Saddleback

[spencer]

Another great weekend... After a very full Saturday, including skiing Sargent Mtn in Acadia, making moo-shu and going to the local contra dance, I got only 4 hours of sleep before it was time to go again.

I left my house at 3:45 this morning to head to Saddleback to meet Seema and Brian to hike Saddleback. A bunch of us had planned to do this hike together, but for various reasons, folks dropped out, so it was just going to be the 3 of us.

We left the baselodge at 8am and headed straight up the main lift trail, taking the shortest distance between two points. As the patrollers made their way up the first lift rides of the day they informed us that we should have taken the designated hiker route, Hudson Highway. Well, we were hiking before they really opened so it didn't matter. We made it to the high lift hut and got ready to fight the high winds and surprisingly cold temps. I was expecting a 20-35 degree day, but it didn't go above 12 all morning. Just as we were about to head above the trees, we saw a large ME/NH AMC group come along. It turned out it was Ed H. leading the group, with our very own Donna in tow, so we exchanged pleasantries and our thoughts on the conditions. Seema, Brian and I headed up first and we quickly made it to the signpost on the first summit above the lift shack. We initially, and erroneously thought it was Saddleback itself. I noticed Brian had a VERY white nose, so he covered up and we immediately headed back for cover to get his frostbite/nip taken care of. As we headed back down to the lift shack rendevous, Ed's group was coming up and I bid Seema and Brian farewell so I could join Ed's group to head over to the real Saddleback summit and possibly the Horn. Ed's group quickly made the wise decision to retreat also so that was that. Luckily, Brian's nose returned to its natural color, reassuring us that there was no serious, permanent damage. Everyone headed down the ski trails.

But I was on skis the whole time, so I wasn't quite as disappointed as the others who were on snowshoes! I had a blast carving down the groomers (only my 2nd time at a lift-served area since high school)... When I got to the bottom and regrouped, I was trying to decide between buying a half-day lift ticket to get some more skiing in or heading home. I kept looking up and thinking it really looked like it was clearing on the summit and I was bugged. I knew I should have waited it out near the lift shack up high instead of bombing down the hill.

I couldn't bring myself to go home and I was too cheap to buy a lift ticket, so I did what any self-respecting peakbagger would do: I put my skins back on and headed up the mountain again...

There was no sign of Seema or Brian or Ed's group. I figured they had all made it down already on their snowshoes and I had just missed them in the commotion near the baselodge. I made it back to the uppermost lift shack in a hair over an hour this time, but my legs were quite spent, to say the least. The summit was in and out of the clouds, but it had warmed up some, so I figured I'd give it another shot. I went back above treeline, well-covered with balaclava, goggles etc and made it with no problems to the real Saddleback summit. I contemplated making a try for the Horn. I got as far as Saddelback Junior and realized it would be a poor decision to keep going since I was alone and there no guarantees the clouds would stay away long enough to find my way back to the ski trails. I reluctantly turned around and on the way back up Saddelback proper, I realized how tired my legs were and was glad I didn't keep going.

I checked back in with the ski patrol (as they had been very persistent in asking us to do each step of the way) and had my 2nd of 2 runs down the mountain. After a great run, I put the skis on the truck and drove home, getting here by 5pm. Unfortunately, I don't remember much of the drive. I think I was sleeping most of the time....

Thanks for a great day Seema and Brian! I'm sorry all didn't go as planned...

and Donna, I'm glad you were there, too

good night.

spencer

 

[Nadine]

It was pretty cold here in the low lands too. Sorry to hear about the frostbite/nip, turning back always seems to be a painful choice.

Darn, I was hoping you'd break the trail over to The Horn
I'm planning to do the same trip this coming weekend, with skis and skins.

Nadine

 

[spencer]

Nadine,

if you want to take your skis all the way to the Horn, take your backup skins and rock skis b/c there isn't enough cover. I took the skis up to the first summit and that was being very careful to dodge rocks.

On the 2nd crack, I left the skis just above the lift shack.

I hope you make it to the Horn! In good weather, it shouldn't be too difficult a hike...

spencer

 

[sli74]

Spencer,

Thank you for a GREAT day out. We had a blast and are very Thankful to you for noticing Brian's almost frostbite. That was indeed a scary experience! I had goggles and the other needed gear to push on to Saddleback BUT BRian did not and I didn't want to leave him by himself and head back up. You are a REAL trooper for heading back up there . . . I can't say I would've had the energy or motivation to do the same thing
Guess persistence pays off though.

We might have not got to the summit but I can't think of a better way to have spent a beautiful day except outside !!

