spider solo
New member
Well, I couldn't resist the chance for one last hurrah with the snowshoes and all the freshly fallen snow from the big storm they had up in the Whites.
Thursday I headed up to see how the Northern Prezzies had fared..this time bringing enough gear for an over night at Crag Camp overlooking King Ravine.
Parkng at Lowes Store, a young fellow came along who turned out to be the caretaker for the Randolph Huts and had just 'shoed' down from Gray Knob where he had just recorded 16" of new snow from the storm.
I headed up Lowes Path filled with anticipation of some great 'shoeing' and set my sights for the section of King Ravine Trail that would bring me over to Spur Trail.
Sure enough it hadn't been broken out and I headed up that way. The snow weighted the trees and it was slow going knocking the snow off and freeing the branches of their burden, plus a little route finding, as I had not been along that way before. It turned out to be a nice wooded trail. The snow layed heavy on the snowshoes as it was a bit wet though not to bad at all.
Making my way over to the Spur Trail I was happy to see no one had been on any of the trails over that way . Even Fri, the next day, showed no one had yet to be through there.
Last week I needed crampons to make my way along, which left me wondering how the snow would be on top of the ice, esp. on the steep sections. Things worked out fine and the traction was good..actually for the entire two days I did not need to dig out the crampons ! Boy was that a nice change esp. above tree line when the last few hikes had been awkward ankle twisting stuff with crampons on rock and ice.
Crag Camp was in good shape and plenty cold as the hike in had all the feelings of being in the dead of winter.
I called it a day at the hut as there were no views to be had this Thurs ..around dusk I shoed up to Knight's Castle, putting down a set of tracks that I hoped to use the next day if it cleared.
Fridays' dawn was indeed full of sunshine, and a quick view of a Pine Marten, only the 2nd one I've ever seen.. both this year in the Presidentials !
I headed for Adams entertaining thoughts of including, perhaps, another peak or two depending how things played out.
Spur Trail had near perfect snow. Windy as it was, visibility was good and I made steady progress...but a big surprise awaited me. As the panorama opend up Mt Jefferson was no where to be seen...it was completely "socked in' Adams and Madison were still visibile...needless to say I quicked my pace !
There were good snowfields leading up to Adams, though for the final summit cone the snowshoes were probably a bit of an overkill....that final last part was still a jumble of rocks and care was needed to thread your way along.
A couple of times the clouds enveloped me, but mercifully they would clear and I made a bee line towards Adams 4 and the Lowes Path. Above tree line Lowes Path was more wind scoured, then finding deeper drifts as you neared the trees.
After visiting with the caretaker at Gray Knob, and assuring him I had heard reports that the "Swedish Bikini Team" would soon be arriving to practice some mountain climbing, I headed down the still untravelled Hinks Trail connecting again with Spur Trail ...from there I retraced my steps back down and over to King Ravine Trail.
Did I mention that this section of the trail was the quite more wooded than some of the others?
I was one.. 'soggy doggy' as the trail now seemed like something from a rain forest. I was drenched as the melting snow fell from their branches...and the snowshoes were beginning to feel they weighed some 20lbs each..thick with a soft clinging snow. This section seemed somehow longer than the previous day..I guess some mysterious "Trail Stretcher" had come in the night to lenghten it.
Back on Lowes path and thoughly wet I realized that some of those famous "April Showers" would keep me company for the remainder of the day.
Hopefully the mnt peaks will be enjoying a fresh blanket of snow...I certainly hope so!!
Thursday I headed up to see how the Northern Prezzies had fared..this time bringing enough gear for an over night at Crag Camp overlooking King Ravine.
Parkng at Lowes Store, a young fellow came along who turned out to be the caretaker for the Randolph Huts and had just 'shoed' down from Gray Knob where he had just recorded 16" of new snow from the storm.
I headed up Lowes Path filled with anticipation of some great 'shoeing' and set my sights for the section of King Ravine Trail that would bring me over to Spur Trail.
Sure enough it hadn't been broken out and I headed up that way. The snow weighted the trees and it was slow going knocking the snow off and freeing the branches of their burden, plus a little route finding, as I had not been along that way before. It turned out to be a nice wooded trail. The snow layed heavy on the snowshoes as it was a bit wet though not to bad at all.
Making my way over to the Spur Trail I was happy to see no one had been on any of the trails over that way . Even Fri, the next day, showed no one had yet to be through there.
Last week I needed crampons to make my way along, which left me wondering how the snow would be on top of the ice, esp. on the steep sections. Things worked out fine and the traction was good..actually for the entire two days I did not need to dig out the crampons ! Boy was that a nice change esp. above tree line when the last few hikes had been awkward ankle twisting stuff with crampons on rock and ice.
Crag Camp was in good shape and plenty cold as the hike in had all the feelings of being in the dead of winter.
I called it a day at the hut as there were no views to be had this Thurs ..around dusk I shoed up to Knight's Castle, putting down a set of tracks that I hoped to use the next day if it cleared.
Fridays' dawn was indeed full of sunshine, and a quick view of a Pine Marten, only the 2nd one I've ever seen.. both this year in the Presidentials !
I headed for Adams entertaining thoughts of including, perhaps, another peak or two depending how things played out.
Spur Trail had near perfect snow. Windy as it was, visibility was good and I made steady progress...but a big surprise awaited me. As the panorama opend up Mt Jefferson was no where to be seen...it was completely "socked in' Adams and Madison were still visibile...needless to say I quicked my pace !
There were good snowfields leading up to Adams, though for the final summit cone the snowshoes were probably a bit of an overkill....that final last part was still a jumble of rocks and care was needed to thread your way along.
A couple of times the clouds enveloped me, but mercifully they would clear and I made a bee line towards Adams 4 and the Lowes Path. Above tree line Lowes Path was more wind scoured, then finding deeper drifts as you neared the trees.
After visiting with the caretaker at Gray Knob, and assuring him I had heard reports that the "Swedish Bikini Team" would soon be arriving to practice some mountain climbing, I headed down the still untravelled Hinks Trail connecting again with Spur Trail ...from there I retraced my steps back down and over to King Ravine Trail.
Did I mention that this section of the trail was the quite more wooded than some of the others?
I was one.. 'soggy doggy' as the trail now seemed like something from a rain forest. I was drenched as the melting snow fell from their branches...and the snowshoes were beginning to feel they weighed some 20lbs each..thick with a soft clinging snow. This section seemed somehow longer than the previous day..I guess some mysterious "Trail Stretcher" had come in the night to lenghten it.
Back on Lowes path and thoughly wet I realized that some of those famous "April Showers" would keep me company for the remainder of the day.
Hopefully the mnt peaks will be enjoying a fresh blanket of snow...I certainly hope so!!
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