EAST COAST ROLL CALL #8 14/15 A NEW HOPE

[Moeghoul]

I came across the article this AM, not sure if its been posted or followed, but NH offers a cheap insurance plan to avoid these consequences.

http://www.wfmj.com/story/28941065/n...ay-rescue-bill

New Hampshire court rules hiker must pay rescue bill

And since January, the state has been selling $25 "Hike Safe" cards that allow buyers to avoid being held liable if they need to be rescued due to negligence.

[danmelon]

Amazing photos and great TRs in here bros. Heading to J tomorrow for 39$ slush laps. Hit me up!

[biggins]

Anyone want a Killington ticket? PM me, i'll be at the mountain from 10-12 tomorrow.

[Jonathan S.]

Okay, so it's only Wachusett, and only one short trail, but still -- lift-served skiing in Massachusetts in May!

One More Day! Be a Part of History!
For the first time ever, Wachusett will offer lift-served skiing in May! We are re-opening tomorrow on Saturday, May 2 for 1 day ONLY! There's still a ton of snow in the Vickery Bowl area so we're planning to open the triple chair and a portion of Hitchcock Trail from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walking will be required to the bottom of Vickery as there will be no lift service from the base area. Skiing and riding are for intermediate and advanced levels only. Who knows when you'll be able to say you skied at Wachusett in May again - come be a part of history!

Cinco De Mayo Rail Jam
We are also holding our 5th annual Cinco De Mayo Rail Jam on Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Look Mom. Come check out the action for our last park event until next season!

The Numbers Tell The Story!
We're re-opening in May thanks to a historic snowfall of 143 inches this season. We saw almost 10 feet (119 inches) of that snowfall just from January 24 through February 22. We saw a low temperature this season of -15 degrees on Feb. 24th and a high temperature of 65 degrees on April 12 (unless we beat that on May 2!)

[robrox]

Looks like MetroWest and MetroNorth posse is forming to slash corn at WaWa.

[vt_ski]

Headed for jay on Sunday, for what looks to be a stellar spring day! Pm if yer going and want to drink beer and shred with the best skier on the mtn. ;-)

[dark_star]

I'll be on Mt. Washington tomorrow along with two of my buddies, either in Huntington Ravine, Hillman's/Dodges, or maybe all of the above. If you see me say hi! (White rando-ish helmet, black dynafit jacket, Hagan Y Flows w/ la sportiva bindings, TLT6s).

[Jonathan S.]

And for the hard-core Northern Presidentials junkies (all 2 or 3 of you?), complete TR for my 45-hr trailhead-to-trailhead Tue-Thu tour:






Note that these conditions are highly UNrepresentative of a typical tour there.
For general beta, see this guide:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...68333342645041



Tue late afternoon Apr 28, hiked then skinned up, with snow cover even down low more extensive than what I had expected from the 52" depth at the hut and the Sherburne lower closure:






Hut caretaker was away, but his snowman was on duty, now outfitted with my ski gear:






I skinned up from the hut through what seemed to be more like late winter, while looking down on what seemed more like early summer in the valley:






As I approached T-Storm Junction, I encountered the fx'ed mid-winter visibility and winds (low and high, respectively), but once I could see further down the skiing was mid-winter in the good sense:






I skied down into King Ravine’s Forrest Gumply until the snow conditions eventually became too much of spring in the bad sense to maneuver easily around the forestry, then booted back up to ski down & over to the hut toward a beautiful sunset:






Snow conditions were so good even at treeline that I could easily ski to the hut’s water source and then skin back, although the water source was such a slow trickle that I had time to refine the poem I had composed earlier (and thereby affirming my wise choice to become an economist instead of a poet or anything even remotely literary):

Jonathan skied across the hill
to fill some cans with water.
But of far great renown
was how RT3 fell down,
and his gun came tumbling after.

The guest count at the hut Tuesday evening was twice its usual level, i.e., that one other person that one night was the only other person I saw along with the caretaker during my 45-hour trip.
(And the caretaker hadn’t seen any guests over the entire prior week!)



Wed Apr 29 was my big tour day, with the convoluted tracklog showing how the extensive snow coverage allowed skinning and skiing pretty much everywhere:






The skinning from the hut along the Gray Knob trail is usually a mix of good skinning, “adventure” skinning, rock hopping, and postholing, slowed down by numerous transitions for on-skis versus on-foot travel, yet encouraged by spectacular views of Castle Ravine’s Sisters.

