Five Have Fun on Cabot...

[Mad Townie]

The snowshoe thing was not as huge as it may sound--the trail was actually not too bad, especially up to the pond. Coldfeet, the supposed novice, was probably the best equipped, having brought both light snowshoes (mine weigh a ton and a half!) and instep crampons. None of us wore snowshoes until we were part way up to the Horn, and the trail after the confusing turn was hard enough that I removed my snowshoes, eventually.

Remember that three of us had a good deal of experience, including winter, and Skimom is a hiking machine! She gives new meaning to the term "blazing a trail!" We were never in any real trouble, we were just late. We had extra food, plenty of water (including what was in Ivy's boots ), compasses, maps, altimeter and most of all very positive attitudes. Sure we were tired, but that happens. As far as I'm concerned, we only made two real mistakes, neither of which turned out to be serious: we didn't have a sleeping bag, although HikerBob had a bivvy, and when we got confused by the trail we didn't just stop and eat something. That's my primary rule for that kind of situation, one I learned hunting with my dad 40 years ago.

Things have been crazy at home and at work since I returned, and I originally expected this to be just a very short "I'm still alive" kind of note. I do want to say thanks to everyone on the hike, all of you were excellent companions and strong hikers and good friends. Coldfeet, in particular, was amazing. Your first real winter hike, your first 4K in NH, and you were the one who broke trail much of the way. Sure you were tired and a little concerned, but your attitude was great throughout.

Now I have to find time to look at the photos.

It was great meeting everyone at G7.5, to finally spend some face time with the folks I've known only through the board. Thank you all.

Now back to that pile of work.

 

[Tramper Al]

Fair enough, Ivy, thanks.

I've been caught without my snowshoes too. One multiday LT trip in early December a couple of years ago comes to mind. Waking up to winter.

I've also been in on group hikes where there was a concensus NOT to bring some piece of gear - usually it's ice axe, crampons, or snowshoes. Often I am the one trying to convince others that we should bring it - just in case. When we end up not using that particular gear, of course, I get the grief. I have also usually reasoned that it doesn't help much for me to bring something (like snowshoes) if someone else in the group is not, because the minute I NEED them is when we'll be turning around anyway.

Often when I reason that snowshoes should be brought, it is with the thought of the unlikely event of losing the trail altogether on the way out. Off the somewhat conslidated base of the trail, bushwhacking while postholing can be horrific. I'm not at all suggesting that this was a possibility for you guys, but if something like that had happened, you might not have had a lot of good choices left. You did, however, have a heatable cabin behind you and that may have been quite useful to you if a real misadventure developed.

I have a little bit of winter experience too, and have had the pleasure of trying to keep up with skimom's pace - both with and without snowshoes.

These days I usually lean towards bringing too much metal rather than not enough. In the grand scheme of the sometimes weighty winter pack, the weights of even my heaviest snowshoes (about 5 lbs), crampons (2) and axe (1+) really aren't bad at all.

Thanks again.

 

[HikerBob]

Tramper - to answer from my perspective, can't speak for the others of course:

Honest reporting of trips plays an important role in the learning experience of others, not just the participants. I for one have no problem admitting my mistakes in the knowledge that it might help someone else avoid the same.

Our group was in essence leaderless but most were knowledgeable hikers with winter experience. Some of us had hiked together previously. We had definitive goals, a planned, studied and researched route and understood from the first step that we would be finishing in the dark. While there was some discussion about taking snowshoes, each of us made our own decision. I had carried them unused on many trips last season and that, plus the thought that a few pounds saved weight would be beneficial, swung my own decision. While I may have joked with Ivy regarding the lack of snowshoes I apportioned no blame, the decision was mine.

This was a tough hike in demanding weather conditions but the group worked well in facing and coping with the challenges. We looked out for each other, gave and accepted encouragement and advice in good spirit and acted as a team. The one navigation error was the result of several misleading clues and a misjudgement of our actual position. The error was recognized and corrected in a short time and at no point were we actually lost. While one should never be complacent when in the back country in winter I never at any time considered us to be in danger.

While the report might read as the trip from hell this really wasn't the case. I remember more laughter than cursing, though I did contribute my share of the latter

Bob

 

[Tramper Al]

While the report might read as the trip from hell this really wasn't the case.

No, actually it sounds like it was a fun trip. Usually when trips like this cease to be fun or when there is a bad outcome, we don't get to hear about the details from the participants - and thus learn a great deal. I just might have worried a little about the toll the postholers were paying with the group heading into darkness down an unknown trail as the only viable escape.

 

[Stan]

How long was this hike and what time did you finish?

Didn't make this winter Gathering but this would have been the trip that I opted for ... even after reading about it!

 

[poison ivy]

How long was this hike and what time did you finish?

We started hiking at 9 a.m. and finished at about 7 p.m. Including the spur trail to the Horn (.6 miles RT), I came up with 11.1 miles for the trip.

