Jan 17th. Tuck trail to Huntington Fire Road. No wind. Snow Ranger was visiting Harvard Cabin. He said that there was some wind slab on west side of Huntington. I headed up South Gully on icy snow. Considering the shape of my crampons and the hardness of the early morning snow, I took a variation (Elbow Gully) to the Alpine Garden.
Cold breeze on Alpine Garden. Walked across to summit cone and climbed east side of cone to top. Icy surface, lots of 3-point climbing--ax, and two boots; either standing or hands on slope. Awarness of what would happen if I suddenly detached somehow.
Reached auto road and walked to top. Fox wanted handout. Then State Park Thikol came. Mike Pelchat said that the air was so clear, that you could see all three remaining paper mills in Maine. I could see Rumford (looked so close) and Skawhegan, but not Millinocket as he claimed. Will have to ask him about that.
Descent was on well used, powdery Lion Head trail. All other snow above the trees tracherous. You don't want to think about how fast you would get going on it, if you slipped and didn't self arrest. I missed the tracks down the snowfield at the base of the summit cone and tried to get down the slope. After one dramatic self arrest, I turned around and climbed back up till I found the tracks. The tramped trail down the snowfiled was magically powdery.
Great hike. Snow tomorrow.
Cold breeze on Alpine Garden. Walked across to summit cone and climbed east side of cone to top. Icy surface, lots of 3-point climbing--ax, and two boots; either standing or hands on slope. Awarness of what would happen if I suddenly detached somehow.
Reached auto road and walked to top. Fox wanted handout. Then State Park Thikol came. Mike Pelchat said that the air was so clear, that you could see all three remaining paper mills in Maine. I could see Rumford (looked so close) and Skawhegan, but not Millinocket as he claimed. Will have to ask him about that.
Descent was on well used, powdery Lion Head trail. All other snow above the trees tracherous. You don't want to think about how fast you would get going on it, if you slipped and didn't self arrest. I missed the tracks down the snowfield at the base of the summit cone and tried to get down the slope. After one dramatic self arrest, I turned around and climbed back up till I found the tracks. The tramped trail down the snowfiled was magically powdery.
Great hike. Snow tomorrow.
