Warm and Rimey

O.K. I can take Mt Washington-in-Winter off of my bucket list! All it took was 12 hours of  AMC Winter Hiking classes in the Fall, hiking every weekend this Winter to get in shape, skills training for a full day with crampons and ice ax, unseasonably warm weather, great leadership, and 1" of skin off of my right shin. A Little bit of Craziness- So I'm on the summit, huddled behind the weather station with the group, temp is in low 20's F, wind is 50 to 60 MPH whipping around the building, everything is white, covered with blowing snow and rime, including us, no visibility. It feels like we are on some distant hostile planet. I have a moment of inner clarity. I can suddenly see how this whole venture might look to others. I can see how some people might think that climbing up here for fun is a little tiny bit crazy. Yeah, I can see that now. I'm glad I don't feel that way. Our Group Sheltering on the Summit Lots of boring details for my future reference- Warm and Windy- We're very lucky. It's a balmy 50 F in Boston, 40 at base of Mt Washington, low 20's at summit. That's 10 degrees above average for the peak! Some hikers turn back, including 2 from our group, (accompanied by 1 leader), because they're getting knocked around too much by the wind. I think if it's any colder or any windier, we'll all have to turn back. If we had last weekends weather we wouldn't have even gotten close to the summit. Such luck! Front Pointing- The thing that most pushes me to my limits is climbing a short icy vertical section on the Lions Head Winter route. The only way up is to use the crampons and ice ax, kicking the front points of the crampons into the thin ice and rocky wall and trusting that those tiny little points of metal will hold my entire weight, then climbing straight up. I'm sure that 1 little break out in the ice and I'll be falling through air but it holds. This section is a bottleneck that slows all groups down for at least a 1/2 hour wait. Pro guides set up ropes for their groups, (for insurance requirements?).  Elizabeth Mountaineering Boots- Little torture chambers for my feet. This is how I lose 1" of skin from my right shin. We're required to have mountaineering boots because the stiffness of the sole allows for front pointing with crampons, and they're the warmest boots made. But for 3 weekends in a row I rent them to try to get a good fit and for 3 weekends in a row I get blisters and painful hikes. At least this weekend is the least painful of the 3. Boots are Koflach, Arctis, size 11. The fit seems good but the front of the plastic boot is crimping and digging into my shin as I walk. This is the only really unhappy part of the climb. Next time I should try renting Scarpa Inverno's from MIT Outing Club. Future Hikes with Crampons and Ice Ax- I was told that Washington, Madison, Adams, are most likely to need crampons and ice ax. They may be useful for a few other isolated spots in the Whites but probably not as necessary. That's good because the thought of wearing those rental mountaineering boots again is very scary. Best Gas Prises Ever- Ossipee. Hiked, Mt Washington, 8.5 miles, 9 hours, with AMC Winter Hiking Program/ Above Treeline Workshop. Leaders- Larry Takiff, Elizabeth Ryan, Joe Comuzzi, Joe Danaher. 17 total hikers.

Embrace Your Inner Warmth

Record Breaking Cold in Boston- Yeah, it's a cold morning. My windshield washer anti freeze fluid is frozen. My GPS won't turn on until I warm up the car for a while. Signs on the highway read, "Extreme cold Saturday and Sunday. Plan ahead." I'm planning. The top of Mt Jackson is 4052 feet, temp -10 F mid day, 30 to 40 MPH gusts. I'm planning to reach the top. I'm not planning to stay there for more than 3 seconds. Any issues in the cold? Frozen Eyelashes- Tiny ice balls are forming on my eyelashes. It takes me awhile to figure out what I'm seeing and feeling on my face. Then I get a kick out of it! Frozen Hands- I can only take my hands out of my mittens for about 1 minute before they get seriously cold. I'm using massive down mittens, glove liners, and hand warmers. I have 3 extra sets of hand warmers just in case. If my hands get too cold it's dangerous because it becomes harder to adjust layers, hydrate, fuel up, and do the self care that's needed to stay warm and moving. Frozen Wind- Above treeline is intense! I can't face into the wind for more than a minute before I have to turn away. The tiniest gaps in my layers of face protection create slivers of numbness almost immediately. Below treeline the wind is mostly blocked, totally different. Disclaimer- My above treeline hike for Sunday with the AMC was canceled in honer of the record breaking cold and strong winds. So I hiked solo but I picked a quick, easy, 5 mile hike, mostly in trees, on a very popular trail, and I didn't start until mid day to hit the warmest time. Very sane if I do say so myself. I obeyed the highway signs. I planned ahead. Hiked, Mt Jackson, 5 miles, 4 hours, Temp 0 to -10, strong wind, sunny, solo.

Head in the Clouds

Final Approach to Summit We bumped our heads on the clouds as we approached the peak. But we still had views! And views are what it's all about. Hike, Moosilauke, 10 miles, 7 hours, with Boston AMC Winter Hiking Program. Leaders- Alex Nedzel, Robert Knudsen.

Sleeping on Snow

My first time tenting on snow. It wasn't as scary as it I thought it would be! Actually, it was kinda cozy. But you have to be prepared to use a pee bottle. You don't want to climb out of your cocoon in the middle of the night to wander aimlessly across the snow looking for a toilet. People die that way. The adventure continues. Lafyette Campground camping Sat night, with AMC/Boston Winter Hiking Program. Hiked N Kinsman and S Kinsman on Sunday, 10 miles, 9 hours, 30 to 40 F. warm! Leaders- Paul Terenzi, Bryan Jones.

