cantdog
01-03-2006, 01:27 PM
On Saturday, 12/31, I met Phil and his friends Martin, Dave, Gail and Roxanne at the toll gate for a great New Year's Eve. We packed up our gear and entered the gate on skis under a blue sky.
The snow was excellent and I was pleased with the positive difference in conditions from that road at the Ausable Club. The unplowed auto road offered a very user friendly gentle gradient as I listened to my peers talk about their skis and various waxes needed or not needed. My XC skis are 24 years old, 180s and waxless. Despite having older equipment, I was pleased that I had almost no back sliding on any of the ascent. I observed a few others slipping a little and even using the occasional V step on some steeper stuff. I have never climbed a 4000'er on skis so this was an exciting time. I enjoyed not having to pick up my feet and take huge steps.
We stopped a few times for food and water during the ascent, but made time as expected. We passed signs indicating our elevation periodically throughout our ascent. Once the first hairpin turn was within sight, the wind started picking up and we got out extra gear. I put my goggles on top of my bomber cap though I never used them. As I was previously warned by a few different people, the hairpin turn was very icy. The inside was almost bare pavement and the outside was a deep snow drift. Most of us hugged the outside to avoid the ice. Phil stopped at most of the higher vistas and identified the more obscure peaks, especially the ones in Canada. After turning the first hairpin turn, Phil got out the camera and took a few shots. We had an excellent view of most of the high peaks while the cloud cover was just high enough to allow it. I believe the name of the turn was Wilmington and the name of the second turn was Lake Placid.
Soon we reached the second turn and everyone but me and Phil left their skis, put on crampons and took the trail for the rest of the way to the summit. Phil and I continued on skis all the way to the castle while being mindful of the edge. For about the third time, the road crossed over the slide and we spoke of Neil and his slide mania. There were several jokes about anyone wanting to use the slide being free to do so. I certainly was not interested.
Once at the castle, Phil his our skis and I switched to, you guessed, MSR snowshoes because I did not want to bring crampons for just a small spot. He barebooted for the rest of the way. While fiddling with gear at the castle, Phil got out the camera again and gave me another advanced geography lesson. Without a map of the area north west of the high peaks, it was hard to remember.
I took it nice and slow going up the stairs and railings with snowshoes, but got the job done safely. The others were waiting for us at the observatory when we arrived. Two kind souls broke out a flask of good contraband in the name of New Year's Eve. We ate, did some sight seeing, posed or some shots and left.
Going down the stairs in snowshoes was a little harder, but the secret was doing the grapevine side stepping. Phil and I switched back to skis and skied that @1/4 mile to where we met the others and their equipment. This was where the route to Esther was. Earlier, we discussed the other route. However, Phil took a closer look at it on the way up and saw how obstructed and unbroken it was. The decision was a no brainer.
Everyone switched to snowshoes except one person who did not have them. He used crampons instead and did ok. Gail and Roxanne had the cutest little fat snowshoes that were being used for their very first time.
The beginning of the initial descent was steep and sketchy. We all chose to slide in a few spots. Soon, we passed a campsite where a strange snow cave remained. We moved right along in good time and reached the junction. From there, there was some steep uphill climbing and we eventually reached Lookout Mountain. Martin and Dave thought we were at Esther. I thought it was too good to be true and did not look for the yellow coffee can lid sign. Phil informed us that we were wrong. The path wound around as the sky got greyer and light snow started falling. There were a few complicated blowdowns to negotiate. Each time I thought we were just about there, more work appeared before us. When I reached the summit, Martin and Dave were already there and one of them was eating sardines. Cat food! Phil arrived, but Gail and Roxanne were several minutes behind. I saw the sign for Esther and that was the official confirmation. There was a coffee can lid and no brown sign with yellow letters.
