Friday Aug 17 |
 | hiking 1:26:00 [3] | |
| |
| Comtessa woods to Tobiason and back. It's becoming obvious that any running/orienteering I do this fall will have to be with the ankle brace. |
Thursday Aug 16 |
| mountain bike 28:00 [2] | |
| |
| Neighborhood tour to check out recent construction activity. |
Wednesday Aug 15 |
| hiking 2:35:00 [2] | |
| |
| Bonnie, Spree and Ghillie joined me for the MHC mid-week hike. We checked out what's left of an old CCC camp near the Salmon River in E. Hampton and hiked downstream for a few miles and then back. Cool and pleasant along the river. Followed with lunch at Sadler's Ordinary in Marlborough where the sandwiches are fine, but the ac is set way too cool. |
Monday Aug 13 |
| hiking 3:25:00 [4] | |
| |
| Had business in Ashburnham, MA so planned to drive a little farther and hike Mt. Monadnock for the first time in ages. I think it was about 50 years ago that I did it for the first time with my Uncle Don as guide. A line of storms passed through the area in the early morning but the forecast was for clearing skies and pleasant temps. Hit the trail at 12:15 - took White Dot to Cascade Link to Spellman to Pumpelly. I think this was my first time up Spellman which is a very steep and enjoyable climb that left me soaked in sweat. Reached the summit in 1:27 just as clouds began to move in. The usual wind felt great. About 50-75 people sitting around snacking and checking the views. I was about to sit down to take off my boot and add some lube to a hot spot on my heel when I noticed rain approaching from the west. I decided to start down the White Arrow trail and fix the boot later. I got about 100m below the summit and decided to break out the disposable rain poncho. I was still struggling to unfold it when the downpour hit. The wind was so strong it made the rain feel like hail and I was soaked through in seconds. After a few minutes more I managed to get the now torn poncho on. The trail had become a raging torrent and I had to crab walk because the flowing water and slippery rocks made walking impossible. After about 15 minutes of crawling I reached the tree line and the rain let up. I went down the White Arrow to the site of the old Halfway House, across the Do Drop to the Cliff Walk and then back to the park HQ via the Lost Farm Trail. I was surprised to find that the Do Drop was unmarked and I lost the trail several times. By the time I reached the base, the sky was clearand the only real evidence of the storm was a lot of soaked hikers talking about their big adventure. In spite of the warnings, almost no one prepares for the possibility of bad weather. I only saw one other hiker with rain gear. I learned the hard way that my cheap gear was totally bogus. All of us at the summit were very lucky that the storm was brief. If the wind had kept up, hypothermia would have been a real possibility for many of the underdressed hikers. All in all, a fine adventure and a good learning experience.
|
Sunday Aug 12 |
| hiking 4:27:00 [3] | |
| |
| Shenipsit Trail from Birch Mountain Rd. to Gay City and then back on different, slightly long route. Great half day in the woods. |