Fall/early winter hiking recap

I'm running a little behind (and since this is round 3, we probably don't need a full blown report for each peak! (unless something is especially exciting))

My sister visited for Thanksgiving, and (briefly) so did winter! We enjoyed a true winter day on Pierce and had a great time showing her one of our favorite 4000 footers. 

We tagged Waumbek the second weekend of December and there was a noticeable lack of snow for the majority of the hike. Back to fall conditions, frozen ground, ice, kind of junky. I managed to hook my microspike in my boot badly during this hike and I took a fall that left my right hand injured for the winter season (not broken- seems like a tendon was injured and so I have been fighting tenosynovitis since. It's not terribly painful anymore but was an annoying thing to take away from what was a pretty annoying hike!)

We began the winter season on December 27 with Hale. We chose to add the Zealand roadwalk and it was a really enjoyable day. Chilly enough so that the snow was very microspikeable and we made short work of the trail. A good way to start the winter season! It was cold so I took very few pics. 

Later that week we ventured off in hopes to tag both Carter Dome and middle Carter. This turned out to be by FAR the worst hike of the 2022 season. We had a major storm earlier in the week and received some snow, and also insane amounts of rain. Temps were expected to be cool, and the trail report showed that the trails had been well set after the storm. 

What we did NOT expect was a massive temp change (to over 50 degrees) around the half way point on the way up. The snowpack on the trail began to literally collapse around and under us. It was miserable, and unexpected, and we turned back less than a half mile from the summit (and had a dreadful descent. there was nothing that could be done to keep from sinking repeatedly, as the snow was falling into itself. We never have seen anything like it!)

The photo shows the amazing washout at one of the crossings from the rain.

After that debacle, a combination of miserable weather, scheduling issues and other crap kept us out of the mountains for the month of January. 

Stay tuned for the remainder of the winter season recap. 

And winter returns. #5 Mt. Willey

UGH, after a glorious run, Winter arrived. 

The photo gives it away. We decided to tackle Willey for the Fall season. Last winter we tried to do it from this side and the ladders were an icy death waterfall of doom, so we bailed. They were fine this time, the trail was essentially ok (except for the fact that it's one of those trails that nobody talks about, but a good part of it is a steep little skank.)

The biggest issue with this day was the COLD. Like real full blown winter bullshit. 24 at the base, 17 at the top. Big winds scheduled for the day so we made it a one peak day, and were happy we made that choice. 

Despite the cold, it was very pretty. 

We did not linger long at the Summit. We knew the relative calm wasn't going to last, and we don't want to be anywhere near the summit when the winds start howling (we could hear them in the distance, roaring like a freight train.)

The thing about Willey is that it is quite protected until you reach the summit. On this day, we knew the trail was on the right side of the hill to avoid the better part of the wind, even if it kicked up early. We had considered adding Field as it's awfully easy to scoot over there. But nope, it was an easy choice to bail. With the temp at 17 there was just no margin for error, so away we went. 

Remember just a couple weeks back when we were hiking in tank tops? No more. 

Anyway. We made it down no problem (except my micro spikes keep catching on each other, or on my new boots. So I fell. TWICE and was PISSED.) But then we went to get a hot chocolate to cheer up after the cold cold day. 

We definitely had a conversation about how the weather was exactly what had been forecast, and how it would have been a really lousy day to head above treeline. Unfortunately, not long after we got home we heard word of a missing hiker on Franconia Ridge. Tragically, we all know how that turned out and it certainly is a good reminder to take these mountains very seriously, even it is technically still Fall.

Stats:

Peaks: 1

Miles: 5.25

Elevation: 2998

Fun: Ugh, it wasn't the most fun but that's life 

And... We begin again. 1-4 of round 3 of the NH48

Why not jump right back into it??

Eric, Ellie and I spent a fabulous weekend in Lincoln, NH for my early birthday. My only requests were a nice airbnb (check) lots of hiking (check) and a trip to White Mountain Wanderer to buy a couple books (check!)

We also ate some really adequate tacos (I think the place was called Nachos and it had pretty terrible yelp reviews, but we took a chance and it was absolutely fine. NOT special but it was 65 degrees out, we sat outdoors, and enjoyed our overpriced Mexican, hahah.)

We also ate some EXCELLENT coffee and bagels from White Mountain Bagel. Now that was some good stuff. 

Ellie approved of the airbnb was was very sus of the moose decoration on a mantle. Not into it. But she was very into the comfy couch. 

On Friday November 4th we restarted the 48 with a trip up Cannon in summer weather. Blue skies, 60 degrees, and only a handful of other hikers on the trail. (including the most grumpy hiker we have ever met. So grumpy!!)

It was really a glorious hike, and even Eric (who hates Cannon) had to admit that it was a very amazing day. (and it should be noted that we crushed our previous PR by a good amount!) Standard route up and down KRT, which was in the best shape one could ask for. 

