Search results

Just for gen. info. I just started ice climbing last year. I've only gone out twice. Both times I knew who was taking me & had a good feel for there ability. With the little I know, it was a little much for a first time but not out of the question. The thing that makes it a harder climb is...

Hikerfast, Rollins trail can kick your butt. We did it up Blueberry Ledge Tr. & across toward Passaconaway last year & w/ a foot of new snow, the ridge took a loooong time & it was getting dark & we were tired & I wanted Passaconaway, being the last day of Winter! But had to be talked out of...

Sli, Hope you guys have a great day tomorrow! :) BTW, Congrats on # 48!! Tom

Wow!!!!! It's nice to sit back (as I promised myself) & hear all the Mon. morning QB's. That's your right to speak out, but......... I used to get upset as well at the "unnecessary" deaths I would read about: & respond as I felt, and still will exercise that freedom. But wisdom sometimes...

Waumbek Sat. Dr. Wu, I'm up for Waumbek only, tomorrow. Is your group too large to add 1 more? Tom

That's great girl! Good for you. I'll try to shift my Fri. appt. to Thur. so I can do Tecumseh. Let you know tomorrow.

Hey Julie. Got this late. Couldn't go Tue., but if you end up not going for whatever reason, I can get out Wed. Hope when you get this, you already made it! I'll take a chance and say CONGRATS! Don't feel bad, Madison was my tough one too. (it took 4 times to summit). Tom If anyone is...

Yukons Giggy The co. is out of Plymoth MA. They make snowshoes for Sam's, some LL Beans, & a few other outdoor stores. Not sure of the history but I found a pair in Boston that caught my eye & had an Axis Extreme label on them out of Pocasset MA w/ a tel #. That # is the same as Yukon...

Koflach boots For more trail winter mountaineering, go w/ the Degre', It walks better, flex wise. For more technical ice climbing, go w/ the Vertical, It's a little stiffer & rated for 10 degrees colder. I've heard the liner in the Arctis Expe' although warmer, 10 more degrees, has a shorter...

Break-ins That's great they caught someone. But the question is, this kid is 19?, who was the jerk/s that did it back in the early 80's at the Appalachia parking lot off rt. 2? You have to ask. is it a family deal or a well known easy pluck by the locals?? Maybe not, but never had any...

Stoves Take a look at the Snow Peak Giga Power stove. Grabs the pots/pans better than the comparable MSR ones. Get the one w/ the auto igniter. They offer an even lighter one made out of titanium but it's almost double the cost. Not for cold weather, but great for 3 season use. Tom

Batts Forestnome I hear people talk about that all the time. Hike & sleep w/your gear next to you. Don't get me wrong, all great ideas, and very necessary for some stuff. But they make lithium batteries. They even came out with AAA's this year, which kept me from buying some of the nice...

Tips When you arrive at your tentsite, build an elevated platform for your tent. It will keep the colder air from settling into the tent. Instead it will go to the lower areas. It also allows some of the moisture on your clothing to dry out a little by moving arround while your building it...

Warm Hands Just like your body, Layers, Layers, Layers! Thin poly glove liners, heavier poly gloves, heavy poly mitts, & 2 pairs of Goretex or similar mitt shells. Use them alone or various combinations. And take more as needed for wet conditions. Also key, as mentioned above, keep the rest...

YakTrax Was out Sat. on Madison. What I saw was this: The Pros I used, worked good for some traction going up but not that great for above treeline & moved around too much coming down. Now that I tried them, Crampons would have been my choice up high & bare boot was the way to go on the...

Mt. Madison I might be up for it. Anyone want to go up together? I'm 2 minutes off Rte. 3 in Westford MA. Let me know. Tom

I guess I'm different. I prefer crampons over snowshoes. I started winter mountaineering w/ neither but quickly realized that both are important for the conditions they were intended. It can be a real drag walking in crampons when there's not enough crusty snow or ice, thus the scratches on...

I use an old EMS, real full hooded down parka (vintage 1985). Very nice for in camp & cooold temps. But it weighs about 3 lbs. So I just picked up a N. Face summit series hooded down jacket. About 1/2 the weight but still plenty of loft w/ 700 power fill for dayhikes & warmer temps (above...

Montrail I.C.E. 9's for most & Koflach Verticals for extreme. Both can be used for trails or technical. I.C.E. 9's are better for trails & Verticals are better for technical. If you want one boot that covers all & best price, I would agree w/ the Degre's. ($269.00) Less money than the...

I like the REI Talus 35 pack. If your tall, go for it. It's longer than your typical daypack that wrap around your stomach & not your waist. I use it summer & winter and have no problems fitting all my gear. They were running a sale last time I was there. $67 +/- I paid full price 1 1/2...