The Wussification of Madriver:

[MadRiver]

I was supposed to climb Washington on Saturday with a group of people I have never met before, except for two of them. Since my wife was planning on skiing at Waterville Valley and had no desire to hike Washington, I would have to drive a second car to NH from CT, rather than rely on others for transportation. Although I have hiked Washington too many times to count, I had never hiked it in the throes of winter, so I was truly looking forward to the experience.

After smoothing over the dual car situation with the wife and gathering my gear for the hike, I clicked on the weather forecast for the Observatory and my heart sank. Even though inclement weather is not a huge deal breaker for me, I do have a great deal of respect for any warning that might be issued concerning travel above tree line, especially in winter. If the Observatory says stay the Hell off the mountain, I am not one to argue the point. I do not know what the others will do. Whether they will proceed with caution or throw caution to the wind and head up anyway. Not knowing them, I could only hazard a guess.

All I know for certain is that this middle aged Warrior Librarian’s butt will not be found anywhere on the mountain this weekend.

 

[jade]

I would say you are a very smart man.....been there done that on Washington a few Decembers ago...got back to the lodge only to learn that 302 AND 16 had been closed due to the wind driven storm....give yourself a raincheck!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Sounds like the wise move for Saturday. Sunday, on the other hand, looks like it might be a great day for above treeline. That would make for a long day, however, it you had to drive back to CT that night.

 

[giggy]

don't sell yourself short - part of the game is making good descions - and you probably just made one.

Its is going to be freakin cold this weekend - which can be dealt with - but your throw a 100mph wind (or higher it looks) and its just damn miserable. Wait and enjoy washington on nice sunny balmy calm winter day. more fun IMO.

Back in my younger stupider days (oh wait - I am not smart anyway ) I attempted washington on this day:
http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/archive/2000/01/today-2000-01-22.html

yes - you bet I recall the exact date!! - why? b/w is wasn't fun! - we tried to head up - and it was miserable. I am talking never been even close to that cold again - Made it to the top of lion head barely and then turned around. You couldn't take anything off above treeline without risking instant frostbite. Thats fun to go thru once or twice to say you dealt with it - but I can't really find fun in that.

These days I pick my weather and I am happier for it.


No reason why you can't hike into the ravines and enjoy them - I think most of non-climbers never head into huntington ravine in the winter - it is an amazing sight that I think goes unoticed by many hikers because there is no way to summit without a technical climb through it.- I totally recommend hiking to the base and just checking it out - of course you need visibiilty to do that though!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Giggy -

Just for grins I checked my logs to see if I was out on 1/22/00 - fortunately, no! I did do the Twins and Galehead the following day, on Sunday. Wasn't quite as cold.

 

[MadRiver]

Another reason why it would be foolhardy for me to hike this weekend is the fact that my boots (leather) are not in the best shape. I have Barge Cement plugging a hole in one side. I was going to use toes warmers and a vapor barrier, but I think even that could not combat the level of cold that the mountain is expecting. I’ll be heading to EMS’s Winter Blowout on Sunday for some new boots.

 

[forestgnome]

Another reason why it would be foolhardy for me to hike this weekend is the fact that my boots (leather) are not in the best shape. I have Barge Cement plugging a hole in one side. I was going to use toes warmers and a vapor barrier, but I think even that could not combat the level of cold that the mountain is expecting. I’ll be heading to EMS’s Winter Blowout on Sunday for some new boots.

A better term would be 'wisdom'. Especially because of your boot situation, it wouldn't be wise to try it. Today looked quite nice up there ( I was in Jackson today working ). But by the weekend, it will be crazy cold.

I've come to the conclusion that I just don't enjoy being in such situations. The last time I was in the area, on Boott Spur, in windy frigid conditions, I admitted to myself that breathing through a fleece and not having any exposed skin was just not enjoyable. The mountains are more powerful and mystical to me after having resolved to the idea that during certain times, the conditions are too fierce for my prescence.

 

[spaddock]

Tomorrow: Rapidly decreasing temperatures and increasing winds. Wind chill values as low as -70F by evening.

I think that says it all.


-Shayne

 

[MadRiver]

My two friends just made it to Hermit Lake shelter, while a few other hardy souls ascended Lion Head only to be back by the gale force winds. My wife and I skied at Waterville Valley, only to be forced off the mountain by a -17 wind-chill. On a positive note, I picked up a pair of Asolo TPS 520 GV boots at EMS’s winter blowout. I was going to get another pair of Summits GTX II, but didn’t feel the quality was the same my older pair.