This time though it was skinning all the way, although absolutely zero views above treeline.

But here’s looking back at the Sisters later in the day (when the visibility finally cleared), Baby Sister (furthest left), South Sister (leftmost of the close-together central trio), Middle Sister, North Sister, and finally Twisted Sister / Wicked Stepsister (as usual more concept than reality, and probably not all that great a concept):






From the top of the Castle Ravine snowfields I skied down into Baby Sister until the maneuvering down low in the heavy snow around the various non-snow obstacles was no longer worth it.
I booted up enough to ski across and down into South Sister, which was very nice up high and good enough all the way down until the shared slide path runout becomes a narrow drainage.
North Sister’s crux didn’t even seem to be a crux, and Middle Sister’s crux looked easily navigable.

But I wanted to skin up and over to the top of The Beach, where the visibility was still suboptimal but the mid-winter snow was optimal:






Stealth Gully below so fat that I could easily avoid the usual cornice entirely by skiing through the lower-angle trees.
And across the other side of Jefferson Ravine, the top of Abby’s Way was so loaded from the recent N winds that instead of being burnt out as usual it too was sporting a cornice:






Looking up from the bottom of Jefferson Ravine, Zig Zag was so fat as to be undeserving of its name, but my temptation for another lap there was tempered by the predominantly East aspect it shared with the areas of most concern in the Tux micro-scaled avy fx:






I skinned up out of Stealth (yes, the snow was that forgiving, with that much room to switchback) with the goal of getting high enough to ski back down into Edmands Col, yet I was able to keep skinning up and up continuously so far until I found myself ... on the summit of Jefferson?
And I don’t mean *near* the summit but actually on top of its little rockpile.
From there I could ski about wherever I wanted:






While skinning back up toward Thunderstorm Junction I finally had the visibility to see the little line on the north side on Castle Ravine that I had eyed in previous years, so I took a detour for another yo-yo there:






Skinning up out of there I went into a complete white-out, so as I reached the usual top of the Adams snowfields I went up a little higher on continuous snow until I found myself ... on the top of Sam Adams?
Only downside for such unusual skiing was that the usual spectacular views of Great Gulf were instead limited to only several meters in front of me.



Thu Apr 30 itinerary was short so as to arrive home early:






Skinning up from the hut before seven, with the goal of skiing The Seven, I immediately knew the outing was going to be a good one:












And this time from the top of Sam Adams, I almost had a clear view of Great Gulf:






Instead of the usual spring game of connect-the-snow-ribbons to ski into The Seven, I could ski straight into it:






Over the past four years, of the three people who have fallen down this, only one has died, and this would have been a really good day to try that, since the ice bulge seemed completely covered with snow (though I decided not to test that theory).

I had enough time to skin and then boot up a little bit to ski Iced Out Gully, one of the many discontinuous lines from the floor of King Ravine, except that this time I just keep climbing and climbing until ... it connected with the Adams snowfields:






Great winter snow on the way down (with the ice bulges nicely cover, and the hanging ice on the sides staying put):









Very few official rules in the Northern Presidentials, but mandatory selfie from the King Ravine boulder field:





After the usual bouldering, skied to within ~1,000' vertical of the App parking lot, which unfortunately had only empty cars at a little before noon, so no chance of a hiker ride back to Lowe’s.
Alternated on Route 2 between jogging (with my pack now feeling light on the asphalt), checking email (love that Northern Presidentials Verizon reception!), and sticking out a thumb (which attracted the attention only of a honking sheriff deputy), all of which fortunately took less than half an hour, rendered even more bearable by occasional glances back up at that seemingly improbable snow-covered world up there so far away.

[Jonathan S.]

Really outstanding weekend update:
http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchec...-call-to-arms/

Worth reading in its entirety, but here's the most important excerpt:

This weekend, let’s all go out of our way and talk to one person who looks lost. We all had our greenhorn experience in Tuckerman Ravine. I always look back on mine, wishing that person who just shredded the Headwall would give me any advice. Rather than complain that it’s too crowded with inept people, let’s try to make it a place where those people learn some mountain sense, spread the word back home, and come better prepared for their next pilgrimage.

[Pa. patroller]

Jonathan you are the king, above all other eastern skiers

[ctsmith]

Only enough time for a morning ski, just lapped some of the better corn up there before it got too warm...

