Mt Major

 I seem to be getting the hang of this snowshoeing thing! Another banner day on the books. Robin and I hiked Mt Major up and down the Brook Trail. Trail had been broken out which made it easy going.

Strava Activity

Trail breaking at Kingman Farm

 Some teammates and I headed out to Kingman Farm in Madbury today to break trail before the Kingman Farm Snowshoe Race this weekend hosted by acidotic RACING. Let me just say this, snowshoeing is hard work! I played caboose the entire time so I actually had the easiest job.. just continuing to flatten out the trail that those ahead of me broke out. I was able to get some cool pictures though being in that position. The cool thing about this race? Not only are they racing in snowshoes, they're racing at night by headlamp!

Strava Activity

Mt Chocorua

"The only thing to fear is fear itself" and "it's not the mountain we must conquer but ourselves" couldn't be more true statements for me today. Bucket list item to hike Mt Chocorua was checked off with the help of my trail saint Robin. We hiked the Hammond Trail to Liberty Trail. While Mt Whiteface was my first really long Winter hike, this was my first really long Winter hike on snowshoes. I was OK until the last half mile beyond the Jim Liberty Cabin. The fear set in as we climbed the cone. I felt like every step was so critical because if the snowshoe slipped I'd be off the mountain in no time with no trees or anything to grab onto on my way down. It was a real mental battle to make it up, but I did it and I'm really proud of myself! The views at the top were unbelievable. We were blessed with bluebird skies. Coming down off the cone was another feat unto itself. I was completely frozen with fear! We did some butt sliding down the initial descent and I was deathly afraid I'd not be able to stop sliding! I only fell once thank goodness, and it was once we were off the cone. Even then, I fell off the trail and the deep snow proved a challenge to get myself back up. Winter hiking is no joke! It was definitely eye opening to make sure you are prepared for any circumstances. As is the case with most hikes like this, once it was done I could look back and feel a sense of accomplishment. I felt on top of the world today!

Strava Activity

(Almost) Mt Whiteface

 Despite my first DNF, I had an amazing day in the woods with Robin. We attempted Mt Whiteface via Diceys Mill and Rollins Trail. We got just under a mile from the summit, but the icy conditions on Rollins Trail slowed us down some and although we had headlamps we opted for the safer choice of turning back once we realized we were running out of daylight hours. Robin recently had shoulder surgery and we didn't want to risk any accidents that may undo the repair work she just had done! We did 10 miles, which was by far the longest Winter hike I've done to date! Every hike is a learning experience!

Strava Activity

some nice woodwork along Diceys Mill Trail

Rollins Trail

some peekaboo views along Rollins Trail

Mt Morgan & Mt Percival