MTNRUNR
Active member
1st, congrat's to Marty on completing #48 today on Carrigan!!!
Because of the "lack of snow" I thought it would be a good chance to try for Vose Spur. The weather should be OK til later in the day. Not being a morning person it was tough to leave a nice warm bed... Hit the road @ 3:06, picked up coffee and b'fast sandwich @ DD and hopped onto I-91 in Brattleboro @ 3:30.
Stopped @ AMC Hotel to make use of civilized comfort, then parked in plowed out area on Rte 302...no one else was there. Got ready, tied snowshoes to my pack and headed up Sawyer River Road @ 6:58.
Vehicles had been driving up the road but gate was locked. Arrived @ trailhead in 44 minutes, at an easy pace. Decided to chance the river crossing on the trail. I was able to "rock hop" over without getting wet...a good start
Snow on the trail wasn't to deep but was crusted over, making each step more work breaking thru it. I wondered about putting snowshoes on... Sunk in 4" to 6", generally, with each step...thinking snowshoes would make it harder(?). The many small wet areas were easy in boots though. Once by them I decided to try SS, I'd been out 1 1/2 hours.
With the snowshoes I'd still break through the crust with each step but seemed a little better. By now the sun had come out and it was beautiful! Reached jct with Carrigan Notch trail @ 8:50. Snow had remained @ a constant depth but once on the CNT I sunk in a bit more(less use). I noticed quite a few faded yellow blazes along the trail. At 9:52 I reached the "Boulder"
Decided to try the climb in just my boots, tied shoes to pack, ate a bit and started up @ 10:00. The woods were fairly open and it wasn't to steep but I would posthole to above my knees frequently, making me wonder about snowshoes Left them off and it soon got pretty steep! Seems I remember reading the last 1/4 mile was pretty steep...steeper than this??? Yikes! I'd also read about "herd paths"...guess I missed them unless they were for Chipmunks
Blow downs weren't a problem. The climb remained steep. I'd use trees, branches, etc to help pull myself up, resting frequently!. I'd originally thought once I summited VS I'd continue on to Carrigan and take the trail down...now I found myself wondering if I'd make it just to summit of Vose?
I knew I had time so kept climbing. Noticed what appeared to be a slide off to the left and headed for it...it would be easier climbing up it(?). It was nice to be out in the open and have some great views! Looking over @ Signal Ridge I looked to see if I might spot someone there...didn't notice anyone. Checked the GPS and the summit was about 0.15 further. I knew I'd make it now...no matter how steep it got!
Back in the woods the grade was about the same...then it began to flatten out!!! I circled north to east and came to a high point but no cannister. Checked GPS and headed about east. A short distance I say the cannister! Yaawhooo
It had taken me 2 hours 37 minutes from the boulder, to go about 8/10ths of a mile...a new PR! Signing the register I noticed the last entry was from 12-3-05. It was about 40 degrees and no wind @ the wooded summit. After refueling a bit it was almost 1pm. I was pretty whipped and if I went to Carrigan it would be over a mile of bushwhacking and 2 miles further to get back...Carrigan can wait for another day...headed down @ 12:57.
Looking down on the way up was a bit scary it was so steep...how would it be going back down? Going slowly it turned out to be OK I bypassed the slide and got to the boulder @ 2:06...1:09 for the decent. The "Adventure" was over except for the walk out! Ate, put snowshoes on and headed! Tromp, tromp, tromp...
Walked right thru the shallow river crossing! Noticed footprints @ jct Signal Ridge Trail heading up( Marty & Ray). When I got to the bigger crossing I bushwhacked around it, a guy ran by me heading up the road...way ta go dude! Took snowshoes off when I got to 302 @ 4:30...9:32:02 after leaving That puts me @ 63 on NEHH list in winter solo...a ways to go for sure
Sawyer River Road had seen a lot of snowmobile traffic today. Felt better after putting a change of clothes on for the ride home. Got some hot soup in Twin River which was great! Last half hour or so before getting home it was pouring rain! What happened to Winter??? It rained all last night...hope it may have been snow up north!? Hike on
Because of the "lack of snow" I thought it would be a good chance to try for Vose Spur. The weather should be OK til later in the day. Not being a morning person it was tough to leave a nice warm bed... Hit the road @ 3:06, picked up coffee and b'fast sandwich @ DD and hopped onto I-91 in Brattleboro @ 3:30.
