To Hale & back on March 12

[poison ivy]

HikerBob & I had grand plans for a ski/hike of the Bonds this weekend. However, the weather didn’t cooperate so we decided to scale back our plans head to 4,054 foot Mt. Hale instead. The first challenge was actually getting to Zealand Road from Massachusetts on Saturday morning with a snowstorm raging, so we didn’t get geared up and onto the trail until 9:45 a.m., later than we expected.

We crossed the road and slipped on the cross-country skis for what we thought was going to be an easy 2.5 mile cruise to the Hale Brook trailhead. This was HikerBob’s first time skiing in the Whites and he didn’t have any falls at all. We made a small mistake as we headed up Zealand Road -- we took the ski mobile trail rather than the hiking trail, not knowing any better. Unfortunately, that gave us a mile-long uphill climb (though the few snowmobilers that passed us were very nice I’m sure they were wondering why the idiots on skis weren’t using the ski trail.) We realized our mistake upon arriving at the next gate and seeing hikers on the proper trail.

So, we crossed over onto the railroad grade, expecting an easy ski through the remaining 1.5 miles to the trailhead. However, the snow proved to be very unsuitable as it continually built up underneath our skis, preventing a good glide. While the problem was minimal for me, big snowballs would build up under HikerBob’s skis, so much that the tips would curl up off the ground when he put weight on them. So, it was stop & go and we didn’t end up reaching the trailhead until 11:30.

There, we switched over to our hiking boots and snowshoes and prepared to break out the trail. Faint lines from a previous hiker were visible at the start, but they quickly disappeared under the foot of new snow. We took turns breaking trail, at first trying the “100 paces method” but counting got boring, so we spelled each other more randomly as time wore on.

It was slow going -- we aren’t particularly fast hikers even under good conditions -- so we took plenty of rest breaks. HikerBob got stuck breaking out the most difficult section of trail after he headed in front of me as I struggled to get through a drift piled higher than two feet. That put him in front as we tackled the steep side hill. Since the drifts were so high and footing had to be done very carefully, it took an hour to break just that short half-mile section. We were both happy to reach the end of it and anticipated having an easier time heading back.

We still had a mile of never-ending switchbacks before us and so we had a quick break and headed on. The higher we got, the more difficult trail breaking became and we found ourselves wondering whether we would ever make it to the top. Finally, at 3:45 p.m., we emerged into the clearing and spotted the summit cairn. We took quick pictures and headed straight down. This was HikerBob's 39th all-season peak and my 14th winter peak.

Although about two to three inches of snow had fallen into our tracks, it was significantly easier descending Hale Brook Trail. It took us an hour and a half to get down, while it took four and a half hours heading up. We reached our skis at 5:30 and pulled out the headlamps as we knew it would be dark before we made it out. Unfortunately, snowshoers had obliterated this morning’s ski track.

As we headed out, I was just exhausted from all the trail breaking and constantly so I kept stopping for rest breaks. We were disappointed to learn that the ski track was not downhill like the snow mobile track, so we managed to ski uphill both ways! We reached the cars at 7 p.m., after a successful, yet exhausting day.

My pictures are here.

- Ivy

Edited to add: I forgot to mention in my trip report that I lost my blue sil-nylon pack cover on the Hale Brook Trail. So if anyone finds it, please send me a pm! Now now back to your regularly scheduled program...

 

[HikerBob]

To Hale and back indeed!

This has to have been the toughest hike for me yet, and we thought it was going to be an easy warm up for the main event today!!!

What I just realized by looking at my lists is that this was my #13 winter 4k - it lived up to the 'unlucky 13' tag with a vengence.

Things started out bad when I left home at 5am in a snowstorm. Usually leaving at that time would have given plenty of time to get to the Whites before our planned 9am start. However, the snowstorm turned into a blizzard on I91 in Vermont and in some of the higher spots was almost a whiteout.

The weirdest thing was crossing the Connecticut into New Hampshire at Wells River to have the sun try and come out! The roads from there on were in great condition but I still couldn't make up time to arrive before 9:30.

We geared up and Ivy had a good laugh at my hiking boot toting method. I tried all sorts of things but finally found the easiest way to carry them was to mount them in the snowshoes at the sides of my pack. Might look weird, but it works.

Ivy relates the trials we endured well but I owe her a huge debt for doing a lot of the trailbreaking. She would be out in front as I huffed and puffed my way up but would take off again before I caught up.

The long sidehill section was interesting to say the least and I made up a little by leading that whole section. As you can see from the pictures it was just a smooth slope of unbroken snow. Had it not been forested I would probably not have ventured across. As it was we set off a few small slumps. Nothing dangerous but without the trees it would have been a different matter. It was very much one foot at a time and be sure it was firm before the next step. The left foot got off easy with 6-12" of compacting to contend with. The right foot, or should I say whole leg, had to push through 2ft or so, often requiring several bites to make a single step.

The snow itself was a pain from beginning to end. I could not understand why I couldn't glide and when the tips of my skis came off the ground when I stood on them I decided to investigate further. A ball of snow about an inch thick was building up front and back of the fish-scales. This does not make for a very efficient ski! I cleaned them off, tried to dry them but it would just build up again.

On the climb I also had a little balling problem on my snowshoes, oddly enough it just seemed to happen to the right one. The worst property of the snow was that it didn't really compact. On steep sections it was difficult to toe-kick a footing and we kept sliding back.

I'm not sure how, but Zealand Road seemed to be uphill in both directions. The oddest thing was that we seemed to climb forever on the snowmobile trail (sorry snowmobilers and thank you for being so courteous) but on our return by the correct route had the shortest of downhills to the gate where we made our wrong turn. Go figure.

