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Catching Up....Winter Round-Up
Kinsman Notch, NH
Well...welcome back I guess. It has been a couple exciting months since I've last posted. If I recall (or just scrolled down) I had last posted about the upcoming winter activities that I had scheduled. With the lack of activity here, I am sure you were wondering if any of them actually came to fruition. Well, I can assure you that the lack of activity here, is not related to my activity "out there".
January did get off to a bit of a slow start as winter was only partially here in Southern New England. Surely, we had the cold, but a lack of snow this year did put a curb on some of the winter sports. Namely, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. I was able to at least breakout the snowshoes as JT, Todd & I tested our endurance climbing up the Bunnell Notch Trail to Mt. Cabot (near York Pond, NH). A challenging climb at times and an extremely blustery night spent in the Forest Service Cabin were just the experiences we came for. Unfortunately, I was so distracted with being knackered that I didn't take as many photos as I'd liked but did get a couple good shots of JT & Todd:
Overall, we had a great trip and it was a good introduction into winter camping for Todd. Unfortunately, the trip was not a total success as no moose were sighted. This after we agonizingly, literally followed in one's footsteps for most of the route. I am yet to be convinced that moose are anything but a myth.
After returning home I was all set to enter my first snowshoe races, but the lack of snow caused the cancellation of the first race and scheduling took me out of the second (I'm not sure the even ran the 2nd race). So, with that the snowshoes have once again been hung to the wall anticipating next season's snowfall.
However, just because the snowshoes went away, that didn't mean winter was over. Almost immediately upon our return from Mt. Cabot, we (JT & I)began planning our first ice climbing trip of 2008.
Ice climbing has always been an activity I've wanted to try and with JT's help, I've finally gotten to. It was an incredibly exciting and stimulating experience. After some intial nervousness (more due to excitement than fear), I began to get my feet under me so to speak (while trying to keep my heels down, JT). The feeling upon completing my first route was an extreme endorphin high that can almost get me shaking just thinking about it. On top of that, I found the climbing itself much more physical than I had envisioned. Yet another aspect I enjoyed. Although it was a short trip and I was only able to get 3 climbs in (all on one route) due to the location being crowded, I came away instantly hooked and craving for the next opportunity. Luckily we were planning on getting in one more trip before winter closed out.
With winter rapidly fading away in Connecticut and February turning to March we each worked our schedules to fit in one last winter trip. Luckily (for me) I would not be the only newbie on this trip as Todd was joining us for his first foray into ice climbing. We returned to the same site JT & I had come before (Kinsman Notch, NH) but chose this time to come on a weekday. As most the world would be distracted with work and such, we could potentially have all the routes to ourselves. And as luck would have it, we arrived to find this just to be the case.
After initial equipment adjustments and preparations, we eagerly ascended the approach trail. With all the routes available, JT devised a plan that would allow us to setup two top ropes that would grant us access to 3 or 4 different routes. Watching JT lead climb (while I belayed) was like watching a master at work. So effortlessly and smooth, JT just flowed up the ice. With a three man team this time, the rotation of climbing, belaying & resting seemed to work out perfectly as we were each able to get in climbs on all the routes.
I've found ice climbing to be such an all encompassing activity. Not only is it more phsyical than I thought but there is a great deal of mental energy and focus required as well. Not only the problem solving of "which way do I go", but the focus of remembering technique (keeping my heels down, pull down on the tools, etc..) combine to really require you to live in that moment. And that isn't mentioning what is perhaps the hardest thing to do (at least as a newbie), that is trust your tools. Learning to place your crampon, without being able to see it mind you, and then trust it to hold, was the hardest part for me to tackle. The natural human tendancy is to over use your arms and try to pull yourself up the ice, but you are much better served (and more efficent) when using your feet. I'm fortunate to have JT as a coach or else I'm not sure I'd be enjoying it as much as I have.
With JT's coaching I could feel myself becoming much more confident on this trip. I set about trying to focus on the little tricks and tips of climbing and keeping myself focused. By the final climb of the day it was starting to become natural. So much so, that on that final climb, I felt like I just "did it", without thinking about it. It was great climb to end the day with and a real boost as I plan on going more next winter. It is an activity I am so glad I attempted and one I am so thankful to JT for coaching me on.
The other benefit to us having a three man team on this trip was that the resting member would become the "expedition photographer" so that many cool shots of us climbing could be captured. Between both Todd & I we probably got about 100 images, much to many to post, but here a few:
JT lead climbs (double roped) to setup Top Ropes
Todd flows up the ice on his first ever climb
JT goes for climb number 2.....
Here I go.....
Keeping the heels down....
So, I am now an ice climber. Albeit still a "rookie" but the seed has been planted. With some equipment adjustments and upgrades planned for the off-season, I am already eagerly anticipating next winter.
With spring now upon us in Southern New England, focus now turns to Trail Running, Canoeing & Hiking. My first trail race of the season is almost upon me (and Todd) as The Northern Nipmuck Trail Race is next up on April 5th. In addition, the first canoe trip of the year has been scheduled for March 29/30, as my sister Jen & I are planning a preliminary trip down the Hockanum River in hopes of entering the River Race on April 6th.
Final preparations have been made for my Appalachian Trail Trip as well. As I stated before, this year I am beginning my "Rest-Of-My-Life Section Hike" of the AT. Each year I hope to do 10 days on the trail, starting from North to South, picking up each year where I left off the previous. This year I'll be going from June 2 - June 8, from Mt. Katahdin to the West Branch Of The Pleasant River (or maybe even Monson if all goes well). I plan for this to take me about 20-22 years to complete (or until I retire). At that point I hope to attempt a traditional thru-hike. Speaking of which....I need a trail name before I start. Since I won't be on the trail long enough to gain one the traditional way, how about those of you I've hiked with come up with one for me?
Lastly, as Winter rolls into Spring, the Trail Race Calendar has been filling out as tentative dates become firm. Recently, JT, Todd & I all entered the lottery for The Mt. Washington Road Race. The lottery results have now been announced and it looks like both JT & I will be attempting this race. Perhaps the beginning of an annual tradtion? So, as of now, my race schedule looks like this, with just a couple dates left to solidify:
Northern Nipmuck Trail Race (16 Miles) - Saturday - April 5, 2008 - Union, CT
7 Sisters Trail Race (12 Miles) - Sunday - May 4, 2008 - Amherst, MA
Soapstone Mountain Trail Run (14.5 Miles) - Sunday - May 18, 2008 - Somers, CT
Nimpmuck Trail Marathon (26.4 Miles) - Sunday - June 1, 2008 - Ashford, CT
Mt Washington Road Race (7.6 Miles) - Saturday, June 21, 2008 - North Conway, NH
Soapstone Assault (4.8 Miles) - Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Somers, CT
Jay's Challenge (33 Miles) - Saturday - July 26, 2008 - Jay, VT
People's Forest Trail (7 Miles) - Saturday - August 2, 2008 - Barkhamsted, CT
Pisgah Mountain Trail Race (31 Miles) - Sunday - September 14, 2008 - Chesterfield, NH
Vermont 50 Miler (50 Miles) - Sunday - September 28, 2008 - Brownsville, VT - Pending Online Registration
Breakneck 20K (12.4 Miles) - Sunday - October 5, 2008 - Union, CT
Stone Cat Trail 50 Miler (50 Miles) - November 8, 2008 - Ipswich, MA
See ya out there........
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