Ascutney and Gerry Falls

This winter has, so far, been pretty much a bust.  Virtually no snowfall, with plenty of warm weather and rain to ensure that the little snow doesn’t stick around. I decided to head for one our closest big-mountain neighbors, Mount Ascutney, an hour down the Connecticut River, because the trail passes some nice waterfalls.  If there’s no snow, at least there will be ice.  I spent about an hour at the falls, enjoying the indirect lighting as the rising sun illuminated the open woods to one side of the stream. One nice feature of an icy stream, I discovered, is that you can stand on the ice in mid-stream and explore many angles you might find to be too wet in summer. Got some nice photos!  More to say below.

Gerry Falls, along the Windsor trail up Mount Ascutney.
Gerry Falls, along the Windsor trail up Mount Ascutney.

Continue reading “Ascutney and Gerry Falls”

Sandstone Peak

I was in LA for business all week, in a high-rise office with a great view of the distant mountains.  I stayed an extra day and headed out through the Simi Valley to the Santa Monica mountains to hike Sandstone Peak.  A thoroughly enjoyable 6.5-mile loop, open to views most of the way!  The views to the south passed over the foothills and into the Pacific Ocean, so I drove the winding road down from the trailhead, came around a bend, and ended right at the beachfront!  Drove back along the coast through Malibu. A great day for a hike and drive through pretty countryside!  Check out the photos.

Sandstone Peak in sight - the high point of the hike ahead - with a group of hikers on the bump in middle ground.
Sandstone Peak in sight – the high point of the hike ahead – with a group of hikers on the bump in middle ground.

Camel’s Hump

I was itching to get above treeline this weekend, to enjoy the fresh snow the hills received this week and, hopefully, some long-range views.  I recruited an old friend and we headed for Camel’s Hump in Vermont.  David spent two summers working there as a ranger, and yet had not been back to this impressive peak and its myriad trails in over 20 years.

We were the first to arrive at the Couching Lion parking area on the east side of the mountain, and planned an 8.4-mile loop (up the Dean Trail, along the Long Trail following the ridgeline, and down the Monroe Trail).  We made first tracks through several inches of fresh powder on the Dean Trail and Long Trail, enjoying vast views of the Adirondacks and glimpses of Moosilauke and Washington in New Hampshire. We saw nobody else until we hit the summit cone, where we met two hikers and their chilly dog.  On the way down, though, we encounters dozens of hikers who had come up Burrows or Monroe trail, and had an easy glide down that latter trail. Check out the photo gallery.

Needless to say, when one is woofed from a big hike, and passing within 5 miles of the Ben & Jerry’s factory, one just has to stop in for some ice cream.  Indeed, I think there is an obscure code in Vermont State Law to that effect.

Thanks, David, for a fine outing!

The summit is in sight!
The summit is in sight!

Back to Moosilauke

Despite summiting this mountain a dozen times last year, I just can’t stay away.  This weekend I headed up the mountain early on a sunny Sunday morning with two good friends – my ’86 classmate Jen and her husband Lars.  After dropping overnight gear at MRL we strolled up the Gorge Brook trail with 3-4″ of fresh powder to decorate the trees and soften the earlier hard-packed base.  The blue skies did not last, but the grey overcast stayed high and we were treated to spectacular views of the Whites from the newly re-opened overlooks.  The summit was freshly coated in delicate rime-ice feathers, but the wind was calm and the temp reasonable so we were able to sit and enjoy the view with about a dozen other hikers who reached the summit at noon. Check out the photos!

Jen, Lars and David enjoy calm weather on the summit of Mount Moosilauke. Photo by Jen Botzojorns.
Jen, Lars and David enjoy calm weather on the summit of Mount Moosilauke. Photo by Jen Botzojorns.

After a quick descent we retired to John Rand cabin for a delicious dinner (thanks Jen!), joined by another classmate Lelia and the Hooke family.  The Hookes and I stayed overnight, as a light snow began to fall.  With 3″ by breakfast and 6″ by our noon departure, with heavy snow continuing, it’s beginning to look like Winter has finally come to Moosilauke.

Skiing out from Moosilauke during a snowstorm.
Skiing out from Moosilauke during a snowstorm.

