VTguy17
Basic Member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2011
- Messages
- 858
Took a little trip over to New Hampshire Saturday morning to climb 3 more 4,000 footers on my New England 100 highest list. Climbed, The Horn, the Bulge, and Mt. Cabot. 10.3 miles round trip. The first mile was great then all of a sudden lot's of snow! I slugged through huge snow drifts all day without snow shoes but finally made it up and back. A very tough hike, especially falling thigh deep in snow drifts. The trail is very poorly marked and I spent more time looking for the trail than hiking. It would not have been bad except the trail was unbroken snow and if any of you have ever hiked an unbroken trail in the winter in dense woods it's pretty hard to follow. Lucky for me Sonya (my dog) is a psychic trail finder. She is incredible at picking up the right way to go, I trust her enough to the point where I will just follow her and not question. We have hiked enough together over the years that I completely trust her in finding and staying on the trail. Without her this hike would have been impossible in yesterdays condition, I would have never been able to find my way. The bulge and mt Cabot have no view (wooded summits) but the views from the Horn were great.
Just a little snow at first no big deal
All of the birch trees in this area are shedding badly
Sonya waiting for me
2.5 Miles in, Unknown pond.
The horn (where I was headed) from unknown pond.
The snow is getting deep, definitely needed snowshoes but I left them in the jeep and decided I wasn't giving up on this one no matter what.
Finally made it
Sonya enjoying the view
The bulge (right) Mt. Cabot (Left) where I was headed next.
A thigh deep hole I fell into on the way to the bulge
Like clockwork, about every 20 minutes sonya rolls in the snow to cool off
I heard two gunshots off in the distance when I was sitting on top of the horn, didn't pay much attention that's pretty usual. On the way back down to unknown pond I found a ton of bloody deer tracks. I followed them through the woods for about 1/4 mile but I didn't have enough time to follow the tracks and get down before dark. The blood was getting heavier as I followed the tracks. This is the first one I noticed that crossed over the trail.
Off the mountain side and rewarded with less snow to truck through.
I picked up this emergency water filter for $9 the other day. You just stick the blue end in water and drink from the straw. It's just a charcoal filter but it works. It supposed to filter up to something like 20 gallons of water. I broke up some ice on the shore of the pond and gave it a try, it works great and weighs no more than an ounce or two.
Sonya has perfected drinking from the camelbak
Went light again today, flask of bourbon, 2L water, Dried salami with aged Vermont cheddar cheese and a chunk of dense sourdough bread, cliff bar, headlamp, thin gloves, hat, Glock 10mm,Fowler blade, and half a pita with garlic and herb tuna. Sonyas pack (didn't take a picture): a can of tuna, a SAK to open it, bottle of water, homemade dehydrated deer liver and homemade dehydrated chicken and some paracord.
Oh yea and some home made beef jerky and a lighter.
Just a little snow at first no big deal
All of the birch trees in this area are shedding badly
Sonya waiting for me
2.5 Miles in, Unknown pond.
The horn (where I was headed) from unknown pond.
The snow is getting deep, definitely needed snowshoes but I left them in the jeep and decided I wasn't giving up on this one no matter what.
Finally made it
Sonya enjoying the view
The bulge (right) Mt. Cabot (Left) where I was headed next.
A thigh deep hole I fell into on the way to the bulge
Like clockwork, about every 20 minutes sonya rolls in the snow to cool off
I heard two gunshots off in the distance when I was sitting on top of the horn, didn't pay much attention that's pretty usual. On the way back down to unknown pond I found a ton of bloody deer tracks. I followed them through the woods for about 1/4 mile but I didn't have enough time to follow the tracks and get down before dark. The blood was getting heavier as I followed the tracks. This is the first one I noticed that crossed over the trail.
Off the mountain side and rewarded with less snow to truck through.
I picked up this emergency water filter for $9 the other day. You just stick the blue end in water and drink from the straw. It's just a charcoal filter but it works. It supposed to filter up to something like 20 gallons of water. I broke up some ice on the shore of the pond and gave it a try, it works great and weighs no more than an ounce or two.
Sonya has perfected drinking from the camelbak
Went light again today, flask of bourbon, 2L water, Dried salami with aged Vermont cheddar cheese and a chunk of dense sourdough bread, cliff bar, headlamp, thin gloves, hat, Glock 10mm,Fowler blade, and half a pita with garlic and herb tuna. Sonyas pack (didn't take a picture): a can of tuna, a SAK to open it, bottle of water, homemade dehydrated deer liver and homemade dehydrated chicken and some paracord.
Oh yea and some home made beef jerky and a lighter.
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