- Ivy

 

[coldfeet]

Time for me to talk a little....hard to explain this..when we got back to the gathering I was asked if i had fun. I answered truthfully "no". This was my first real winter hike other than my 4 previous ones in the catskills 2 weeks ago in the 30- 40 degree weather. Since i'm a city boy i like looking at animal tracks, waterfalls, trees and other signs of nature. Here goes...I did the hike, and now I loved it, but I think when you go out with a group you should know about each person..I was the liability in the group with little experience.

Should they have taken me with pretty much zero experience?..I carried the 6 pointers and snowshoes because I was new and somewhat scared about using them. I didn't know how long the trip was and didn't even think about night time but like i've been doing i carry more than the 10 essntials including that bivy space blanket. I did get tired and when we were at the 1/2 way point i realized, holy sh*t, this is gonna be a long one, don't lose your cool. I felt a hot spot from new arches and when i really thought about it and told skimom she said "fix it." which i did because i had to in order to get out of there. At the hut i slid chemical pads in my 3 season boots. Later on a had to pee and discovered it was really dark yellow, i read that it was a sign of dehydrating, and when i sucked on my drinking tube it was dry. Oh boy i got nervous. I did have some soup with me but i was to tired to get it out of my pack. Someone in the group told me not to worry because we were almost there. I don't know what happened but i felt that i could help the group by leading with the shoes so they didn't posthole. The adrenaline (sp) kicked in and get out of my way i wasn't going to stop. I asked the group to point me in the direction and off i went, then after a quick direction change off i went again, singing to myself some song..and thinking about a hamburger when we got back. I did hear the coyotes and figured if they got in my way i was going to hit them with my poles (sorry nature lovers). Then i saw 2 humongus eyes shining ahead i figured it was some type of reflective sign..Skimom confirmed it, we were getting closer. I was so happy when we got on the road, then the question was "right" or "left"..I don't think anyone heard me but i said, you go that way, you go that way and i'll stay here for the pickup. Some burnout i am, when i saw the car lights on i said that someone forgot their light on, not realized Hikerbob had a beeper starter. Oh yea, when i tripped with the snowshoes on i could have layed down for about an hour, skimom told me to get up and I could tell in her voice she ment business, thx mom!

I learned to trust the ones with experience and follow their rules and keep your cool. I think 2 litters of water is not enough for me on hikes more than 8 miles. My camelback froze the next day on the Pierce hike. PS SherpaK said it was going to be a "sweet" hike! It is a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life and I would love to hang out and do a nature hike with the same group and learn about each one of them.

 

[Guinness]

Coldfeet, I probably speak for everyone who ever has climbed. At one time another, all of us have had to experience trying conditions. Sometimes those trying conditions are weather related or our own limited experience level. You have accomplished a difficult feat. You are new, and you should be proud of the accomplishment you have made.

My first experience being with other hikers started on a trip I was planning one week after the ice storm of 98’ to hike Haystack in the Adirondacks. I hiked into the first lean-to from the Garden around midnight and crashed for the evening. In the morning while I was getting ready, two hikers passed by. Later we caught up with each other and they asked me to join them to bushwhack Chicken Coop (I had no idea what that was). Inexperienced as I was, I said yes. 55-pound pack, 9-pound tent, over sized snowshoes, very cold temperatures and a poor-performing gas stove.

I hiked with these two guys up Chicken Coop and camped just below the Col between Basin and Saddleback. The next day we climbed Basin. The snow was very deep and powdery. Post-holing with snowshoes! Crashing through trees. I had an ice axe, 10 point crampons, goose down coat, seven-pound expedition backpack and way too much equipment, but I also had enthusiasm, as I knew I was with guys that had experience to share. It was hard, but I listened and offered no suggestions. On the way out, they went ahead. My pack weight and the fact I was wearing a down coat were doing me in. Massive sweat pouring out of me by the time I got back to JBL as I tried to keep up with them. I did ask myself if it was all worth it.

One week later I get a call from one of the guys, Dave, he happened to live a few miles from me. He said, “Let’s do Allen”. I said yes not knowing what I was getting in to. From that point on we did over 50 summits just that year alone, Mt. Rainier three times, Mt Hood twice, Longs Peak (Solo), the list is very long. If I never met Dave, my climbing accomplishments would not be very long. Therefore I cherish what I have learned, but more important, we all have something to share and now you are ready to listen. Welcome to the club. Be an honor to climb with you.

 

[HikerBob]

ADK4487 said...

You have accomplished a difficult feat. You are new, and you should be proud of the accomplishment you have made.

I second, and third that!

Coldfeet, you may have considered yourself a liability but I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that the thought never crossed my mind. You probably endured the most discomfort and did so without drama. You broke trail and led in difficult conditions, navigating a poorly marked trail in snow and the dark! My first major White Mountain hike was on a beautiful September day with barely a cloud in the sky, and I thought *that* was tough!