The next day it started off "cool" (48) but eventually made it all the way to 66 amazing November degrees. 

It was supposed to be a very windy day up high, so we decided on the Osceolas, since they are pretty well protected and below treeline. Also, once Tripoli Road closes, they are a very long drive from where we live (and only about 20 minutes away from our AirBnb!!)

Loads of people on trail, it was a real summer day according to the crowd levels. 

We expected the crowds to lessen between peaks but it never really happened. This is what you get for picking a very popular route on such a temperate day! 

We finished in a good time, with an automatic PR since we have only done this from Greely Pond, or with the lengthy winter road walk. 

After enjoying the weirdly hot day, and the mostly very cheerful other hikers, we took off back to our temporary home to allow Ellie to spend some time with her arch nemesis, the Moose. Pure Evil.

Day 3 dawned warm. 65 actual degrees when I headed out on a coffee run at 6:30AM. Absolutely unbelievable conditions for November, and we WERE NOT SAD. (and, the clocks changed!)

And where did we go??

Owl's Head. 

Weren't we JUST THERE? 

Yes. 

But, we did not want to be the fools who left it for second to last again. Also, it was a nice fall day and really quite perfect for 16 miles. 

Despite the perfect weather it was definitely a more Fall like hike than last time. No leaves on the trees, everything a bit stark looking overall. 

Not too many others out on this trail, but we saw a handful of people tagging this silly remote peak. We had none of the struggles of traffic on the slide, but were not fast at ALL in this section due to the previous two days. Slow pokes for sure. And unlike last time, it was pretty warm at the summit so we did not have to panic and immediately put on all of our winter kit. Or any of it. 

It was a good hike, the bushwhacks were in fine shape (Brutus was a little weird- lots of blowdowns in the past couple weeks made for some funky re-routes but it all worked out.) We enjoyed the hike and did not PR at all (but we were only like, 7 minutes slower than last time which all in all is acceptable.)

We rolled back along the trail to one more Fall view before winter shows up (it's inevitable)

So Stats for the Weekend:

Peaks: 4

Miles: A little over 28

Elevation: 8466

Fun: TEN A TEN!!! SO FUN!! 

And that's a wrap- #46-48 of round 2 of the NH48, West Bond, Bond and Bondcliffe

Well, we did it! 

October 29th was the day and the Bonds were the place to wrap up round 2 of the 48 4000 footers.

It was a fabulous day for so many reasons.

-PERFECT weather (yes, it was 27 at the start but it was well into the 60's for the majority of the hike, bluebird skies, and NOT a puff of wind!)

-Evan joined in

-We got to catch a ride with Marlene, who is a fucking legend

-We saw people dressed as those blue dudes from Avatar, and (upon seeing their costumes) we could not remember what a "loin cloth" was called, and the phrase "DICK SKIRT" was coined. We fell down laughing. Multiple times. 

-Eric did not poke his eye out with a stick, but if he had, we questioned if he would be able to see, but with a different perspective. Kind of like a go pro, or selfie stick, but direct to your own brain. Since we are rational, this led to a fairly disgusting discussion of trailside first aid (Evan is an EMT)

-We had a Very Serious Competition with a couple of men in the last 5 miles of the hike. They thought they were going to beat us to the finish, and we could not allow that. So, this hike really was sponsored by Unnecessary Competitiveness: winning. at all costs.

So on to the nitty gritty. 

We started from the Zealand trailhead around 7:20AM in brisk conditions. We had packed for cool weather because it was late October. While we did need our coats for the first few miles, they were then packed up, never to be seen or heard from again. But really, it was frosty for a hot minute. Basically until the Zealand hut. 

We passed over Zealand just to say hello- since we started with Zealand back on September 11 of 2021 we did not technically need to summit, but we did anyway to check it off for October and for Fall season. 

Once we reached Guyot we realized that it was going to be a summer day. Literally perfection. The trail was quiet, you could not have asked for a bluer sky, and the wind was ZERO. Incredible and amazing. 

You just don't get perfect days like this too often. It was an amazing hike in every way from start to finish (although something in the leaves gave Ellie a terrible scare at one point- don't know what got her but she was pretty sad for a hot second.) 

Other than that. Just a stunning and memorable time. 

West Bond was gorgeous 

Bond was pretty decent too.....

And then, just like that, we finished up on Bondcliffe. Really, one of the prettiest places out there. 

Then, the long walk down. 

1476598678 miles on Lincoln Woods trail is always a great way to finish!

Things got weird

BUT, eventually we finished and ate a whole bag of chips and a bunch of guacamole to recover. And we waited and watched our arch nemesis/people we HAD to beat, come in to the finish. Maybe someday we will just hike casually. Today was NOT THAT DAYYYYYY..

