DougPaul
Well-known member
Skied Kancamagus Brook Ski Tr on Sunday, 4 years and 2 days since my "little" accident there. (http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15911) Snow conditions were good--several inches of powder (including ~1 inch the night before) over a hard layer. 1+ feet of snow low down and ~3 ft high up. Starting temp 16F, finishing temp 24F. Wax: blue extra. Skis: Tua Escape (camber-and-a-half waxable BC). Solo.
Started out from Depot Camp a little before 10am to sunny skies and good skiing conditions. Headed up Greely Ponds Tr to the junction with Kancamagus Brook Ski Tr where I put skins on. The climb was pleasant, the crossing of Kancamagus Brook was easy, and it clouded up and began to snow very lightly as I ascended. Initially, I was breaking the 1 inch of new snow but after a while a pair passed me and took over breaking duties. I pulled the skins when I reached the top of the climb and skied across the flats to Livermore Trail.
(This next section is specially for grouseking. See "An Adventure Thru Livermore Pass" http://www.vftt.org/forum /showthread.php?t=38994)
When I reached LT, I decided "what the heck" and skied the LT north to the Livermore Pass sign--the snow was unmarked and there were no signs that anyone had passed through recently. The snow was deep enough to cover almost all difficulties--just 2.5 open stream crossings (3 out, 2 back). The route finding was mostly easy but there were a few difficult spots. At the pass, I got off the trail in a open (probably swampy) area, searched around, turned back, and found where the trail had taken a 90 degree turn just before the open area. I then followed the trail (parallel to and just above the swampy area) to the Livermore Pass sign where I turned back. About 45 minutes out and 20 back to the junction with KBST. BTW, the sign for the top end of KBST was missing, but the LT sign at the junction was in place.
I then resumed the loop and skied over to the junction with the Old Skidder Tr where the downhill starts and put on my "crash suit" (more insulation and a shell). The snow was pretty fast (several inches of powder over a hard layer) as it had been on the day of the accident. I could only guess at the accident site (somewhere near midway between the junction with the OST and the turn at the top of the switchback on the LT). (The only sure landmarks would have been the blowdown that bit me and the crash marks in the snow--both of which were long gone.) I looked, but I couldn't find any demons hiding in the snow or behind the trees...
I continued down in the track on the lower angle sections and executing gentle Telemark turns in the powder on the steeper sections. Somewhere below the switchback the hard layer became breakable crust so that I could stay up on top if I kept my weight evenly spread between both skis but broke through if I weighted either ski (for instance when I needed to kick). The breakable crust also made the transitions between the track and the unbroken snow a bit unpredictable. Got to the groomed snow on Livermore Rd and skied the rest of the way out. Just before reaching the parking lot, I met Bob, who used to be the Depot Camp parking lot attendant for the XC ski area. (Some of you may remember him from 5-10? years ago.) Got back to the car ~5pm.
All in all, it was a nice day out playing in the snow.
Doug
Started out from Depot Camp a little before 10am to sunny skies and good skiing conditions. Headed up Greely Ponds Tr to the junction with Kancamagus Brook Ski Tr where I put skins on. The climb was pleasant, the crossing of Kancamagus Brook was easy, and it clouded up and began to snow very lightly as I ascended. Initially, I was breaking the 1 inch of new snow but after a while a pair passed me and took over breaking duties. I pulled the skins when I reached the top of the climb and skied across the flats to Livermore Trail.
(This next section is specially for grouseking. See "An Adventure Thru Livermore Pass" http://www.vftt.org/forum /showthread.php?t=38994)
When I reached LT, I decided "what the heck" and skied the LT north to the Livermore Pass sign--the snow was unmarked and there were no signs that anyone had passed through recently. The snow was deep enough to cover almost all difficulties--just 2.5 open stream crossings (3 out, 2 back). The route finding was mostly easy but there were a few difficult spots. At the pass, I got off the trail in a open (probably swampy) area, searched around, turned back, and found where the trail had taken a 90 degree turn just before the open area. I then followed the trail (parallel to and just above the swampy area) to the Livermore Pass sign where I turned back. About 45 minutes out and 20 back to the junction with KBST. BTW, the sign for the top end of KBST was missing, but the LT sign at the junction was in place.
I then resumed the loop and skied over to the junction with the Old Skidder Tr where the downhill starts and put on my "crash suit" (more insulation and a shell). The snow was pretty fast (several inches of powder over a hard layer) as it had been on the day of the accident. I could only guess at the accident site (somewhere near midway between the junction with the OST and the turn at the top of the switchback on the LT). (The only sure landmarks would have been the blowdown that bit me and the crash marks in the snow--both of which were long gone.) I looked, but I couldn't find any demons hiding in the snow or behind the trees...
I continued down in the track on the lower angle sections and executing gentle Telemark turns in the powder on the steeper sections. Somewhere below the switchback the hard layer became breakable crust so that I could stay up on top if I kept my weight evenly spread between both skis but broke through if I weighted either ski (for instance when I needed to kick). The breakable crust also made the transitions between the track and the unbroken snow a bit unpredictable. Got to the groomed snow on Livermore Rd and skied the rest of the way out. Just before reaching the parking lot, I met Bob, who used to be the Depot Camp parking lot attendant for the XC ski area. (Some of you may remember him from 5-10? years ago.) Got back to the car ~5pm.
All in all, it was a nice day out playing in the snow.
Doug