I imagine we have all had hikes which ended with us wondering how much our gear will fetch on eBay I know I've had my share, but then we forget the trials and remember the highpoints. The solitude and the camaraderie. The majesty of the forest in all its guises. The high of the high places. Views both near at hand and far away. The mountains are a magical place and once you have been bitten... well, I think you know the rest.

There are those who know what we know and there is everyone else. As ADK4487 said, "Welcome to the club"

Bob

 

[audrey]

Coldfeet,

Your "confessional" post could have been written by many of us. We've all had times of being scared, exhausted, dehydrated. Funny how the hardest times turn into the best memories. Except maybe for the dehydration - that just taught a good lesson.

Anyway, I could tell you were bitten with the bug last year when I met you. You were so excited about sharing the beauty of the Adirondacks with your son.

 

[Tramper Al]

?

Hey, I wasn't on this infamous march, so maybe it's not my place to comment.

However, from all I've read about the trip, no one on this team looks like a liability - quite the contrary. You guys held together and kept everyone warm and safe despite some questionable equipment choices and lack of an alarm clock. Any 'beginner' who is out there breaking trail because he brought the right gear is a champ in my book.

We've all been there. If it were always easy, what would be the fun in that? My question is, do any of you Kilkenny veterans want to go back in to Bunnell Notch and hike the Weeks with me sometime this winter?

 

[coldfeet]

Thx skimom and everyone else, I'm happy with my achievement both mentally and physically. I've shown Bob's pictures and Carole's Pierce pictures to hundreds of children this week. When I tell them everyone's names they ask me "Are those your friends?", with a smile I say "Yes, they are my friends, and one day I'll see them again!" Next week I'm going to put up a bulletin board with pictures and I hope to make an avatar out of it..Be safe everyone!

 

[Stan]

That time showed an average speed of just over 1 MPH (not counting that little scenic detour to the left). I probably would have "budgeted" 12 hours for the trip and put in a pitch to insist on snowshoes. It was great that everyone stuck together.

... did any of you consider hunkering down at the cabin for the night?

 

[carole]

coldfeet: Did your pictures come out? How about the one of the sign for your wife? If not I'll add it to my webshot link.

 

[coldfeet]

Carole, yes they did come out, but if you got a good shot for my wife i'd like to see if so i can copy it.

Stan--The thought never came into my mind about staying at the hut. That might have been cool if we came prepared for that.

 

[Tramper Al]

Cheap sleeps in the Whites

The thought never came into my mind about staying at the hut. That might have been cool if we came prepared for that.

Edit: Oooops, I will stop spreading the rumor of a wood stove at Cabot
Cabin.

In the old days (back in '02-'03), all you might have needed to get through a cozy night in Cabot Cabin would be a match or two and a few pages ripped from your White Mountain Guide. I believe that the cabin is maintained by the Jefferson NH boy scout troop. You could often find a supply of wood for the stove. Cabot Cabin offers some of the finest free accomodations in Northern New England, a must stop on the Cohos Trail northbound, I would think.

 

[poison ivy]

Hmmm... maybe some of the others on the trip can comment, but I don't remember seeing the stove in the cabin. Was it not there, or did I just completely miss it?

Also, Tramper Al... I'm not sure if I fit in the "veterans" category or not, but please keep me posted on your plans for the Weeks as I have an interest in hiking those too.
- Ivy

 

[HikerBob]

You remember correctly Ivy. The stove has been removed. There was a nice concrete stove pad and some fresh wood, but no stove.

A notice at the Unknown Pond trail head said that it had been removed for safety reasons. I imagine there had been incidents and there is the ever present dark cloud of liability.

A night in the cabin might be cool, but would also be very chilly If you plan on stopping be sure to take a pad and a bag commensurate with the expected lows.

I've been thinking (always dangerous, especially after a glass of wine) and thought it would be great for the 'Team' to redo the trip in late summer, early fall, by way of a reunion. We could take our time, maybe camp at the pond or the cabin. Sit around a campfire (if one is allowable) and recall our exploits of this and subsequent trips. Hell, we might even allow some 'outsiders' to join us

What say folks?

Bob

 

[Mad Townie]

Sounds like a plan! Do Coldfeet and I still get to carry snowshoes? I would hike anywhere, anytime, under any conditions with each of the Cabot team members. Of course, like any good hiking story, this one seems to be growing "epically" in the telling.

Oh, and as for any thoughts of staying at the cabin, I don't think anyone wanted to miss Shizzmac's burgers or Friday evening at the Gathering. My first Gathering, and a wonderful experience it was. We all have Darren to thank for starting this whole thing, SherpaKroto for organizing G-7.5, Ed for the tent-palace and each other for making it such a gas.

 

[poison ivy]

Count me in for the reunion hike too! It would be great to hike with everyone again.

Plus, I still need to hear Coldfeet's promised "How I got started hiking" story.

- Ivy