January 12, 2008
Today I carpooled to the trailhead with Dave Langley. He drove the last 2 times, so I drove today, using one of his 'ride credits' as he refers to it. This hike is 10 miles roundtrip in non-winter, but being winter we had to park 2 miles further away. We began the road walk up Sawyer River Road at 7:30. The snow was well packed because of snowmobiles so we 'bare booted it'. Here's today's track.
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Dave brought along one of his two golden retrieves. Here's Kody.
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About 40 minutes later, we reached the summer trailhead.
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Since we were now on an actual hiking trail and not the road, we put our snowshoes on. I've hiked with Dave several times with groups, but this was the first time I hiked with just Dave. I quickly realized he sets a very, very fast pace. Dave is tall with a long stride, and I was taking two steps to his one. He out distanced me in no time. I caught up to him at the next trail junction.
I say that I caught up to him, but it was only because he stopped to wait for me.
"I pretty much don't stop," said Dave.
"I noticed," I said. Then added, "Congratulations!"
"For what!"
"You are the first person I've hiked with that I couldn't keep up with."
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I had more gear than I needed today. My only chance of keeping his pace was to lighten my load. Since we were coming back over the same route, I took out some non-essentials and hid them behind a tree. We were off again. I kept up for a while. Then the steep part of the hike began. I gave it my best, but couldn't keep up. The sound of Dave's snowshoes on the crusty snow became more and more faint as he pulled further and further ahead. There was a lookout further up on the mountain, I was sure Dave would wait for me there. After a while, I came to it. As I neared Dave and Kody, Kody let out a string of barks and howls. I love dogs and knew he was just trying to prove he was tough. I proceeded to just walk up to him. He's really just a big puppy.
"He loves being the alpha male," said Dave. "He has sent his share of hikers running into the woods. I call him Kodiak, the Ferocious Wonder Bear"
Here we got our first view of the day.
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Kody then knocked one of Dave's poles down the hill.
"Now I've got to go get it," said Dave.
Kody, being a retriever, then went down after it, but didn't bring it back.
"Great, now I've got to get Kody too," said Dave.
I thought to myself, "Way to go Kody. Keep Dave busy, so that I can catch my breath."
Hmmm, maybe the next time we stop and I need to catch my breath, I should knock Dave's pole down when he is not looking and blame Kody. No, I just couldn't do that.
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We continued up the mountain. Once again the sound of Dave's snowshoes became more and more faint.
Nearing Signal Ridge
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Dave and Kody patiently waiting for me.
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Mount Lowell from Signal Ridge
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In the picture below, the mountain in the foreground is Vose Spur. The mountain is dwarfed because we were on a higher ridge, but that is one of my 8 remaining unconquered mountains on the New England 100 highest list. I'm going after it next Saturday. Although there is a trail most of the way in, the last mile is a steep bushwhack.
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Looking up to Carrigain with the tower at the top barely visible.
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Of course, Dave reached the 4700' summit first.
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This was winter #14 for me, and Dave needed it for the grid for January.
Looking out across the Pemigewasset Wilderness
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Watch your step as we climb the icy tower.
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Kody reminds me of Duke, the golden retriever that is used in the commericals for Bush's Baked Beans.
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Dave took my picture on the tower.
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Here's a few pictures of the 360° view.
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Mount Carrigain has been good to me. I've climbed it twice with great views both times. There are some mountains in the Whites that I've climbed several times and still haven't seen anything.
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Note the mountain that has frost just on one side.
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Dave and I returned over the same route. We had Signal Ridge and the summit to ourselves, but passed three hole punchers who were on their way up. Dave refers to hikers without snowshoes as hole punchers. Because of old injuries, Dave is a little more cautious than I am while descending. As a result, I was able to stay ahead of him for a change. I descended a little faster than normal, but after Dave blew me away on the ascent, my ego needed a boost. Thanks for the push Dave, you've motivated me to get myself in better shape. I'll try not to slow you down next time.
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