I also want to add that I downhill skied (okay, it was more of a out of control falling on skis) at Black Mountain on Saturday and had a blast, so though I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head, I think the ski trails will be competing with the mountains for a few of my weekends every winter

Thanks again Spencer and Donna, it was GREAT to see you !!!

sli74

 

[sli74]

BTW, Spencer, who is the midget in your avatar?

sli74

 

[Tramper Al]

Nice

Hey, nice report and thanks for including the info about the ski patrol and their preferences.

I almost hiked Saddleback/Horn this weekend too - a strange coincidence.

It must have been pretty ugly up there to turn everyone around. I guess the goggles/mask should just stay in the pack all winter, yes?

And leave it to Spencer to climb the mountain not once, but twice!

 

[SherpaKroto]

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try agan" eh? You're a better man than I am Spencer! Well done! All I did this weekend was fix my sled and work on the "Marriage Continuation Program", so it was a nice restful weekend.

Seema, while I feel bad that you didn't reach the summit, it just give us an opportunity to do it again another time! It's high on my "to do" list. In my mind, it's a definite ski, so get those runs in! I suspect that it would be real easy to convince a good group to join in.

 

[spencer]

Take note that I will be heading back for the Horn at some point. Although it's looking like it might have to wait until next winter now.

spencer

 

[el-bagr]

Spencer, Olivia and I were in Acadia this weekend too. Great snow, especially out of the sun, eh?

 

[Papa Bear]

... I figured I'd give it another shot. I went back above treeline, well-covered with balaclava, goggles etc and made it with no problems to the real Saddleback summit. I contemplated making a try for the Horn. I got as far as Saddelback Junior and ...
spencer

I'm confused here. On my map, (Topozone) you get to the Horn before you get to Saddleback Junior. The Horn looks to be about 1.5 miles northeast of Saddleback and Junior is about 2 miles further along the ridge. No?

At least that's the way it is in the summer. Maybe they shuffle them around in the Winter.


Junior or no Junior, looks like you had a great trip on a great day.


Pb

 

[spencer]

El-bagr,

funny you should say that. When I came out of the woods from the Sargent Mtn. Trail onto the carriage road there was a couple just barely around the corner from us. I looked at them a couple of times and thought it might be you. I'm not sure why, I just had a feeling.

I bet it was you, huh? did you head up Sargent?

spencer

 

[el-bagr]

Nope, probably wasn't us -- we were thinking of heading up Sargent on Sunday, but decided on doing some more coastal touring, sled-tweaking, and "backcountry jibbing" (basically jumping off carriage road stone walls and trying for 180s on my touring skis) before heading to Camden Snowbowl for our best lift-serve powder day yet this year. It's all about the trees!

 

[SherpaKroto]

Spencer, when I think Maine, you, GO, Nadine, Turnbill, Laura, Mad Townie, SpongeBob and a host of others come to mind Be assured that you'll know in advance when I'm headed up to Saddleback. I have only 2 winter 4K's done in Maine

 

[Blue]

making moo-shu and going to the local contra dance

Great report! But where are the pictures of Spencer contra-dancing!!!???

 

[donna]

Love it when I meet fellow VFTTers on the trail!

Hey Spencer, it was awesome to see you on the trail. I got so excited when I heard your voice then Seema then Brian. There's nothing like meeting up with VFTT friends on distant trails...

Way to go in making it to the summit. Keep me in mind for the Horn, even if it's on for next winter.

 

[Nadine]

I'm figuring on doing a few ski mountains this winter, now that I've been bitten by the bug

Hopefully Saddleback and the Horn this weekend. Sugarloaf sometime soon. Reddington??

Seema, I'd love to join my pee buddy sometime on the ski slope if you want to get together

 

[sli74]

Hey Nadine,

I am HOOKED on alpine skiing so I will most certainly be up for some spring skiing. I LOVED Black Mountain of Maine and might be up for another trip there in March sometime. Keep me in mind and maybe we can find some open and exposed place on the mounatin to empty our bladders though it won't be the same without Sean

sli74

 

[ChrisB]

Hey all,

How about a spring expedition to the Loaf... when the upper snowfields are open?

An alpine Gathering of sorts...

cb

 

[Nadine]

Seema, we'll call it the ski and pee expedition
Black sounds like a fun mountain. LMK when you're up for another day of it.

The snowfields are the place to be on a balmy spring day
I'm very much in favor of a VFTT Alpine Gathering there.

speaking of...I was skiing at the Loaf last week and ended up running into Audrey and Pat at Bullwinkles. Small world.

Nadine

 

[SherpaKroto]

D*mn. Ok, I'm in. I need to restart that pilgrimage again. For years I used to head to the Loaf for Easter than drive to Berlin counting the MANY deer. We had years where we would see over 100 on the drive! Imagine a herd of deer in the Graveyard at Wilson's Mills! Maybe I can talk Ms Sherpa, and the family to come along.

This could get to be a very large event...