-Trip Report- Mt. Washington: A Tale of Two Seasons (March 20-21, 2010)

You fickle old bitch!

Mt. Washington is a fickle old bitch.  The jet stream that flows around her crown can one day bring a gorgeous Bermuda high, and the next bring the cold punishing winds of an Alberta Clipper.  Given her geography she puts you right in the front seat for the ride.  Timed right, she can bring you unbelievable spring corn skiing.  Timed wrong she can punish you with a frozen nightmare of icy chutes and wicked winds.

Such was the case on a weekend trip this past March.   Two days and two completely different seasons.

My Evening Loop

Luckily they're all pinecones

So it's early evening on a weekday, and I can still hear the phone ringing in my ears.  I've got about two hours of daylight left and a mountain biking itch to scratch.  Where can I go to find a little piece of heaven?

The Middlesex Fells are close, but there's a lot of "forest service road".  The trails have a few technical spots, and the hills will get you in shape pretty quickly.  However, there is only one loop for mountain bikers.  I treat it like my time trial course: where I go to gauge the progress in my conditioning.  That is to say I like to avoid it because it reminds me what a fat wheezy creampuff I really am.

                                                             

That time of year again....

The trails are all dried out.  The skis are in the basement.  It's now time for that other season.  The one that takes you to the hidden nooks and crannies of New England(even Rhode Island), and keeps you in shape for next winter.  (Or was I staying in shape for the summer?)

Yes.  It is.... Mountain Biking time!

Break out the Camelback, and the night lights; the funny spandex shorts and the biking shoes.  Fill up your saddlebags with spare tires and gu. Tighten those brakes and adjust your seat posts.

We've got five more months of mountain biking ahead!

This is What Sadness Looks Like

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphics/snowmaps/sd1_today.jpg

There's just not a lot to say about this. Stay tuned though. We're pulling together a list of good, empathetic skiier/therapists in your area. Get help early because it's going to be a long hot summer

-Trip Report- Whitewall: Abundance of Caution (January 2010)

                                                      Going Ninja on Whitewall

The thermometer registered 9 degrees above zero as we pulled into the parking lot.

It was already 7 pm and dark.  The plan was to get up to Zealand Notch, camp overnight, ski Whitewall in the morning and then possibly ski Mt. Hale on the way back in the afternoon.  We calculated a total distance (round trip) of around 12 miles-- even without a trip up to the top of Mt. Hale it was ambitious.  Gered and I had already spent the better part of the afternoon braving high winds and zamboni grade ice at Cannon Mountain.  Our legs were tired and our spirits were low.  And we still had a long two days ahead of us.

My Review of REI Taku Pants - Men's - 30" Inseam

Originally submitted at REI

The REI Taku pants, in a 30 in. inseam, are a versatile option for your backcountry pursuits. Waterproof, breathable stretch fabric provides the ultimate in comfort and the ultimate in protection.

REI Taku Pants - Men's - 30" Inseam

Comfortable and dry but flimsy

By NEBackcountryXplorer from Boston, MA on 3/22/2010

 

2out of 5

Gift: No

Waist: Feels true to size

Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Breathable, Comfortable

Cons: Poor Material or Construction

Best Uses: Hiking, Backpacking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

I appreciate the exact sizing of these pants. Most comparable items don't come in leg/waist sizing, instead coming in generic S/M/L sizes. I have Hobbit legs (30") so most standard sized pants are too long (32"). These were comfortable, and kept me dry during resort and backcountry skiing. My complaint is that the fabric in the ankle area is easily cut by ski edges or crampons. This should be a simple fix for REI. It merely requires a stronger material in that one fairly small area on the pants. These are great if you plan on wearing them for hiking, or using gaiters. I would not, however, buy these again for skiing.

(legalese)