After some food, water and pictures, we were ready to leave, but the others had yet to arrive. We decided to get moving and discuss their plan when we passed them. In a matter of a few minutes into the descent, we reached them and they decided to complete the climb. Phil waited for them. Martin, Dave and I wound up leap frogging back to the junction and beyond as they switched footwear and I took a few rests on the return ascent to Whiteface. I was wearing snowshoes on my ski boots, which worked ok, but I was getting this clicking sensation. It was driving me nuts because I thought there was a problem. I eventually saw that the narrow heel of the ski boots were rubbing against the plastic flaps on the high heel bars. The popping sound was grating on me, but I felt better about it once I diagnosed the problem.
Phil since passed me as I was taking my time getting back to where the skis were waiting for us. I caught up to Phil at the final scramble and the two other men were on top waiting. We did not know how far back the others were. When I was asked, I said I had not heard them.
Since I thought I would be the slowest on the skiing down, I said I wanted a head start while Phil and Martin waited for Gail and Roxanne. Dave left just ahead of me and fell three times. I tried to take note of what he might have done wrong, but it was starting to get dark and we had about an inch of fresh snow covering our tracks from that morning. I passed Dave and Phil caught up to me at the first hairpin turn. I asked if the others came out of the woods and he said they did. He passed me and starting carving some good turns. It was then when I decided it wasn't necessary to stay in any tracks.
The gradient was just as good for the descent. It was gentle and forgiving. I fell twice, but I was most grateful that it was not the impact of a high speed wreck. Dave caught up to me and jinxed himself because we wiped out shortly after he commented on passing me. It was getting darker by the minute, so I did not want to wear my goggles because of the tinted lens. When I was moving fast, the falling snow was uncomfortable hitting me in the eyes, but I lived with it. We passed a medium sized group that was stopped for a rest and sporadically wound up in their company for the rest of the way down. Despite worrying about potential new blisters in other parts of my feet, I was having a grand old time. This was the best part of the day and it ended much sooner than I had estimated. The trip from the trail outlet to the toll gate took about 1:15 and I was surprised that I was not last to finish. In fact, I was told that Dave decided to walk down and the women were an unknown amount of minutes behind us. Unfortunately, I was unable to say goodbye to them, but Phil said he would wait for them.
I would have to say that my favorite day was a tie between this one and the previous day for different reasons, just like one who equally likes apples and oranges.
The snow was excellent and I was pleased with the positive difference in conditions from that road at the Ausable Club. The unplowed auto road offered a very user friendly gentle gradient as I listened to my peers talk about their skis and various waxes needed or not needed. My XC skis are 24 years old, 180s and waxless. Despite having older equipment, I was pleased that I had almost no back sliding on any of the ascent. I observed a few others slipping a little and even using the occasional V step on some steeper stuff. I have never climbed a 4000'er on skis so this was an exciting time. I enjoyed not having to pick up my feet and take huge steps.
We stopped a few times for food and water during the ascent, but made time as expected. We passed signs indicating our elevation periodically throughout our ascent. Once the first hairpin turn was within sight, the wind started picking up and we got out extra gear. I put my goggles on top of my bomber cap though I never used them. As I was previously warned by a few different people, the hairpin turn was very icy. The inside was almost bare pavement and the outside was a deep snow drift. Most of us hugged the outside to avoid the ice. Phil stopped at most of the higher vistas and identified the more obscure peaks, especially the ones in Canada. After turning the first hairpin turn, Phil got out the camera and took a few shots. We had an excellent view of most of the high peaks while the cloud cover was just high enough to allow it. I believe the name of the turn was Wilmington and the name of the second turn was Lake Placid.
Soon we reached the second turn and everyone but me and Phil left their skis, put on crampons and took the trail for the rest of the way to the summit. Phil and I continued on skis all the way to the castle while being mindful of the edge. For about the third time, the road crossed over the slide and we spoke of Neil and his slide mania. There were several jokes about anyone wanting to use the slide being free to do so. I certainly was not interested.
Once at the castle, Phil his our skis and I switched to, you guessed, MSR snowshoes because I did not want to bring crampons for just a small spot. He barebooted for the rest of the way. While fiddling with gear at the castle, Phil got out the camera again and gave me another advanced geography lesson. Without a map of the area north west of the high peaks, it was hard to remember.