Happy new year!

The past year included many exciting travels and outings; check out my photographic tour of 2015.

Highlights include

I’m excited to see what 2016 brings!

Safari group photo: Peggy, Amy, Erin, Doe, Pam, Mara, Isabel, Andy, John, David; with guides Robert and Freddy in back. At Serengeti East nyumba, Enashiva Reserve, last morning of the safari.
Safari group photo: Peggy, Amy, Erin, Doe, Pam, Mara, Isabel, Andy, John, David; with guides Robert and Freddy in back. At Serengeti East nyumba, Enashiva Reserve, last morning of the safari.

Moosilauke 2015 grid

I’ve probably hiked Moosilauke over 60 times – I just love this mountain.  For 2015 I decided to “grid” Moosilauke by climbing it at least once per month (some people are crazy enough to climb all of the 48 of the NH 4,000-foot mountains every month of the year, aka, “The Grid“).  To avoid too much repetition, I also decided to “redline” the mountain by traveling all of its trails at least once.  I had not visited some of these trails in over 20 years!  It was fun to get up there in all seasons and in a huge range of conditions from nasty winter white-outs to glorious sunshine.  Today I finished, on one of those gorgeous blue-sky days on which you can see all of the Vermont and New Hampshire peaks.  See all 12 months and more photos here.

Moosilauke summit on a beautiful, sunny, warm(!) December day.
Moosilauke summit on a beautiful, sunny, warm(!) December day.

Timberframe workshop

Dave uses an antique boring machine to drill mortises in one of the king posts.
Using an antique boring machine to drill mortises in one of the king posts.

I spent six beautiful days at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge with a team of wonderful chubbers & friends who were there for the timber-framing workshop hosted by Dave Hooke ’84 and his TimberHomes crew.  In the span of six days we learned how to lay out, cut, and raise timber posts, bents, braces, struts, and all manner of heavy wooden contraptions.  Amazing that Dave et al. actually entrusted us with a variety of sharp tools and valuable timbers!  We were guided by a team of excellent instructors, and managed to put up the main part of the frame (porches to be added later) and lay down the first course of roofing.  It looks like a bunkhouse!  It is located in a new clearing beyond Bicentennial and behind the ’74 Bunkhouse.

Thanks to the Class of ’66 for their generous donation, to the Lodge Crew for the amazing food, and to Dave, Josh, Skip, Shannon, Andrew, and Helen for their outstanding instruction.

Check out the photo gallery and the timelapse video.

Timberframe workshop at Moosilauke - Class of 1966 bunkhouse. (Photo by David Kotz '86.)
Timberframe workshop at Moosilauke – Class of 1966 bunkhouse. (Photo by David Kotz ’86.)

 

Paddling home

Eastman Brook wetlands, Underhill Campsite.
Eastman Brook wetlands, Underhill Campsite.

We are fortunate to live on the banks of Connecticut River, in Lyme NH.  Our kids grew up on these shores, swimming and boating in the summer and poking at the river’s icy crust in the winter.  So, three years ago I thought it would be interesting to visit the source of the river, and do a little paddling in its wild upper reaches.  We thus found ourselves walking along the Canadian Border in early September 2012, and visiting each of the Four Connecticut Lakes before paddling through the shallow swift waters near North Stratford NH.  This trip inspired us!  read on. Continue reading “Paddling home”

Safari wrap-up

Our final safari dinner, at the Enashiva nyumba, was Tanzania style food. Finally! although the food at all the restaurants and nyumbas was wonderful, it was basically western-style food.  I was pleased to finally have a chance to sample some of the local food, including ugali and stew.

Safari group photo: Peggy, Amy, Erin, Doe, Pam, Mara, Isabel, Andy, John, David; with guides Robert and Freddy in back. At Serengeti East nyumba, Enashiva Reserve, last morning of the safari.
Safari group photo: Peggy, Amy, Erin, Doe, Pam, Mara, Isabel, Andy, John, David; with guides Robert and Freddy in back. At Serengeti East nyumba, Enashiva Reserve, last morning of the safari.

Continue reading “Safari wrap-up”