Stopped @ AMC Hotel to make use of civilized comfort, then parked in plowed out area on Rte 302...no one else was there. Got ready, tied snowshoes to my pack and headed up Sawyer River Road @ 6:58.
Vehicles had been driving up the road but gate was locked. Arrived @ trailhead in 44 minutes, at an easy pace. Decided to chance the river crossing on the trail. I was able to "rock hop" over without getting wet...a good start
Snow on the trail wasn't to deep but was crusted over, making each step more work breaking thru it. I wondered about putting snowshoes on... Sunk in 4" to 6", generally, with each step...thinking snowshoes would make it harder(?). The many small wet areas were easy in boots though. Once by them I decided to try SS, I'd been out 1 1/2 hours.
With the snowshoes I'd still break through the crust with each step but seemed a little better. By now the sun had come out and it was beautiful! Reached jct with Carrigan Notch trail @ 8:50. Snow had remained @ a constant depth but once on the CNT I sunk in a bit more(less use). I noticed quite a few faded yellow blazes along the trail. At 9:52 I reached the "Boulder"
Decided to try the climb in just my boots, tied shoes to pack, ate a bit and started up @ 10:00. The woods were fairly open and it wasn't to steep but I would posthole to above my knees frequently, making me wonder about snowshoes
Left them off and it soon got pretty steep! Seems I remember reading the last 1/4 mile was pretty steep...steeper than this??? Yikes! I'd also read about "herd paths"...guess I missed them unless they were for Chipmunks Blow downs weren't a problem. The climb remained steep. I'd use trees, branches, etc to help pull myself up, resting frequently!. I'd originally thought once I summited VS I'd continue on to Carrigan and take the trail down...now I found myself wondering if I'd make it just to summit of Vose?
I knew I had time so kept climbing. Noticed what appeared to be a slide off to the left and headed for it...it would be easier climbing up it(?). It was nice to be out in the open and have some great views! Looking over @ Signal Ridge I looked to see if I might spot someone there...didn't notice anyone. Checked the GPS and the summit was about 0.15 further. I knew I'd make it now...no matter how steep it got!
Back in the woods the grade was about the same...then it began to flatten out!!! I circled north to east and came to a high point but no cannister. Checked GPS and headed about east. A short distance I say the cannister! Yaawhooo
It had taken me 2 hours 37 minutes from the boulder, to go about 8/10ths of a mile...a new PR! Signing the register I noticed the last entry was from 12-3-05. It was about 40 degrees and no wind @ the wooded summit. After refueling a bit it was almost 1pm. I was pretty whipped and if I went to Carrigan it would be over a mile of bushwhacking and 2 miles further to get back...Carrigan can wait for another day...headed down @ 12:57.
Looking down on the way up was a bit scary it was so steep...how would it be going back down? Going slowly it turned out to be OK
I bypassed the slide and got to the boulder @ 2:06...1:09 for the decent. The "Adventure" was over except for the walk out! Ate, put snowshoes on and headed! Tromp, tromp, tromp... Walked right thru the shallow river crossing! Noticed footprints @ jct Signal Ridge Trail heading up( Marty & Ray). When I got to the bigger crossing I bushwhacked around it, a guy ran by me heading up the road...way ta go dude! Took snowshoes off when I got to 302 @ 4:30...9:32:02 after leaving
That puts me @ 63 on NEHH list in winter solo...a ways to go for sure Sawyer River Road had seen a lot of snowmobile traffic today. Felt better after putting a change of clothes on for the ride home. Got some hot soup in Twin River which was great! Last half hour or so before getting home it was pouring rain! What happened to Winter??? It rained all last night...hope it may have been snow up north!? Hike on