I took it nice and slow going up the stairs and railings with snowshoes, but got the job done safely. The others were waiting for us at the observatory when we arrived. Two kind souls broke out a flask of good contraband in the name of New Year's Eve. We ate, did some sight seeing, posed or some shots and left.
Going down the stairs in snowshoes was a little harder, but the secret was doing the grapevine side stepping. Phil and I switched back to skis and skied that @1/4 mile to where we met the others and their equipment. This was where the route to Esther was. Earlier, we discussed the other route. However, Phil took a closer look at it on the way up and saw how obstructed and unbroken it was. The decision was a no brainer.
Everyone switched to snowshoes except one person who did not have them. He used crampons instead and did ok. Gail and Roxanne had the cutest little fat snowshoes that were being used for their very first time.
The beginning of the initial descent was steep and sketchy. We all chose to slide in a few spots. Soon, we passed a campsite where a strange snow cave remained. We moved right along in good time and reached the junction. From there, there was some steep uphill climbing and we eventually reached Lookout Mountain. Martin and Dave thought we were at Esther. I thought it was too good to be true and did not look for the yellow coffee can lid sign. Phil informed us that we were wrong. The path wound around as the sky got greyer and light snow started falling. There were a few complicated blowdowns to negotiate. Each time I thought we were just about there, more work appeared before us. When I reached the summit, Martin and Dave were already there and one of them was eating sardines. Cat food! Phil arrived, but Gail and Roxanne were several minutes behind. I saw the sign for Esther and that was the official confirmation. There was a coffee can lid and no brown sign with yellow letters.
After some food, water and pictures, we were ready to leave, but the others had yet to arrive. We decided to get moving and discuss their plan when we passed them. In a matter of a few minutes into the descent, we reached them and they decided to complete the climb. Phil waited for them. Martin, Dave and I wound up leap frogging back to the junction and beyond as they switched footwear and I took a few rests on the return ascent to Whiteface. I was wearing snowshoes on my ski boots, which worked ok, but I was getting this clicking sensation. It was driving me nuts because I thought there was a problem. I eventually saw that the narrow heel of the ski boots were rubbing against the plastic flaps on the high heel bars. The popping sound was grating on me, but I felt better about it once I diagnosed the problem.
Phil since passed me as I was taking my time getting back to where the skis were waiting for us. I caught up to Phil at the final scramble and the two other men were on top waiting. We did not know how far back the others were. When I was asked, I said I had not heard them.
Since I thought I would be the slowest on the skiing down, I said I wanted a head start while Phil and Martin waited for Gail and Roxanne. Dave left just ahead of me and fell three times. I tried to take note of what he might have done wrong, but it was starting to get dark and we had about an inch of fresh snow covering our tracks from that morning. I passed Dave and Phil caught up to me at the first hairpin turn. I asked if the others came out of the woods and he said they did. He passed me and starting carving some good turns. It was then when I decided it wasn't necessary to stay in any tracks.
The gradient was just as good for the descent. It was gentle and forgiving. I fell twice, but I was most grateful that it was not the impact of a high speed wreck. Dave caught up to me and jinxed himself because we wiped out shortly after he commented on passing me. It was getting darker by the minute, so I did not want to wear my goggles because of the tinted lens. When I was moving fast, the falling snow was uncomfortable hitting me in the eyes, but I lived with it. We passed a medium sized group that was stopped for a rest and sporadically wound up in their company for the rest of the way down. Despite worrying about potential new blisters in other parts of my feet, I was having a grand old time. This was the best part of the day and it ended much sooner than I had estimated. The trip from the trail outlet to the toll gate took about 1:15 and I was surprised that I was not last to finish. In fact, I was told that Dave decided to walk down and the women were an unknown amount of minutes behind us. Unfortunately, I was unable to say goodbye to them, but Phil said he would wait for them.
I would have to say that my favorite day was a tie between this one and the previous day for different reasons, just like one who equally likes apples and oranges.