As I believe Cath replied in a thread that I initiated about Alex MacPhail’s H2H record of 12h,11m set in 1963 (Madhouse to Cata to Porky Gulch to Lakes to Pah to Zool to Ghoul to Flea to Lone), a lot of amazing hiking exploits occur in the Whites about which we may not be aware.
On Tuesday, February 9th 2010, Pam Bales from Thornton, N.H., with hiking partner Erica Khan, from Gloucester, Mass., completed 12 straight months of Presi traverses (all the summits from Madison to Jackson). Over this time frame, they completed 25 full Presi traverses.
Many of you may not know Pam, who describes herself as a “low-key person.” I know her as a fellow member of PVSART, where we have worked together on many litter carry-outs in the Whites over the past five years. I believe that she is on PVSART’s “winter qualified dispatch roster” (and, if not, should be); she was on the long and strenuous carry-out from high on the Tripyramids in early February 2010.
Pam is one of the strongest hikers I know, but also one of the humblest and most unassuming. She is not list-oriented; for example, she has not completed the NH4s in any season (needs Owls Head). Pam hikes for the joy and views, hence the Presi’s, Franconia Ridge, and the like. She has hiked an out-and-back solo from Crawford’s to Madison, hitting all the summits in both directions, on a day when she could not find someone to share a car spot. She and Erica also have hiked the Pemi Loop on many occasions, with their best time around 10 hrs, always counterclockwise.
Assuming that she allows me to post this note, Pam and a few of us are now required to get re-qualified every year on PVSART by hiking up Lafayette via the Skookumchuk Trail; I leave you to determine what that means. Pam is one of a number of strong women on PVSART, which include our Field Team Captain, as well as our GPS expert and trainer, to name a couple. Out of all my associations, PVSART is by far and away my favorite for camaraderie.
On Tuesday, February 9th 2010, Pam Bales from Thornton, N.H., with hiking partner Erica Khan, from Gloucester, Mass., completed 12 straight months of Presi traverses (all the summits from Madison to Jackson). Over this time frame, they completed 25 full Presi traverses.
Many of you may not know Pam, who describes herself as a “low-key person.” I know her as a fellow member of PVSART, where we have worked together on many litter carry-outs in the Whites over the past five years. I believe that she is on PVSART’s “winter qualified dispatch roster” (and, if not, should be); she was on the long and strenuous carry-out from high on the Tripyramids in early February 2010.
Pam is one of the strongest hikers I know, but also one of the humblest and most unassuming. She is not list-oriented; for example, she has not completed the NH4s in any season (needs Owls Head). Pam hikes for the joy and views, hence the Presi’s, Franconia Ridge, and the like. She has hiked an out-and-back solo from Crawford’s to Madison, hitting all the summits in both directions, on a day when she could not find someone to share a car spot. She and Erica also have hiked the Pemi Loop on many occasions, with their best time around 10 hrs, always counterclockwise.
Assuming that she allows me to post this note, Pam and a few of us are now required to get re-qualified every year on PVSART by hiking up Lafayette via the Skookumchuk Trail; I leave you to determine what that means. Pam is one of a number of strong women on PVSART, which include our Field Team Captain, as well as our GPS expert and trainer, to name a couple. Out of all my associations, PVSART is by far and away my favorite for camaraderie.