We arrived back at the cars at 7pm in pitch darkness. Ivy asked if I was going to head over to the Red Parka for the others winter 48 celebrations. I said I would if she did but I wanted to check into my motel and shower and change first. Ivy had the same idea, she was staying at Shapleigh, so we said we'd wait for each other there.

#13 had one more joke to play. Somehow I had it in my mind that it would be about a 15 mile run from my motel... ha! I now know it is 48 miles from North Woodstock to the Red Parka by way of the Kanc and 52 miles by 302, 3 and 93.

The Kanc was a washboard of frost heaves but nice and smooth on the sections with 3-4 inches of snowcover! When I realized I would never make it in time I called the Red Parka but they said they were far to busy to try and find someone and give them a message. They also stopped serving food at 10, I got there around 10:15. I did a quick check of the parking lot (still very full) for Ivy's car and VFTT stickers but seeing neither pulled out and headed back to my room.

So an eventful day and a true #13 hike! As always, it was torture at the time but looking back I have to say it was an adventure. If they were all easy what would be the point?

So I owe Ivy a diinner and lots and lots of trailbreaking. Although I'm not so sure she (or anyone reading my trip reports) will ever want to hike with me again A BIG thank you, Ivy.

Not many pics from this hike, I'll post an update when they are done.

Bob

 

[DougPaul]

The snow itself was a pain from beginning to end. I could not understand why I couldn't glide and when the tips of my skis came off the ground when I stood on them I decided to investigate further. A ball of snow about an inch thick was building up front and back of the fish-scales. This does not make for a very efficient ski! I cleaned them off, tried to dry them but it would just build up again.

Sounds like you need to apply some glide wax to the tips and tails.

BTW, parts of Zealand road have felt uphill in both directions to me too...

Doug

 

[poison ivy]

Bob, you know I'll hike with you anytime (especially if you bring more of those little apple pies... which was about the best post-hike snack ever!) We members of the slow as molasses club have to stick together (because everyone else will zip right by!)

Sorry to have missed you too at the Red Parka Pub... I didn't wait quite long enough!

- Ivy

 

[bpschroder]

Great job guys! Glad to hear you had a successful hike. I'm sure it took an enormous amount of work to break trail with just the two of you. I'm sure everyone would agree this Saturday was a brutal day to attempt any summit.

 

[John S]

Bob, I guess things really do even out over time. Wasn’t it this weekend last year when you got your 13th all-year 4K on an incredibly fine day on Washington?

High-fives to both of you for getting through the heavy snow.

 

[HikerBob]

Don't listen to Ivy when she says she is slow! I would have done more trailbreaking if I could have caught up

My pics, augmented by some fine ones of Ivy's, are up and can be found starting HERE I have yet to add the notes.

Good memory John! Almost to the day, the Washington hike was March 14th last year. Of the two hikes Hale was by far the toughest!

Doug - for a moment I thought about putting sunscreen on (the skis) to see if that would help I figured it was a combination of the type of snow and the temperature (35*) that was causing the snow to ball up. Glide wax would help avoid this nasty phenomenon?

Bob

 

[DougPaul]

Doug - for a moment I thought about putting sunscreen on (the skis) to see if that would help I figured it was a combination of the type of snow and the temperature (35*) that was causing the snow to ball up. Glide wax would help avoid this nasty phenomenon?

Generally. Also protects the ski and gives better glide. The scales can also collect snow or ice, so it is desirable to glide wax them too.

Best is an iron in wax (eg Swix CH7) and scrape off the excess with a plastic ski scraper. Next best is a paste glide wax, and finally a liquid glide wax. (All of these dry to a wax finish.) There are also liquid preparations which remain liquid, but you should avoid these if you want to use skins.

There are also some nasty conditions--new snow right at freezing or warm wet snow over cold dry powder--which can cause clumping/icing on properly waxed skis.

Doug

 

[MEB]

Way to go HikerBob and Poison Ivy!!!

Definately a tough day to be out with all that trailbreaking! Great pictures too!
-MEB

 

[MTNRUNR]

Congratulations Hiker Bob & Ivy

Great tale(s) of your "Adventure"!!!

To bad you didn't have better temp's for your 1st Ski

Pictures are always a pleasure to see too, thanks for sharing!

Glad you were able to stick to it and have a successful "hike"

I wussed out and snowshoed around for 5+ miles in Pisgah State Park...amazing how the snow stuck to ALL the tree branches...very pretty

 

[MichaelJ]

Another great accomplishment ... well done!

So someone enlighten me: I know about the ski trail (which I've heard is almost never used), but not the snowmobile trail. And why not just head up the road?

 

[HikerBob]

There was a map on a sign, and Ivy even photographed it....

MAP

... but when we got to the gate we just looked at the AMC map and that showed the road to the left with camp ground spurs off to the right. We just kept left as we chatted away.

The number of snowmobiles on the trail seemed rather excessive and we soon started having doubts. No sign of any 'other' camp ground spurs either

Alls well that ends well and we confirmed our error when we rejoined Zealand Road at the junction further up.

Despite the fact that we were skiing on a designated skimobile trail all of the riders we encountered (and there were many) were very courteous and slowed down as they passed. Most had a friendly nod and wave as well. For our part we kept well to the right.

I still want to know how Zealand Road can be uphill in both directions!

Bob

 

[DougPaul]

So someone enlighten me: I know about the ski trail (which I've heard is almost never used), but not the snowmobile trail. And why not just head up the road?

The road sees more ski traffic than Spruce Goose Tr, perhaps because it requres less snow to be skiable. Once a route is broken, it tends to be favored...

I have seen ski tracks on Spruce Goose at the ends, but have never taken it myself.

I still want to know how Zealand Road can be uphill in both directions!

That tends to happen when you pack snow under your ski tips...

Doug