go.  It’s embarrassing to be slow.  I tend to see who is leading and make the decision quickly.  Sometimes I go further.  But I usually choose saving face over possibly ruining the trip for people. I work out when I’m not sick (YAY cold and flu season), I am on a bike or elliptical.  I am trying yoga, especially breathing.  I am watching my nutrition.  Yeah, not working too well, as in not at all.  No difference, no improvement.  Last summer, after my first kayak experience, someone made a snide comment that I needed more cardio.  I was beginning a lovely bout of Strep A.  Cardio can’t fix that.  I have been lucky not to have the flu, but I work with teenagers.  Random germs + stress = little hiking.  Come summer, I can churn out the peaks, slowly, but I power through them.  Winter is different.  Enjoyable, but different.

For the record, I made it to the summit in book time.  That’s my story and I am sticking to it.  I could have made it the last time, but it was too damn cold. My last 3 52s have lacked views, but there is something peaceful about having a summit to yourself.  As I entered the woods before the summit, I suddenly felt at peace.  I wanted to set up my bivvy sack and emergency blanket for the night.  I felt at home.  I don’t even feel that at home.  I was quite disappointed that I was done so quickly. If it wasn't for the chilly breeze, I would have stayed up longer. Oh well.  

I let the trail know how I felt.

The other trail.

Yeah, it might see traffic for a few months.

Got back to the car, opened it, saw some people go into the Flume Gorge. Closed car and off I went. I saw some climbers leaving too. There are signs that they have taken out the boardwalks, and they have. That doesn't stop anyone from climbing over and around the closed sign, except me, it was getting dark. It was cool though, I recommend it, but stop at the closed sign. Stopped by Elvio's, had a great time waiting for my pizza. The key, call from the trailhead. Trust me. 

I made this.

OMG they do exist.

Overall, good trip. Will have to add to the hike again list as I had no view. Great hike to introduce you to the Whites. There is so much in Franconia Notch State Park, you have to keep coming back. You have 7 4Ks (check), 2 52WAVs, (1/2 check), Old Man site (check), Flume Gorge (check), Cannon Tram (check), Lonesome Lake Hut (gotta do), the AT (working on it), Cannon ski area (nope, I hate that mountain as it is). I am missing some other stuff to. I may not get back to my mountains for two weeks. Sad, but I will be back, with new snow too.