LenDawg
New member
Professor Drewski, MEBster, Lil’Sis, and I met up at the Hairpin turn parking area at 0800 on Saturday morning. We had to do a car spot in parking Drew and my car at Greeley Pond parking area since the hairpin turn parking was not cleared. A group of two and another group of four were heading out around the same time as us.
We started up Hancock Notch trail breaking trail on about eight inches, maybe more, of fresh powder under snowshoe. Our foursome quickly caught up with the other six folks. However, we had a slight navigational error in crossing the brook instead of following it to the right. Professor Drewski gave the rest of us a lesson on what to do in the event someone goes off on their own bushwack. He also edumacated us all on uses of the distress whistle. With everyone back together and back on the trail (thanks MEBSTER), we kept on the pursuit of tagging LenDawg’s 46th and 47th 4kers.
We headed up Cedar Brook Trail and then onto the Hancock Loop Trail. The group did a great job in changing out different people on this leg to break trail. Good teamwork. We stopped at the circle, and then began the grueling ascent onto Mt. Hancock. Early on, we continued with exchanging trail breakers. However, special kudos has to be given to the group of four guys who, from this point on, went ahead, and did an immense amount of work. Thanks guys.
This was my first hike in snowshoes (here come the excuses), so several technical issues kept coming up. First, I was going along for about ten seconds when I realized I was bare booting on one foot… back down to get my snowshoe. Then, I had some trouble figuring out the straps again. I also found out that for every step forward one takes on that ascent, you slide back about half the distance. All I could think is that if this were summer, I’d be moving up the mountain, not sliding down the mountain. Finally, I stopped, took off my pack, and grabbed a snack (Mmmm, potato chips). I also found out how to use the heel extenders on my shoes, which relieved a lot of strain on the calf muscles. Drewski waited back for me and listened to me discuss how much more I like summer hikes. The frown couldn’t stay around long with this group. After getting to the top and tagging number forty-six, Rachel said something (who knows what) that got me rolling in the snow laughing again. Off to S. Peak.
While I was having my wardrobe malfunctions, the Professor was questioned on his scholarly status after pointing out that Lenny and Marry rhyme. MEB questioning Drew lead to Rachel having the “giggles” for the entire hike up the mountain. Gotta love the Bopsy Twins!
I learned quickly that when going down, the heal extenders are much like walking in high heels (not that I know, just a guess), as I kept going off to the side into trees. MEB asked me if I knew that the extenders will still on (doh, I hate being a “winterish” rookie). Okay, so with the shoes on correctly, I was able to start moving across the ridge toward S. Peak. What a beautiful part of the climb. Despite some overcast and an easy snow flurry, the weather was comfortable. Going through the trees to S. Hancock was like a winter wonderland. MEB spotted a large tree so we decided to “do a Christine”, and jump on the log and wave. We missed you.
We got up to S. Hancock and took a couple pictures. Forty-seven, the final time that I get sent up first to tag the mountain. It’s been a tough year, but this really meant a lot to me!
The sliding down the mountain was fun. MEB chose the butt slide while Rachel did the out of control running. I chose the ski on the snowshoe method. The final push out was nice as the sun came out for the last two hours before twilight. We saw several gorgeous winteresque scenes on our way out.
I’ve been fortunate to hike with some wonderful people and am excited about the opportunity of completing this adventure. I’ve come a long way from wearing jean shorts on Madison in September 04’ and jean shorts on Moosilauke in June 05’. Perhaps I’ll see some of the people I’ve had the honor of hiking with on my forty-eighth. Date to be determined, but the mountain will be Isolation.
PICTURES: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=67t3qkc.zgkg394&Uy=aityjh&Ux=0
We started up Hancock Notch trail breaking trail on about eight inches, maybe more, of fresh powder under snowshoe. Our foursome quickly caught up with the other six folks. However, we had a slight navigational error in crossing the brook instead of following it to the right. Professor Drewski gave the rest of us a lesson on what to do in the event someone goes off on their own bushwack. He also edumacated us all on uses of the distress whistle. With everyone back together and back on the trail (thanks MEBSTER), we kept on the pursuit of tagging LenDawg’s 46th and 47th 4kers.
We headed up Cedar Brook Trail and then onto the Hancock Loop Trail. The group did a great job in changing out different people on this leg to break trail. Good teamwork. We stopped at the circle, and then began the grueling ascent onto Mt. Hancock. Early on, we continued with exchanging trail breakers. However, special kudos has to be given to the group of four guys who, from this point on, went ahead, and did an immense amount of work. Thanks guys.
This was my first hike in snowshoes (here come the excuses), so several technical issues kept coming up. First, I was going along for about ten seconds when I realized I was bare booting on one foot… back down to get my snowshoe. Then, I had some trouble figuring out the straps again. I also found out that for every step forward one takes on that ascent, you slide back about half the distance. All I could think is that if this were summer, I’d be moving up the mountain, not sliding down the mountain. Finally, I stopped, took off my pack, and grabbed a snack (Mmmm, potato chips). I also found out how to use the heel extenders on my shoes, which relieved a lot of strain on the calf muscles. Drewski waited back for me and listened to me discuss how much more I like summer hikes. The frown couldn’t stay around long with this group. After getting to the top and tagging number forty-six, Rachel said something (who knows what) that got me rolling in the snow laughing again. Off to S. Peak.
While I was having my wardrobe malfunctions, the Professor was questioned on his scholarly status after pointing out that Lenny and Marry rhyme. MEB questioning Drew lead to Rachel having the “giggles” for the entire hike up the mountain. Gotta love the Bopsy Twins!
I learned quickly that when going down, the heal extenders are much like walking in high heels (not that I know, just a guess), as I kept going off to the side into trees. MEB asked me if I knew that the extenders will still on (doh, I hate being a “winterish” rookie). Okay, so with the shoes on correctly, I was able to start moving across the ridge toward S. Peak. What a beautiful part of the climb. Despite some overcast and an easy snow flurry, the weather was comfortable. Going through the trees to S. Hancock was like a winter wonderland. MEB spotted a large tree so we decided to “do a Christine”, and jump on the log and wave. We missed you.
We got up to S. Hancock and took a couple pictures. Forty-seven, the final time that I get sent up first to tag the mountain. It’s been a tough year, but this really meant a lot to me!
The sliding down the mountain was fun. MEB chose the butt slide while Rachel did the out of control running. I chose the ski on the snowshoe method. The final push out was nice as the sun came out for the last two hours before twilight. We saw several gorgeous winteresque scenes on our way out.
I’ve been fortunate to hike with some wonderful people and am excited about the opportunity of completing this adventure. I’ve come a long way from wearing jean shorts on Madison in September 04’ and jean shorts on Moosilauke in June 05’. Perhaps I’ll see some of the people I’ve had the honor of hiking with on my forty-eighth. Date to be determined, but the mountain will be Isolation.
PICTURES: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=67t3qkc.zgkg394&Uy=aityjh&Ux=0
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