Birds Eye View

It's sparkling, sunny, crisp. No wind. I can sit leisurely on the top of Mt Tom, my third peak of the day and my half way point, and enjoy the views without the usual rush to get back to the shelter of the trees.  A birds eye view of a birds eye. A few white Jays appear and seem interested in my trail mix. I hold my gloved hand out with some nuts and berries and instantly a bird lands in it. I can't believe it! I wonder if some miracle has happened in the world to change the usual order of things. Perhaps all conflict, war and strife have ended everywhere. Nature is as one and at peace. The lions are laying down with the lambs. Or is this just one tiny little miracle, orchestrated only for me, on the top of a secluded peak in the White Mountains? I sit for a long time enjoying the feeling of the Jays landing in my hand, their talons gripping my fingers like a babies grasp. Then I hoist my heavy Winter pack and start the long hike back. Hike: Mt Willey, Mt Field, Mt Tom, via Willey House Rd, 11.2 miles, 9 hours, Temp 0 to 20F, Solo, Slept in Truck. Click on picture to see full size

My Tecumseh

Hike, Mt Tecumseh, 5 miles. Moderate hike in dense trees. Very limited views. I wanted to take it easy. View of Mt Washington from the Top of Tecumsah It seemed pretty decadent to kite on Cape Cod on Saturday and hike in the White Mountains on Sunday. Does that make me a bad person? Probably. I tried to feel sufficiently guilty about it. But not so guilty that I couldn't enjoy myself.

Take All the Sky You Need

It's snowing when I leave the house, drizzling when I pull into the Chapin parking lot. Wind is gusting to 47, sand blowing everywhere. Yeah, I can feel a little wind chill on my face. The beach is pretty empty. No problem with crowds at all. It's surprising since the weather is so nice. Gary claims his little piece of the sky Chapin, Kitesurfed, 20-35, NNW, 6M RPM/Mako150, with Kitermike, Tyler, Tom from Providence, Gary.

Highland Center Hiking Weekend

It looks like we had a successful landing on the moon. Saturday Hike- Mt Pierce and Mt Eisenhower, 8.5 miles, 6 hours, with AMC Winter Hiking Program. Sunday- Short hike up Mt Willard in the rain.  Fun weekend trip in nasty weather! Leaders- Larry Takiff, Elizabeth Ryan, Regi James.

A Conversation with my Knees

Hike- Dublin Lake and Mt Monadnock from Poole Rd parking lot. 11.5 miles, 9 hours with a full winter pack. This is the longest day hike I've done since I was in my 20's. I was wondering if my knees would have something to say about that. Yeah, they had a few choice words for me. But I didn't let that ruin my fun. I told them to shut up. You big babies. I'm not going to let myself be pushed around by my own body parts. Nobody likes to be walked on by their knees.

Foggy Foggy Do

Foggy Brad         Harding's, Kitesurfed, WSW, 15-30, 10MRally/Mako150, With Brad, Jermy.

The View from Chapin

Kitesurfed, Chapin, W, WNW, 15-30, 8M Rally/Mako150, with Frank, Nick, Others.

Getting High Without a Kite

Mt Jackson, 5 mile hike on Sat. Mt Chocorua & Champney Falls, 7 mile hike on Sun. Yes, That is a hiker on the peak of Mt Chocorua It's hard to come back down to earth after a weekend devoted to trying to rise above the constricting bonds of gravity.  If I can't jump into the heavens with a kite I'll hike there on a mountain. Champney Falls  I slept in my truck at the trail heads Fri and Sat nights. It's all fun. Click on pictures to see full size. Leaders for Mt Jackson hike- Keith Watling, Jeff Carlson, Ann White.

West Rockland

Nice session with Brad and KiterMike at West Island! It was one of those days when no place else had good wind. The rocks are better here than almost anywhere else too. KiterMike Kitesurfed, West Island, SW 12-22, Flx 138/ 17M Fat Lady & 12M Rally, with Brad, Kitermike.

Thankskiting

Today is a day to say thank you for the life that we are given. Kiss your spouse on the cheek, pat your children on the head, fling open the door and shout, "Thank You!" to the universe. Then go kite. That's the best way I know to say thank you. Brian giving thanks for a beautiful Good Harbor sunrise Good Harbor- Great wave spot in S, SE wind. Smooth steep overhead waves when the wind picked up. Good size beach even at high tide. Park at Good Harbor Beach Inn off-season only. The Dog Bar Breakwater meter is nearby but I think it reads high by about 5 MPH. Kitesurfed, Good Harbor Beach Gloucester, 10-18, 18-28, S, 12M & 10M Rally, With Bryant, Brian, Matt, Dave, Ivan, Others.

Woo Who?

Woo is a digital device that attaches to your board and measures the height of your jumps. Tyler slapped one on my board and said Go Kite! I kited. I jumped. I didn't break any records. But I did have a really nice session and it's great to have a record of all that fun. Highest jump 19.2 ft. Funny, it felt like 19.3. Sandwich Sunrise Kitesurfed, Sandwich Town Neck Beach, NNE, NE, 14-26, Mako150/12 M Rally, with Tyler, Kitermike.  I've had some good sessions in the last month, including one at the Mill Creek Marsh, (between Cockle Cove and Forest Beach), on an astronomical high tide in S wind, perfect.