12/31/12 to 1/2/13 - New Year's Eve at Grey Knob

For my first "solo" hike in the winter, I decided to head up to Grey Knob.  I've done this hike many times before, but always with friends.  I spent Sunday night at my friend Bill's place in Jackson, NH, right on Rt. 16. 

Bill, his parents and his son sent me off in the morning with a great breakfast.

12/31/12
Arriving at Lowe's Garage, the temp was about 20 degrees with some wind.  Only two other cars in the lot looked like they might belong to other hikers, so I was sure that there would be plenty of room at GK despite the holiday.  I prepped and got all my gear ready for the hike up. 

My backpack felt really heavy, but I couldnt imagine what extras I had packed, besides some libation for celebration. Lowes path up was well traveled because many others had spent the weekend at GK, and had hiking out in the morning.  There was vitually no ice on the trail, and my crampons ( thank you Jonathan!)  gave me all the traction I could ask for. 

Since there was no one to push me or pull me, I moved along at my own pace. In the steeps, that means pretty slow, but steady.  I took a break at the Log Cabin for lunch.  A vole ran into the cabin, over my foot and disappeared under the bunks.  Pretty damned bold for such a little creature.

One of the most beautiful stretches of the trail lies above the Log Cabin, as the trees get smaller and thinner, the trail crosses a few blow downs, and the blue sky re-appears.  The rime ice contrasting against the deep blue sky always makes me stop and stare.

 Then suddenly you're at the Quay and GK is only steps away.

When I arrived at GK around 1:30, the caretaker Jennie was just sending off a few of the weekend visitors.  I joked that there looked to be plenty of space for me.  She replied that there might be "a few others coming up to celebrate, but not till later."  I staked out a spot in the loft for myself, then refilled my water jugs at the spring.  No summit today.  Too late, too windy, too cold. More folks arrived.  Then more .  Then more. And more.  Trail crew and old caretakers!  GK was humming loud and happy!  Everyone celebrating!

Playing Madness!

Cards were played.  Six new souls were lost to Madness, the frustrating, complex, loud card game created by my college friends. The first rule is " Cheating is not allowed, but is encouraged."  Some folks were too honest to play by the rules.  I also had packed a fifth of premixed cocktails (manhattans) to enjoy and share.  I was in my bag at midnight.  A group went out to the Quay, but I not for me.  A hoot and holler at the new year, and I was asleep.   20+ hardy folks at GK that night.  Must have been 55 degrees in the loft.  Everyone slept till at least 08:00. 

1/1/13

After a quick breakfast, I set out for Spurr Trail to see what it was like above treeline.  Temp in the single numbers and a strong wind blowing overhead, so I had to move quickly to get warm.  I turned up Spurr Trail in snowshoes and only made it up 75 feet or so before the steep and deep stopped me.  I couldnt get through, and felt like I was swimming.   No choce but to head back to the hut where I met up with three guys who were preparing to head up Lowe's Path to see how far they could get.  I asked to join up with them, and confirmed that we were all on the side of being safe. 

As soon as we were above the treeline on Lowe's Path, which is only a few hundred yards, the wind started to hit.  Before long it was a steady 25 mph or so, and the temp had dropped to near 0 degrees.  As a group, we had a quick safety meeting, put on overmitts, face shields, etc and agreed that we would only advance as far as it was safe.  The crest of Abigail seemed within reach, so we continued on up. The winds increased steadily as we neared the ridge.  At that cairn, the gusts felt well over 50mph and we all agreed that to continue was foolhardy.  After some quick pix we headed back down.



Back at GK, the three other guys secured their loads and headed for home.  That left only me and the caretaker for the night.  Jennie had some rounds to make at the the Crag, Log Cabin and the Perch, so I set up my stove and made lunch.

(Watch the three videos of me
making lunch)

Dinner Parts 1,2, and 3

 

Jen and I sat around the stove in the evening, reading and writing in our journals.  The wood stove was hard to keep lit because the wood was wet and frozen.  She kept working at it. 

In the morning, it was cold, below freezing, inside.  Jen was working hard on the stove again to get the hut warmed up.  After a quick breakfast, I headed out , back down Lowe's Path to the lot.

So another visit to the Knob ended.  My first solo walk and two nighter at the hut.  Great experience. 

Trial posting.

Mt. Adams, NH February 4-5, 2012

Summit of Mt Adams, February 05, 2012 around noon.

A little help from my friend Jimmy!

Sunday morning was beautiful and clear. Hiked up Spurr to the summit of Adams.

At the hut preparing to play Madness.

We advanced about halfway to Thunderstorm Junction before the low visibility, darkness and blowing snowmade it unwise to continue.

Spurr trail as the sun was setting. It was cold, near zeros with brisk wind, low ceiling and blowing snow.

We decided to make a try for sunset on the peak of Adams. Spurr Trail was unbroken with 4 - 12 inches of snow that had fallen over the previous few days.

At the Quay, just yards from Grey Knob.

Heavily laden packs . Temps in the low 20's.

Ted and John on Lowe's Path to Grey Knob Hut on the way to Mt Adams.
Guess which one of us has an Atomic Fireball in his mouth...

Viseo of John traversing a snow field on Spurr Path to the summit of Adams

Matthew, Henry and Ted o the Welsh-Dickey Loop, near Waterville Valley, NH.

Ignore the dates. We were there in Fbruary, 2008. Also the chronology is reversed - the end of the hike is first, the walk up is last. Go figure! I cant.

Glissade from the summit

Mobile phone video of me taking a glissade on the path from the summit back to Grey Knob

Ted laid out all the good hiking pics so I'll take a moment to add a little bit about this crazy winter camping thing and hut life. Ted and Jon got me into this crazy gig and I haven't been the same since. I even ventured out on a solo night hike once and stayed at the log cabin just to test the winter gear out. And I too once found it hard to understand why one would hike into zero degree weather with negative wind chill and then feel cozy about staying in a 35 degree hut. All I can say is it only takes one visit to the unspoiled hills in winter and you are hooked. As for the temperatures and wind - its all relative. Once inside
the hut it borders on balmy. Well not quite but there is a definite comfort level. And yes, you bundle up as can be seen in the pics but it is comfortable and various libations and hot liquids make so you can't even tell it is only 38 degrees. Time is passed eating, drinking, playing scrabble, eating and drinking some more, planning the hike, talking about old hikes, asking the hut mistress about where she's been, asking the other hikers if they summited that day, telling tall tales, challenging the scrabble vocabularical choices, comparing route choices, feeling
young again, wondering if the morning will be clear or stormy - you get the picture. You're in the club and that is all that matters.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? We're just eating some cheese, drinking some wine" Oddball - Kelly's Heroes

Pictured above: 1. settling in after hiking
2. getting scrabulous in the evening
3. drinking some tea, eating some cheese and pepperoni, digging how beautiful it is up here

Can't wait to do it again.
Big Johnny Moose