2013-2014 Winter Hiking Goals

In about one week at 12:11pm on December 21, 2013, another winter hiking season will be officially underway.  To say that I'm super excited would be an understatement.  The arrival of the winter solstice means that winter peak-baggers, including myself, will be out and about somewhere in pursuit of new winter hiking goals.

After my single winter season of the 48 White Mountain 4000-footers last year, this winter's goal is to hike the VT and Maine 4000 footers to complete the New England 4000-footers in winter.  This will require multiple 4 hour car drives, two separate four-day trips to Baxter State Park, and overall some in-depth logistical planning.

Pulling a pulk into Baxter State Park (March 2013)

Over the last year, I learned that hiking in Maine during 3-season was a challenge compared to the trails in the White Mountains. Vermont in the fall of 2011 was relatively tame, but what is winter hiking and camping in Vermont and Maine going to throw at me for this winter?  I'm looking forward to the challenge and once again sharing my experiences with you in a similar way to last year with trip reports, videos, and more!

GoPro-ing the adventure every step of the way! (as long its not frozen) - Bonds

With that said, I plan to start my winter season off with a blitz of Vermont and Maine winter peak-bagging, with the possibility of completing the New England 4000 Footers for winter on the summit of Mt. Katahdin on January 18th or 19th.  You may recall my group failed to make it past Roaring Brook last year on my winter trip to Katahdin, so I'm looking forward to overcoming that missed opportunity with a chance to finish the list on such a magnificent and challenging peak.

Should things work out well in my pursuit of my primary goal, I have the complete logistical plan laid out (as well as the determination, ready in mind) to follow that up with another attempt at the White Mountain 4000-footers.  This part of the plan is somewhat tentative, and will be dependent on my progress and success with my goal above.

There will be again many dark snowy mornings....

All in all, I have a total of 36 winter hiking days available to me this winter, and that consists of just Saturdays and Sundays, except for MLK Day, President's Day, and a week-long vacation at the start of 2014.  I have planned 24 total outings to attempt the 67 4000 footers in around 363 miles, and 100,000 feet of elevation gain.  Heck, I may as well add here that if I am fortunate in many ways, Mt. Isolation on President's Day will be the day.  Don't miss my upcoming Inside The Moments series on winter hiking which I will run through the winter hiking season, as one of the articles will be about how I planned for my single-season winter attempt (and maybe this year).

Mt. Isolation Summit, February last year

Along the way, you can bet I have some amazing hikes planned for the occassion.  Here are a few of the challenges and potentially exciting accomplishments to come from DMOutdoors this winter!

• Vermont 4000-Footers in Winter
• North Brother Baxter State Park Trip
• Six-Peak Carrabasset Valley Overnight
• Katahdin & Hamlin Baxter State Park Trip
• Five two-hike days planned
• A Super-Extended Overnight Pemi Loop
• Full-Moonlight Winter Presidential Traverse

Please follow along and like my Facebook Page to join me as I take in the New England 4000-Footers in winter, and share with you all that it throws my way.  You can track me live on most adventures through my Spot GPS Messenger - just check my homepage for a link on the top left.  I hope to see some of you out on the trails, and will be looking for company when I return to the White Mountains in late January.

To all others who have their sights set on a goal or goals for this winter, I wish you the best of luck and safe travels on your adventures!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to All !

Cheers,
- Dan

Tecumseh & Moosilauke Double - 12/7/2013

With only two more weekends left to go before the start of winter, my plan for Saturday was to hike a double hit and run of Tecumseh and Moosilauke. Winter's coming, and this entire day's goal was to make sure that my determination, drive, and ability is just as it was this time last year. Also to make sure I'm ready for the mind game of climbing up and down multiple 4000-footers in a day. Sure enough, I found that it was there.

Mt. Tecumseh / Waterville Valley parking lot

I began my hike up Mt. Tecumseh at 6:42am. The lower part of the trail had some ice, mostly right in the middle of the lane. Heading down into the col and the second crossing is where it become mostly iced over. I continued up.  The few inches of snow from the day before, became the couple of  inches of solid ice, mixed in with the rocks. Microspikes went on near the halfway viewpoint. I arrived at the summit in a smidge over an hour at 7:50. There were heavy clouds and a limited view, so I took a couple of photos, tightened up the gear, and started my rapid descent down.

Mt. Tecumseh summit

Since I saw the far ski trail all grassy still, I decided to head out there, but after I started down and came around the bend slightly, I saw the lower half open with skiers flying down. I quickly banged a left back into the woods, and did a Tecumseh bushwhack back to the trail (FYI - Waterville now has detailed Wildcat-like rules for hiking on trails, check their website).  It added a couple of hundred feet to get over the ridge, but it actually reduced the mileage to 4.5 on this trip. I arrived back at my car in 2 hours and 10 minutes. I have twice completed a Tecumseh in two hours before, but those two were when I sledded down.

Next, I hopped in the car quickly, and started my drive to the Glencliff Trail for Moosilauke, which took 55 minutes. I needed about 15 minutes to prep my pack at the trail head, but at 10:30am, I was on my way up. The lower part of the trail was free and clear of most ice.  About halfway up, the ice started. Crazily, I was moving so fast, that I pushed and tested myself by not putting on the microspikes. I passed 3 groups on the way, and once onto the Carriage Road Trail, I put on the spikes, intending to have them on from here on out. It was a bit windy once on the ridge, so I had my balaclava on and heavy gloves. It was probably around 10 degrees with a below zero wind chill.  Moosilauke is always great, and I reached summit where I exchanged summit photos quickly with another pair. They had come up Beaver Brook, which I'm sure was pretty icy.

Glencliff Trail to Moosilauke 

Not going on here yet in terms of winter 

Some winter here, but definitely still looks like December 

Mt. Moosilauke for the 7th time

The rest was history. With my microspikes on, I speed-walked and jogged my way all the way down. Careful, calculated steps over the ice only resulted in 4 full-on wipeouts along the way, but none of which resulted in pain! I had passed two of the three groups I passed while ascending. I arrived back at the car finishing Mt. Moosilauke in 3 hours 35 minutes.  I completed the same hike last January in 3 hours 30 minutes. Since the trails were so icy, one might think I brought my ice skates. These hikes were tougher with the rock and ice than with the typical winter snow pack and broken out trail.  All in all, I had set a plan, and did it exactly as I wanted. Those days in the mountains leave you feeling good. One more week before winter....

Total Actual Book Time: 6:42:04 (Including Drive)
GPS

The Hike Stats (combined)

Distance: 11.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 5,749 ft.
Elevation Loss: 5,869 ft
Total Hiking Book Time: 5:46:41

Tecumseh

Trails: Mt. Tecumseh Trail

Distance: 4.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,347 ft.
Elevation Loss: 2,397

Actual Book Time: 2:10:18
Moving: 1:53:26
Stopped: 16:52

Drive to Glencliff Trail head
Distance: 43.9 miles
Drive Time: 55:54
Stopped Time: 1:34

Moosilauke
Trails: Glencliff Trail, Moosilauke Carriage Road Trail

Distance: 7.4 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,402 ft.
Elevation Loss: 3,472 ft.

Actual Book Time: 3:35:52
Moving: 2:53:38
Stopped: 30:36