una_dogger
Well-known member
Saturday MichaelJ, RocksnRolls and the Traildoggies set off on the Lonesome Lake Trail on a chilly snowy morning headed for the Kinsman Ridge. This was my 2nd winter hike, would attain my 2nd and 3rd winter 4k peaks -- but this was really all about fun.
We donned our stabilicers and set off in four inches of snow under an overcast sky. It didn't take long for the snow to begin to lightly fall as we made our way up to Lonesome Lake. It seemed like we were at the Lake in no time; where we stopped for some refreshment and "relief".
Next we hit the Fishin' Jimmy Trail. MJ had been telling me all about this trail, basically how it sucked and that everyone hated it! (ducking, running for cover!) At first it was great fun going up and down the icy ledges but soon I found myself cursing the "freakin' Fishin' Jimmy!" trail myself!
We actually had a really fun time negotiating the icy slabs, ladders and steps in our trusty "Stabies". The snow was getting deeper now, but not deep enough for snowshoes, and there was broken trail ahead of us.
We reached the junction for the shelter and headed over to it to get out of the cold and eat something. Rocksnrolls was happy to add this bit of trail to his "redlining the Whites quest", which is just one of the lists he multi-tasking this weekend.
The little shelter with its low ceiling provided wind protection while we gobbled down some of Dugan's now WORLD FAMOUS christmas cookies. Oh the joy of the holiday season. Just as I am complaining about this being the first holiday season ever where I have gained wieght ! But, this didn't stop me from sampling all of the many varieties she packed, afterall, this was DUGAN'S cooking!!!
We worked our way back to the junction and began heading up the Kinsman Ridge Trail to the north summit. The trail steepened and the ice thickened and the snow and wind grew stronger. After a few tricky little climbs we were on top! Yay! No views today except of the tops of the snow laden trees -- which in an of themselves were quite spectacular and special.
Now for the fun part, the trek across the ridge to the south summit. Lots of butt sliding! Little Orca would put his two front paws together, smile a puppy smile, and then slide down the hills. Terra would run down, then up, then down, then up. Rocksnrolls held his composure and hiked like a true mountain man while MichaelJ and I slid like the amatuers that we are! Oh how I wished I had gotten a sled for Christmas....
In the col we saw a brown stately figure appear, it was Duffy! (of Ed and Duffy). We chatted, me off the trail to avoid any conflict with Orca while Terra and Duffy did the usual dog greeting (I won't go any further...you all know if involves noses and umm...the other end of the dog.) RnR shared his WORLD FAMOUS christmas cookies with Ed while Ed filled us in with trail beta for the coming climb up to the S Kinsman summit.
We said our goodbyes and pushed onward. Up and up we went until we broke out on the exposed summit of SK and made our way to the big cairn marking the true summit. We all let out "WOO HOO's" and MJ and RnR took plenty of pictures!
It was breezy up there so we headed back. The trip down across the ridge and back to the junction was so much fun. We slid, laughed, wiped snow off our backsides; only to repeat the process at the next downhill.
Someone, who shall remain nameless, had the bright idea to now begin a conversation about Indian Food and "oh how good it is". Yes, Indian Food is sooooo goood, I couldn't agree more. Its especially better sounding when there is no way I can concievably lay my hungry, tired, cold hands on it because I'm walking through now several inches of snow on a mountaintop! Not to mention its probably 100 miles to the nearest Indian Restuarant anyhow! Now we are all STARVING for Indian Food, our thoughts turning to every single ethnic restaurant we have ever eaten at, exchanging menus and reviews...sigh. My Zoe bars just weren't cutting it for me anymore.
After passing two teens headed up from the hut and a single hiker (who maintains the Glencliff Trail on the Moose); we arrived at the Famous Freakin' Fishin' Jimmy Trail. On and on and on and on and on and on and on it went, up and down and up and down and over and around and up and down and on and on it went until FINALLY! we reached the hut. ("THE HUT!" Glorious heavens unfold, light shines through the trees, angels hover above it...oops...sorry, wrong movie).
At this point we were salivating so heavily from endless thoughts of food and eager to execute our plans to converge upon the Woodstock Inn, we hotfooted it back to the cars in short order, wiped about four or five inches of snow off them, and burned rubber down I93 and after a thirty five minute wait, we were eating.
