Recent content by Sean

8-2-2011 Took Downes Brook to Kate Sleeper to Rollins trail. To summit of Whiteface. Great hike on a great trail! Brook crossings were all reasonable. We were going to hit East Sleeper but thunder and lightning changed our minds.

The trail has some snow, with more accumulating during the hike. Traction was not neccesary until we hit North tripyramid. Used microspikes for the rest of the trip. Congratulations Anne for completing number 24. Good luck on the next 24!

Used the Hancock Notch to Cedar Brook, to Hancock loop. Some wet spots but most of the trail was covered in a couple of inches of snow. Most of the stream crossings were easy. One required a slight upstream bushwack (50 yards). No traction was neccessary until we were descending the North...

The trail was muddy in spots. The two river crossings were manageable with some rock hopping and gore tex boots. Some snow and ice towards the ridge and just before the hut. Traction was not necesary yet, but with more snow or rain, I would definitely bring it. The weather was fantastic!

Trail was good. Some mud and higher up, some snow and ice. From the junction with the Kinsman Ridge trail, microspikes would have been very helpful. Fantastic weather and views.

10-3 Went up North Twin trail, but used the herd path to avoid the first and second river crossings. River was deep and cold. Some water still on the trails, but draining quickly. Summits were calm and warm in the sun, a little chilly in the shade.

I was just in the Stratton area for about a week. Cathedral pines is a great campsite. The CVR road was rough. I wasn't willing to take my Subaru Outback all the way to the AT crossing, so we parked a little short, probably less than half a mile from the AT. When we did Reddington, we used...

I got a pair for Christmas and really couldn't be happier. They are lighter, easier to put on and take off, and easier to use than crampons. They don't do everything that crampons will, but they excel at giving traction when the trails are slick. They even allowed me to stride confidently...

Went up the Liberty Springs trail. Trail was wet and muddy, gradually changing to snow cover shortly after the Flume Slide junction. Lots of blow down across the trail. Towards the summit, the snow was 8-12" deep, but the trail was well broken. Did not use any traction devices. Clouds...

Went up the falling waters trail. Trail was in good shape. Some mud and a little ice near the top. Ridge was windy. In and out of the clouds with a great rainbow over the Franconia ridge. A little ice coming down to Greenleaf hut, but easy to step over or around. Old Bridle path was in...

Saturday 11-21 Went up the Imp trail to N Carter Trail to Carter Moriah Trail. Followed Carter Moriah Trail to Carter Dome and then doubled back to Nineteen Mile Brook via Carter Dome Trail. Some mud and then a little ice near the ridge. No special equipment neccesary. Great day!

I bought a cheap foam pad at Walmart. I cut it into four sections. One is a seat/foot pad for winter camping. I use one of the pieces for skiing, to change in the parking lot. It is easier then trying to stand on your sneakers.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've been thinking of picking up the whole trail as a day hike in winter, anyone interested? I did it a couple of years ago on the solstice, and the year after hiked from Watatic to Wachusett. Both trips were good fun. The snow was minimal though, so the pace...

I use an older pair of Atlas snowshoes with my koflachs. The bindings are not very good for steep hiking/mountaineering, as there is no strap across the instep. I would have replaced them already, except I only paid $25 for them and the replacements will be quite a bit more. And I can use the...

1. You can't ski in rain. 2. Rain makes ugly photographs unless you are really skilled (and I am not). 3. Rain doesn't brush off. 4. You can't make a rain shelter, a rain man, or rain angels. I can't wait for more snow. Sean