So we concluded Round 2 of the 48 much faster than round one. Just over a year, and we are pretty impressed with that considering that Ellie and I both had surgery within the last year. This hike obviously brought us to 48, and checked off all 4 peaks for October, and for Fall. It was an super time, possibly the best from this round. 

Stats:

Miles: 19.25

Elevation: 4250

Fun: TEN, A SOLID TEN!!!!

Tuckerman's Ravine and Boott Spur with Ellie

Way back this summer, on August 14th, Eric was taking a Wilderness first Aid class at Pinkham Notch. Ellie and I were feeling like it was a good day for a hike, and decided to take a day to hike on the path less traveled. 

The plan: 

-Tuckerman's Ravine, but only to the ravine. I had never been there, and was curious to stand at the base of it and take a look around. 

-then, take the Boott Spur Link

-summit Boott Spur

-return on the Boott Spur Trail

Big Big adventure.

We arrived pretty early at a packed Pinkham Notch Visitor's Center, and I was somewhat carsick because Eric had driven hastily over Hurricane Mountain Road, which is like a roller coaster. Gross. Either way, Eric hustled off to his class, and Ellen and I took to the hills.

Overall, my rating of the Tuckerman's Ravine Trail to the actual Ravine is not terribly high. After passing by the Crystal Cascades- which were lovely, the trail was not terribly exciting. 

It would be a high quality winter trail though- gradual and wide. Ellie and I saw a decent number of hikers both ascending to Washington and descending from their backpacking adventures. 

Anyway, we ambled along, enjoyed the day, and appreciated that the river crossings were very well bridged. (the water was low, but these crossings still looked tricky!) As we got closer, we caught a view of where we were headed. 

After passing by the hut, the trail got super steep! We definitely got a good warm up for the rest of the day in this section. 

It was pretty cool checking out the Ravine. It was steeper than any photo gives it credit for, and certainly looked like it would be a long and damp climb to get out of there. 

After checking it out, we made our way back DOWN the steepness to the next step off our day. 

The Boott Spur link trail was easy to find, down by the large hut. Many people were there, but for the remainder of my day, I only saw 4 people (yay, goal accomplished! Always striving to take the quiet road.)

Let me tell you WHAT. The Boott Spur Link is STEEP. SO VERY STEEP. After a short time, I looked DOWN to see where we had come from and I was like F**K!!!

This is a terrible photo but that is the hut that I JUST came from. Ellie was leaping and bounding and pumped about the steep ascent- but even SHE was panting. I was laboring along like a 96 year old woman and kept stopping to say "SHIT! TOO STEEP!" It was steep. THE END. 

We climbed, and climbed and popped above treeline and climbed MORE! For a hot minute I was thinking that the above treeline section of the link was one of the most exposed/steep trails that I had been on in a while. Then, thankfully, it settled down. 

Once on the actual Boott Spur trail there was still a good bit of climbing to go, but it was on a somewhat more reasonable incline. And it was beautiful! Definitely a gorgeous vantage point, and so so quiet on this particular day. 

After summiting, we took a few minutes for a snack and a sit-down. I hadn't calculated how much total elevation we would be doing in this hike, but at this point I was thinking "a lot"- especially for a medium distance hike. 

Descending, more steepness, as one would expect. Still a really cool trail though, very pretty and very enjoyable. 

We were beat at the end of this monster day. 

You think to yourself- "it's not going to be that bad, we aren't even technically tagging any summits!" But this one is a good workout. Definitely a great one if you want to get above treeline without a huge crowd, and a good training hike for SURE. Lots of VERT. Also, very very pretty, from the waterfall, to the views of both Tucks and Huntington's ravine- really impressive!

THEN Ellie and I went to the local brewery for a burger and the weirdest stranger interaction story of the summer happened! This random man and his children wandered over to see Ellie while I was eating (all good!) but then when I got out of my seat to let the kids interact, the father STOLE my seat and spend twenty minutes telling me about how amazing he was. He was good at: running, getting covid, overcoming covid ("Overcoming things is what I am BEST AT!!") hiking, and just everything- from what I was told. Want to know what he was not good at? Letting me eat my lunch (I should have just told him to get out of my chair, I hate that I fell into the trap of having to "be nice" because that is shit.) I eventually grabbed my plate and kept on eating while saying "oh wow. that is great. so much skill." Jesus Christ. One might have thought that he was looking for a new spouse, but his existing spouse was at an adjacent table, and my conclusion was that he really LOVED himself and wanted all the strangers to know about the greatness. Ellen and I were not sad to make new friends once they left, and we immediately became friends with a couple who had Rhodesian Ridgebacks (who kindly allowed me to eat AND listen to their stories, hahah...) 

Stats:

Miles: 7.8

Elevation: 4028 (not flat) (plus you gain like 800 feet in less than a half mile on that stupid link)

Fun: A solid 8.5- good weather, amazing views, a heck of a workout