McRat
New member
A lot of people think very little of Tecumseh, and I accordingly planned for a simple walk to an easy peakbag.
I have also discovered that every time I expect an easy trip, the universe repays my hubris with scorn. We'll get to that.
HikerFast, HikerAmiga and I hit the trail around 11:00. At fifteen degrees with little wind, a short walk was enough to keep a comfortable temperature. There were a few inches of packed snow over ice on much of the trail. We all wore crampons for the entire trip.
The trail follows along the ski resort, and it was odd hearing the music and 'shush' of the skiers.
About a third of the way up, we saw some familiar faces. Though I'd never met them in person, I've read much by and about them in the online hiking community. I was just about to ask when Hikerfast asks, "Hi, aren't you Tim Seaver?"
Indeed it was. He and Cath Goodwin had already hit the summit and were headed down. After some pleasant chat, we headed off. It was great meeting them on trail. Thanks for the encouragement.
Up until the larger river crossing in the middle, this had seemed a pretty reasonable walk. Soon the grade increased significantly. Nothing terrible but it started to seem fairly relentless. Bob hadn't been feeling well this morning, and he wasn't doing much better here.
Fortunately, the snow had begun and we could no longer see the summit teasing us through the trees, stepping back with each step forward. Soon the grades began to level and we bumped into Jimmy Legs and Little D from Maryland. Once again, people aware of each other only through trip reports get to meet and greet on the trail. Always neat. I hope the rest of their week has better weather.
The final push to the summit was much easier than the incline, and soon I has at the cairn. I was pumped. Number 24. Half way through the list. I posed for a silly pic, and headed down.
On the way back a few inches of powdery snow had set in and I decided to break out my new Swiss Bob, "Rosebutt". This was quite a bit of fun, and I was making good time down the mountain. By the time I reached the steeper incline, I hit some snow over ice and really took off.
I understand the nature of things and can believe that I was only hitting top speeds of 10-15mph, but when you are charging down a thin trail holding on to the handles of your ass-sled for dear life these speeds seem NASCAR worthy.
On one section I tried to slow down by leaning my pack back and prompty shoveled about 15 pounds of snow right up my back before rolling off the sled and tumbling a bit. I did not know this at the time, but I'm pretty sure this is where my wallet and I parted company.
I'm also pretty sure this is where my back and I stopped agreeing with each other. It was a slow, stiffening walk out over the river, back up the bump, and out.
Knowing Hikerfast hadn't been feeling well, I brought the car from parking to a space near the trailhead. The car behind me wouldn't start and I was looking for my jumper cables when I saw the two coming out.
No one's best time. Probably about 5 hours total. Even with a sick member of crew, a runaway swiss bob, and a partner who wandered off during a previous hike - nothing was quite as scary as the ride back.
Lots of black ice, and lots of people pretending the roads were fine. Of course, there were also lots of abandoned cars, accidents, and near misses. We decided to wait at the Hikerfast Manse in Concord since I-93 was shut down further south.
Hikerfast was out of commission with a fever and my back was getting stiffer by the hour. As soon as the RADAR showed a gap, I was headed home.
It took only two hours and twenty minutes to drive from Concord to just north of Boston.
But I'm home, I'm safe, I'm sore... and I'm halfway there
I have also discovered that every time I expect an easy trip, the universe repays my hubris with scorn. We'll get to that.
HikerFast, HikerAmiga and I hit the trail around 11:00. At fifteen degrees with little wind, a short walk was enough to keep a comfortable temperature. There were a few inches of packed snow over ice on much of the trail. We all wore crampons for the entire trip.
The trail follows along the ski resort, and it was odd hearing the music and 'shush' of the skiers.
About a third of the way up, we saw some familiar faces. Though I'd never met them in person, I've read much by and about them in the online hiking community. I was just about to ask when Hikerfast asks, "Hi, aren't you Tim Seaver?"
Indeed it was. He and Cath Goodwin had already hit the summit and were headed down. After some pleasant chat, we headed off. It was great meeting them on trail. Thanks for the encouragement.
Up until the larger river crossing in the middle, this had seemed a pretty reasonable walk. Soon the grade increased significantly. Nothing terrible but it started to seem fairly relentless. Bob hadn't been feeling well this morning, and he wasn't doing much better here.
Fortunately, the snow had begun and we could no longer see the summit teasing us through the trees, stepping back with each step forward. Soon the grades began to level and we bumped into Jimmy Legs and Little D from Maryland. Once again, people aware of each other only through trip reports get to meet and greet on the trail. Always neat. I hope the rest of their week has better weather.
The final push to the summit was much easier than the incline, and soon I has at the cairn. I was pumped. Number 24. Half way through the list. I posed for a silly pic, and headed down.
On the way back a few inches of powdery snow had set in and I decided to break out my new Swiss Bob, "Rosebutt". This was quite a bit of fun, and I was making good time down the mountain. By the time I reached the steeper incline, I hit some snow over ice and really took off.
I understand the nature of things and can believe that I was only hitting top speeds of 10-15mph, but when you are charging down a thin trail holding on to the handles of your ass-sled for dear life these speeds seem NASCAR worthy.
On one section I tried to slow down by leaning my pack back and prompty shoveled about 15 pounds of snow right up my back before rolling off the sled and tumbling a bit. I did not know this at the time, but I'm pretty sure this is where my wallet and I parted company.
I'm also pretty sure this is where my back and I stopped agreeing with each other. It was a slow, stiffening walk out over the river, back up the bump, and out.
Knowing Hikerfast hadn't been feeling well, I brought the car from parking to a space near the trailhead. The car behind me wouldn't start and I was looking for my jumper cables when I saw the two coming out.
No one's best time. Probably about 5 hours total. Even with a sick member of crew, a runaway swiss bob, and a partner who wandered off during a previous hike - nothing was quite as scary as the ride back.
Lots of black ice, and lots of people pretending the roads were fine. Of course, there were also lots of abandoned cars, accidents, and near misses. We decided to wait at the Hikerfast Manse in Concord since I-93 was shut down further south.
Hikerfast was out of commission with a fever and my back was getting stiffer by the hour. As soon as the RADAR showed a gap, I was headed home.
It took only two hours and twenty minutes to drive from Concord to just north of Boston.
But I'm home, I'm safe, I'm sore... and I'm halfway there
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