una_dogger
Well-known member
W-NH4K # 11
NH4K Second Round # 16
Yesterday, MJ, Silverfox and I spent the day at Bretton Woods in search of the elusive New England powder stash. The winds and cold temps kept the soft skinned guests of the Mount Washington Hotel in the lodge, lest they venture into the cold and freeze. This kept the lift lines short. MJ and I skied until about 3:30 and covered about 16 miles of terrain -- lift rides excluded. All that skiing and the apres ski that followed left our legs the consistency of jelly. We scrapped our plans for T/F/W and devised Plan B -- Jackson and Pierce. We then tucked ourselves in for another cozy night at Silverfox's secret hideaway in Jackson.
Zzzzz's were plentiful, and we awoke slightly later than planned.
Fortunately, this was not a deterrent -- being hardened by the cold temperatures on saturday -- we were unstoppable. We strapped on our MSR's and clip clapped our way across Rt 302 to the trailhead.
We started up the Webster Jackson Trail about 9:30 in the a.m. Yawn. Nice early alpine start. I had plenty of energy and my legs felt like powerhouses and I began charging uphill, ignoring the cries from below. The trail is in excellent shape, although I'm not sure, that snowshoe track might be a tad on the narrow side?? Can't be sure, because I didn't measure. I was having too much fun, playing in the woods with my friends on a beautiful winter day.
Shortly after the sign that says in pencil "Cliff View -->", Silverfox decided to turn back. There was much hugging, smiling and general good vibes, and we said goodbye to our friend who graciously put us up, making our fabulous White Mountain Weekend possible. What a guy. (ladies, he's single!)
Michael and I continued on, and soon entered some thicker woods. I have only been on this trail in autumn, and its a real beauty of a trail in winter. The gray jays followed us for quite a distance. Near a small stream, we crossed paths with Sugar John, who was experiencing his first Winter 4k on Jackson today! Naturally, this meeting lead to lots of good energy and much more smiling. We made a promise to hike together soon, and were on our way again.
Just before treeline, we stopped to add some layers, goggles, balaclava's, crampons, and to pull out our trusty axes. A few steps up the mountain and one of my crampons popped off. Oops!!! The gentleman known as MichaelJ asked me to sit, and while I sat on the snow and gazed out at the surrounding mountaintops, he fixed my crampon. Awwwww...what a guy!!! (not single <mine!> )
Just as he was fixin' me up, a couple came down from Jackson and threw out a few choice words "really windy" and "treacherous" and "solid ice". Always nice to hear some encouraging words before heading up!
Indeed, the last open rocky scramble up Jackson was a mess. Lots of bare rock, not much snow, and lotsa blue ice. Maybe it was because I just experienced equipment failure, I have to say that I was nervous climbing the final pitches. But, MJ was a great coach and I just kept my head down and my feet moving forward. Internally I told myself, "no way I'm going back down that %$#&!! -- we are going to Pierce!".
We snapped a pic or two at the sign just below the summit, then proceeded to the cairn. This was a special little hike, because, it was our first winter 4K this season, we both needed Jackson in Winter, and we both need Jackson for our second rounds of the NH48, and it also just happens to be on our short list of 4Ks in NH that we haven't hiked together. I dunno?! This may be the start of another little quest??!!!
We set off for Pierce. The wind was pushing me about a bit, and it was coming straight at us . We followed cairns, eager to get back into the trees. There was no sign of trail broken to Pierce. After a couple minutes of deliberation, we decided to head back down. Yippee!! We get to go back down the treacherous ice face!!! You know what they say, never say never!!!!
Honestly, we were really just happy to be out there, and have no regrets that we ditched on Pierce. Once back into the trees, we removed our outer wind layers, and spent some quality time with our friends, the Gray Jays.
The sun came out, and the sky was a brilliant blue. Snow painted the backside of the branches, and very fine crystalline snow caught the sunlight and glittered like fairy dust. It was a really wonderful hike down, and we took it slow and soaked in all the great forest energy...hope we absorbed enough to carry us through to our next hike!!!
