2-6-11 Viking Snow Sculpture

With a snow pile of over 10 feet I had to carve something.
And I did. It took several hours but I made a nice Viking to stare out at traffic.

Perhaps a family resemblance. I got much respect from passerby's.

2-5-11 Groton

Nasty nasty snow, deep wet filthy snow that made going down hill a chore and going up hill impossible. We were both so frustrated we don't have any pictures. It was a long trip, around 8 miles and by the end we were both limping with blisters all over both our feet.

1-29-11 Mount Worcester

This time up Worcester the snow was at least 2 feet deep. The trail was mostly unbroken which made the steep ascent a challenge.
The snow stuck to the trees in globs. Beautiful. This was the last sunlight for the trip.
It is hard to see but this is the signpost for the summit. It is buried under snow.
The view was obscured but the snow was stunning unto itself. I learned a great deal about snowshoing and what happens when you fall though the gaps made by trees buried under the snow. Suddenly I was shoulder deep in soft snow with no leverage to get up. Heather helped me out but I got a feeling for what kind of tricky situation you could get into.

1-23-11 Sterling Gorge... Really

Sterling Gorge is a lot of fun and we spent a chunk of this exploring different parts of the Catamount Ski Trail.
This tree snapped off half way up and it was hanging upside down. Very cool.
New skies and new leather telemark boots. By new I mean used and probably made in 1980, but newer than anything I had before. I am ecstatic with the new boots, they completely changed how I ski. If the snow had cooperated and not made traction such a pain it would have been better.

1-16-11 Groton... also again

We didn't have a lot of photos from this one. We have been to Groton State Park before and had a lot of fun so we had to return, this time to a northern entrance. We skied down and around Peacham Pond and then did the long trek back to the car.

1-15-11 Little River

Yet another revisit, this time to Little River at the eastern base of Mt. Mansfield. We thought it would be quiet. This line of cars extended around the bend. It included several sled dog trucks. There were at least two dogsleds we ran across.
Again heavy snow made it deep but the trails were well worn.
It was more fun than it may looks, it wasn't freezing and there was some very pretty snow covered trees.
The end was on a massive hill, one that looked more daunting from the top than looking back.
See? We both were overly cautious on the slope. A melodramatic end.

1-9-11 Sterling Gorge

Sterling Gorge is part of the Stowe Land Trust and contains the Catamount Ski Trail, VAST (Snowmobile) and hiking trails. A truly pleasant and quiet place to ski. However, a new map gave me over confidence and despite what she said:
I thought I knew where we were.
I did not. It was a long detour to get home through driving snow and winds. Still, we will return because what a fun place to ski.

1-8-11 Mount Mansfield?

I am writing most of these several months after the actual hikes so I think this was at Mount Mansfield and this is the only photo I have. It is of a snowy brook. Surprising I know.

12-25-10 Almost Old Speck

This is actually the foothills of Old Speck Mountain in Maine. It is a beast and the second time I was on my new snowshoes. Unfortunately they failed to work properly and we had to turn around before I injured myself. Some day we will return and claim it.

12-19-10 Mt Mansfield... again

This time we explored some the cross-country ski trails that cross the side of Mount Mansfield. We were on snowshoes, which was a very good thing given the deep, unbroken snow.A really cool waterfall. It will reappear in a later entry.
Just stunning marshmellow snow.
It was about 1.5 feet deep and it tired Sal out a lot. This trip actually convinced us that he shouldn't join us again for his own health.

The view from the almost top. This was never going to be an ascent to the peak but we still found a good view.

12-5-10 Hurrican Mountain

Again this is a place we have climbed before but revisiting it in the winter was a very different experience.
Sal and I, ready to head out, clothed in my wool viking tunic that I designed and sewed. It is based on a vintage design and I have used it consistently for the entire winter as my primary outer garment and it is brilliant.
Crazy icicles and moss. What a color combo.
And stunning ice on the trees.
This did not reflect the actual mood of the trip. For reasons I don't remember we did not document the fact that the whole steep trail was a literal waterfall of ice. My crampons served me brilliantly but sadly Heather lacked such devices and we turned around about a quarter of a mile from the top because we could not safely go on. One of the hardest hikes we have done.

12-4-10 Mt Mansfield, Cantilever Rock

Mount Mansfield has become one of our more commonly visited winter playground. There are so many trails that dots its massive flanks. This particular hike was up Sunset Ridge (one we have done in the summer) to Cantilever Rock.
This was one of the last hikes Sal joined us because his short hair on his underbelly does not protect him against deep snow.
Just the coolest frost and icicles. I used my crampons for parts of this were ice was bad.
This is the rock, I would say over 20 feet long it just hangs over the trail.
And overlooks the valley.

11-6-10 Mount Hunger

If that doesn't show desolation I don't know what does... Mount Hunger is located east of Stowe, VT. It is part of the Worcester Range, a place that we have explored several times. There was heavy snow so not many pictures nor views.