Tim Seaver
Well-known member
A marvelous day for a traverse! Hiker X and myself got off to a leisurely start at 8:30 from Appalachia, leaving our snowshoes behind (thanks to some Prezzy recon by Hiker X earlier in the week). Not having hiked together for some time, we blabbed and gabbed our way to the hut, dumped our packs at the hut, and sauntered up to the rocky summit of Madison. Patches of firm snow and ice, with plenty of rocks poking through, allowed for pretty fast travelling with screwboots. Similar conditions were present throughout the Northern Presi's.
Moving on to the summit of Adams, we met the Grey Knob caretaker and a few others enjoying the sun and light winds at the top. The caretaker was lamenting at what to do with the pumpkin that someone had packed up to the Knob. Back on the trail, we ran into Hiker Ed and company below T-Storm junction, who had just summited Jefferson and were enroute to Adams. Next stop, Edmands Col.
Here we encountered a another group of hikers. One had a cigarette sprouting from his lips, which drew a rather interesting comment from Hiker X:
" My dear , what is that in your mouth?"
A short silence ensued, in which I pictured the numerous expletives forming in the mind of the smoker.
His measured response was "It's called a cigarette".
Me: Gee, would you look at the time.. (tapping watch anxiously)
Onwards to the summit of Jefferson
, through Sphinx Col, around Clay, and up the cone of Washie we went, were we spent a little time chatting with Mike at the observatory.
We leave the summit at 3:30 PM ( not a recommended departure time for completing a traverse!) and cruise down the Crawford, finding the conditions a bit icier and windier as the sun slinks down into the black mass of clouds that signals the approaching snow event. Thankfully, the wind was strong enough to shut down our "chat factory" for a bit, and we motored on at a pretty good clip.
We arrive at the summit of Pierce at around 5:30. We decide to pass on Jackson today. Finally out of the wind, the gabbing resumed on the Crawford Path, and before we knew it we were at our spotted car.
Moving on to the summit of Adams, we met the Grey Knob caretaker and a few others enjoying the sun and light winds at the top. The caretaker was lamenting at what to do with the pumpkin that someone had packed up to the Knob. Back on the trail, we ran into Hiker Ed and company below T-Storm junction, who had just summited Jefferson and were enroute to Adams. Next stop, Edmands Col.
Here we encountered a another group of hikers. One had a cigarette sprouting from his lips, which drew a rather interesting comment from Hiker X:
" My dear , what is that in your mouth?"
A short silence ensued, in which I pictured the numerous expletives forming in the mind of the smoker.
His measured response was "It's called a cigarette".
Me: Gee, would you look at the time.. (tapping watch anxiously)
Onwards to the summit of Jefferson
We leave the summit at 3:30 PM ( not a recommended departure time for completing a traverse!) and cruise down the Crawford, finding the conditions a bit icier and windier as the sun slinks down into the black mass of clouds that signals the approaching snow event. Thankfully, the wind was strong enough to shut down our "chat factory" for a bit, and we motored on at a pretty good clip.
We arrive at the summit of Pierce at around 5:30. We decide to pass on Jackson today. Finally out of the wind, the gabbing resumed on the Crawford Path, and before we knew it we were at our spotted car.