It was a wonderful hike! Sorry, no technical details in this trip report. I did lose about seven bolts from my Stabies, but I gave 'em a workout.
I won't tell you how long it took us!!!
_________________
We donned our stabilicers and set off in four inches of snow under an overcast sky. It didn't take long for the snow to begin to lightly fall as we made our way up to Lonesome Lake. It seemed like we were at the Lake in no time; where we stopped for some refreshment and "relief".
Next we hit the Fishin' Jimmy Trail. MJ had been telling me all about this trail, basically how it sucked and that everyone hated it! (ducking, running for cover!) At first it was great fun going up and down the icy ledges but soon I found myself cursing the "freakin' Fishin' Jimmy!" trail myself!
We actually had a really fun time negotiating the icy slabs, ladders and steps in our trusty "Stabies". The snow was getting deeper now, but not deep enough for snowshoes, and there was broken trail ahead of us.
We reached the junction for the shelter and headed over to it to get out of the cold and eat something. Rocksnrolls was happy to add this bit of trail to his "redlining the Whites quest", which is just one of the lists he multi-tasking this weekend.
The little shelter with its low ceiling provided wind protection while we gobbled down some of Dugan's now WORLD FAMOUS christmas cookies. Oh the joy of the holiday season. Just as I am complaining about this being the first holiday season ever where I have gained wieght ! But, this didn't stop me from sampling all of the many varieties she packed, afterall, this was DUGAN'S cooking!!!
We worked our way back to the junction and began heading up the Kinsman Ridge Trail to the north summit. The trail steepened and the ice thickened and the snow and wind grew stronger. After a few tricky little climbs we were on top! Yay! No views today except of the tops of the snow laden trees -- which in an of themselves were quite spectacular and special.
Now for the fun part, the trek across the ridge to the south summit. Lots of butt sliding! Little Orca would put his two front paws together, smile a puppy smile, and then slide down the hills. Terra would run down, then up, then down, then up. Rocksnrolls held his composure and hiked like a true mountain man while MichaelJ and I slid like the amatuers that we are! Oh how I wished I had gotten a sled for Christmas....
In the col we saw a brown stately figure appear, it was Duffy! (of Ed and Duffy). We chatted, me off the trail to avoid any conflict with Orca while Terra and Duffy did the usual dog greeting (I won't go any further...you all know if involves noses and umm...the other end of the dog.) RnR shared his WORLD FAMOUS christmas cookies with Ed while Ed filled us in with trail beta for the coming climb up to the S Kinsman summit.
We said our goodbyes and pushed onward. Up and up we went until we broke out on the exposed summit of SK and made our way to the big cairn marking the true summit. We all let out "WOO HOO's" and MJ and RnR took plenty of pictures!
It was breezy up there so we headed back. The trip down across the ridge and back to the junction was so much fun. We slid, laughed, wiped snow off our backsides; only to repeat the process at the next downhill.
Someone, who shall remain nameless, had the bright idea to now begin a conversation about Indian Food and "oh how good it is". Yes, Indian Food is sooooo goood, I couldn't agree more. Its especially better sounding when there is no way I can concievably lay my hungry, tired, cold hands on it because I'm walking through now several inches of snow on a mountaintop! Not to mention its probably 100 miles to the nearest Indian Restuarant anyhow! Now we are all STARVING for Indian Food, our thoughts turning to every single ethnic restaurant we have ever eaten at, exchanging menus and reviews...sigh. My Zoe bars just weren't cutting it for me anymore.
After passing two teens headed up from the hut and a single hiker (who maintains the Glencliff Trail on the Moose); we arrived at the Famous Freakin' Fishin' Jimmy Trail. On and on and on and on and on and on and on it went, up and down and up and down and over and around and up and down and on and on it went until FINALLY! we reached the hut. ("THE HUT!" Glorious heavens unfold, light shines through the trees, angels hover above it...oops...sorry, wrong movie).
At this point we were salivating so heavily from endless thoughts of food and eager to execute our plans to converge upon the Woodstock Inn, we hotfooted it back to the cars in short order, wiped about four or five inches of snow off them, and burned rubber down I93 and after a thirty five minute wait, we were eating.
It was a wonderful hike! Sorry, no technical details in this trip report. I did lose about seven bolts from my Stabies, but I gave 'em a workout.
I won't tell you how long it took us!!!
_________________
and also add my own thanks for those amazing cookies!