MJ has pics to post....
NH4K Second Round # 16
Yesterday, MJ, Silverfox and I spent the day at Bretton Woods in search of the elusive New England powder stash. The winds and cold temps kept the soft skinned guests of the Mount Washington Hotel in the lodge, lest they venture into the cold and freeze. This kept the lift lines short. MJ and I skied until about 3:30 and covered about 16 miles of terrain -- lift rides excluded. All that skiing and the apres ski that followed left our legs the consistency of jelly. We scrapped our plans for T/F/W and devised Plan B -- Jackson and Pierce. We then tucked ourselves in for another cozy night at Silverfox's secret hideaway in Jackson.
Zzzzz's were plentiful, and we awoke slightly later than planned.
Fortunately, this was not a deterrent -- being hardened by the cold temperatures on saturday -- we were unstoppable. We strapped on our MSR's and clip clapped our way across Rt 302 to the trailhead.We started up the Webster Jackson Trail about 9:30 in the a.m. Yawn. Nice early alpine start. I had plenty of energy and my legs felt like powerhouses and I began charging uphill, ignoring the cries from below.
The trail is in excellent shape, although I'm not sure, that snowshoe track might be a tad on the narrow side?? Can't be sure, because I didn't measure. I was having too much fun, playing in the woods with my friends on a beautiful winter day. Shortly after the sign that says in pencil "Cliff View -->", Silverfox decided to turn back. There was much hugging, smiling and general good vibes, and we said goodbye to our friend who graciously put us up, making our fabulous White Mountain Weekend possible. What a guy. (ladies, he's single!
)Michael and I continued on, and soon entered some thicker woods. I have only been on this trail in autumn, and its a real beauty of a trail in winter. The gray jays followed us for quite a distance. Near a small stream, we crossed paths with Sugar John, who was experiencing his first Winter 4k on Jackson today! Naturally, this meeting lead to lots of good energy and much more smiling. We made a promise to hike together soon, and were on our way again.
Just before treeline, we stopped to add some layers, goggles, balaclava's, crampons, and to pull out our trusty axes. A few steps up the mountain and one of my crampons popped off. Oops!!! The gentleman known as MichaelJ asked me to sit, and while I sat on the snow and gazed out at the surrounding mountaintops, he fixed my crampon. Awwwww...what a guy!!! (not single <mine!>
)Just as he was fixin' me up, a couple came down from Jackson and threw out a few choice words "really windy" and "treacherous" and "solid ice". Always nice to hear some encouraging words before heading up!
Indeed, the last open rocky scramble up Jackson was a mess. Lots of bare rock, not much snow, and lotsa blue ice. Maybe it was because I just experienced equipment failure, I have to say that I was nervous climbing the final pitches. But, MJ was a great coach and I just kept my head down and my feet moving forward. Internally I told myself, "no way I'm going back down that %$#&!! -- we are going to Pierce!".
We snapped a pic or two at the sign just below the summit, then proceeded to the cairn. This was a special little hike, because, it was our first winter 4K this season, we both needed Jackson in Winter, and we both need Jackson for our second rounds of the NH48, and it also just happens to be on our short list of 4Ks in NH that we haven't hiked together. I dunno?! This may be the start of another little quest??!!!
We set off for Pierce. The wind was pushing me about a bit, and it was coming straight at us . We followed cairns, eager to get back into the trees. There was no sign of trail broken to Pierce. After a couple minutes of deliberation, we decided to head back down. Yippee!! We get to go back down the treacherous ice face!!! You know what they say, never say never!!!!
Honestly, we were really just happy to be out there, and have no regrets that we ditched on Pierce. Once back into the trees, we removed our outer wind layers, and spent some quality time with our friends, the Gray Jays.
The sun came out, and the sky was a brilliant blue. Snow painted the backside of the branches, and very fine crystalline snow caught the sunlight and glittered like fairy dust. It was a really wonderful hike down, and we took it slow and soaked in all the great forest energy...hope we absorbed enough to carry us through to our next hike!!!
MJ has pics to post....
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