[MrsG]

Gonna be at Kton on Saturday to cheer on the wife in the triathlon. I have one more ticket to give away if anyone wants it. PM me and we can work out a place to pick up.

How did Mrsbiggins do? . . . it was a beautiful day here at K today

[Jonathan S.]

Still top-to-bottom skiing at Stratton with just one short grass ski:

[mtl_ripper]

Holy shit ctsmith, that is some sweet sweet!!!

[Bottleman]

Everybody's favorite Banana Belt glacier still goes from the top ALL the way to the bottom.

[FussyDutchman]

It wasn't George (which looks so sweet btw), nor was it self propelled but fun was had regardless. Warm sun, soft bumps, a great crew and no crowds. The stop at the Taco on the way home for some pork belly and a few focal bangers was a great cap on a damn fine day.

[danmelon]

Jay was very fun today. Still lots of good coverage, even in some of the glades. Jet is holding solid. Should be fun for those going tomorrow. Bring your rock skis/board if you plan on going in the trees.

[savemeasammy]

I was at Jay yesterday also. I was glad to see that they were still offering some beginner terrain so that we could bring both of our boys along. My 5 year old enjoyed lapping the metro all day, while my 7 year old skied the flyer and tram.

[Peruvian]

Still top-to-bottom skiing at Stratton with just one short grass ski:

When my friends mentioned they ran into a guy doing three laps in a Lycra suit, I figured it must be you.....

[dark_star]

Although the weird, glopy snow left a little something to be desired, overall it was a great day on George yesterday! My buddies and I pulled off a killer setlist.

SET ONE:

Pinkham Notch --> Tuckerman Ravine Trail --> Skin Up Sherbie, Stairway to Hillman's --> Dodge's Drop

SET TWO: Up Hillman's (Reprise) --> Alpine Garden --> Huntington Ravine --> Diagonal Gully (Down and Up)

ENCORE: Alpine Garden (Slight Return), The Lip --> Little Headwall, Sherburne Ski Trail

[Jonathan S.]

When my friends mentioned they ran into a guy doing three laps in a Lycra suit, I figured it must be you.....

The two women on tele?
(Or the two trail runner guys?)

[Greenstateofmind]

'afternoon ladies and gents: I solemnly applologize for interupting killer spring stoke, shennanigans, and otherwise publicly wreckless acts of valor. However, I have been confronted with a dilemma of extreme proportions.
For 6 hours I have been racking my brain, researching databases, and aimlessly roaming the stacks of Barry Howell library. Then I had an epifany. Why not have the fine folk of ECRC weigh in on this highly debatable topic? I give to you the basis of my UVM NR2 final, as directed by the professor:
Phenomena for analysis

Wolf reintroduction in the northeast United States
I'm going to quit researching and go slop around in some mashed potatoes because I now know this paper will have written itself by tomorrow morning, here in the ECRC...

[Peruvian]

^^^Chicks with freeheels. Looked like this?



Got dirty with then this morning.





I will admit, one of their husbands was along.

[biggins]

How did Mrsbiggins do? . . . it was a beautiful day here at K today

Thanks for askin' MrsG, so nice up there- I was psyched to see people getting after it, but it was hard to be on the sidelines still in a brace when turns seemed so fun out there. Sounds like K is gonna make it to July 4th. That's my bet anyway.

Mrs. B (better known as Mrs. Littleuns) was middle of the pack for her age group, but she had a blast. And for all my kvetching about not being able to ski, it was super fun to be WALKING around the base area with the new pooch all morning.

Again- if you want a free day ticket (unrestricted) PM me and come'n'gettit.

[Boreas]

'afternoon ladies and gents: I solemnly applologize for interupting killer spring stoke, shennanigans, and otherwise publicly wreckless acts of valor. However, I have been confronted with a dilemma of extreme proportions.
For 6 hours I have been racking my brain, researching databases, and aimlessly roaming the stacks of Barry Howell library. Then I had an epifany. Why not have the fine folk of ECRC weigh in on this highly debatable topic? I give to you the basis of my UVM NR2 final, as directed by the professor:
Phenomena for analysis

Wolf reintroduction in the northeast United States
I'm going to quit researching and go slop around in some mashed potatoes because I now know this paper will have written itself by tomorrow morning, here in the ECRC...

There are too many RT3's in the the Northeast to allow reintroduction. There, paper written, professor gives A++ for brevity..