This was pretty disappointing for a few reasons- we have a goal of summiting 62 peaks in 2022, finishing round 2 of the 48, AND we wanted to do a ton of winter hiking (we loved it last year, we want to work on the winter list, and we were excited to get back into great shape!)
However, life had different plans for us. (also FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS! WHAAA, I don't get to walk up a hill on my DAY OFF WHAAAAAHHHH!)
First of all, poor Ellie had some health problems in early January which led to surgery that laid her up for a few weeks. Thankfully, she is fine, and other than giving us a terrible scare, none of us are any the worse for this event.
The second issue was (and continues to be) the incredibly uncooperative winter weather. January was COLD. SERIOUSLY COLD. Every weekend it was COLD. (February, and now into March are also having their share of issues. Many storm issues, wind issues, temp issues. We just don't plan to be part of a S&R soooooo, stuck at home many weekends.)
We had intended January to be this amazingly virtuous month, daily exercise, no spending on things that are not needed, and no drinking! Such little angels, are we. WELL, thanks to Ellen's 6K medical event, no spend January went to hell in a hand basket. I also managed to hurt my shoulder in this time, which morphed into a full blown 4 week sufferfest of horribleness. UGH.
Somehow, we did manage to include daily activity and complete sobriety into our lifestyles, rendering us broke, boring, old and injured. OMG.
THANK THE LORD, we finally broke the dry spell on the nicest day of the winter. 50 degrees, no wind, and GLORY meant we hit the road for the hill half way between us and Evan (reunited, YAY!!)
Tecumseh was Ellie's FIRST 4K when she was a bebe, and I'm sure she was very excited to be back! We had previously done this hill in May of '19, and in the Spring Waterville Valley is a ghost town. Of course, a ski mountain is NOT going to be quiet and empty on the most beautiful Saturday of the winter. We did have to park down the road a ways, but it was no big deal. It's a short hike so an extra half mile or so is NBD. (we did not get there until 11- so it was HOPPING! Long drive plus short hike equals late start.)
Conditions could not have been better. Spikes from top to bottom, with the sticky snow getting a little more fluffy in the last quarter mile or so.
We had a great time catching up, chatting, laughing and being silly. There is no denying that this trail has a steep section, but on such a nice day we did not mind (this is an "easy" 4K because it is short in distance, is well protected, and popular. That being said, it is not a flat stroll. We got a little winded here and there!)
We popped to the top and snagged a quick pic.
And then things got ridiculous, who knows why.
We made swift work of the descent, and made it down quickly after a super fun day.
We stopped to watch the skiers fly down the trails, (ski, not hiking...) which proved to us that this is a much more fun mountain in the winter months. We really enjoyed it!! We also smashed our PR by like, 40 minutes or something absurd. Whoops.
This checked Tecumseh off for February, for Winter, and for this round of the 48.
Stats:
Miles 5.8 (roadwalk included)
Elevation: 2500
Time: 2:29:58
Fun: 10!!! SO FUN!!!!
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