4-7-13 Little River

I really wasn't kidding about Little River.  I decide to take a new pair of running shoes out in the snow and see how they did.  At some point I will actually review all the minimalist shoes I have tried, but not today.  This time I went to a part of the park I had not been to before.

When the  snow is not here there is a beach I believe.  Can't be sure though.

Wool socks combined with breathable trail shoes work, only occasionally does snow get inside and sure your feet get wet but not cold with wool.

Mounting points for the docks.  I like finding these man made objects and shooting them in contrast with nature.

Rivers are not in full force yet but are growing.

Yet another foundation.  There were so many houses in these hills that foundations or walls are everywhere.

We found this metal roller in the middle of one foundation pit (detail shot later).  Sal was intrigued.

This one site had lots of debris, this looks to be part of maybe a mantel?

I am sure if I grew up on a farm I would know exactly what this was but I have not a clue.  Looked damn medieval though.

Someone had gathered broken glass and piled it up on the rock wall.  It made a pretty shot.

Vergennes and a visit from my Folks

First I had to include this shot of Sal.  You can see why.

My parent's came up for a visit and one of the things we did was go down to Vergennes.  There was a specifici coffee//bakery I wanted to show them but we stopped at the park at the base of the falls first.

I had actually never been down there and did not realize just how big it was.

Walking from the car.

Dashing captain.  It was a good visit, made better by nice weather and sun for us to walk around in.  We were all tired but the end of that day but the rule is get the sun while you can around here.

3-23-13 Snake Mountain with my Uncle

In a pleasant turn of events my Uncle was able to get a ride up to Vermont and spend a long weekend with me.  While we spent a great deal enjoy the decedent nature of Burlington I did manage to convince him to go for a climb of Snake Mountain.   While I have done this multiple times it is always a nice hike and the view rewarding.

The view.  Rewarding.

My uncle bundled sort of.  It wasn't frigid but there was a plucky wind that battered us.  And we even sorta ran on the way down.  He was quite explicit about the nature of aging and finding me when I am his age so I would then have clarity.  We stopped at a sandwich place on the way back in Vergennes that was awesome and brought the experience to a good close.

End of the world...

Calvin and Hobbes eat your heart out, Sometimes I feel right at home here...

3-16-13 Ice Climbing

Through my workplace I got a very unique opportunity to learn how to ice climb from the Mountaineering division of the Army Rangers which happen to be located in Vermont.  We spent and a day up on the ice and had a blast.  Some but not all these pictures are mine, others in the party also took a lot of great shots.

In order to get to the climb site we got a ride in the military version of a snow cat.  Very loud but so, so so cool to ride in.

Gearing up, not me but some of the soldiers that were up there with us.  There were also climbing so we all got to climb together.

All tied in and starting a climb.  It may not look crazy steep, and perhaps it wasn't but it was steep enough.

This was by far the hardest and the last climbing place we went.  This is not me but Maureen from work.  I was able to get up all the other ascents but this one I only got half way up before my hands gave out.

You can see the safety lines there, we were all roped up with crampons and ice picks.

Spikes on the feet.  I had to be conscious of them at all times so I did not catch myself and the rigid boots weighted a ton.

All of us had an amazing time and want to go back.  I know I can't really afford another hobby, and this one is quite dangerous but it was so cool.  A 3D puzzle that was mental and physical exercise.

And what a beautiful place to be.

All of us infront of those awesome snow cats.  It was incredible and I am very grateful to these soldiers for their patience and working with them to climb and belay.  I think it is rare for civilians to spend time with military personel like this and was a surprising almost emotional experience of something that I am certainly not exposed to otherwise.

3-2-13 Little River Snowshoeing

Like I said, a lot of time in Little River.  This was a snwoshoing trip with Craig.  We were going to try to summit one peak or another but time and weather conspired to change those plans so we ended up in at the old sawmill in Little River. 

The boiler sitting contently in the snow.

There are signs throughout the park telling the history of the village that used to be here before the Dam was build.  Craig felt the urge of historical knowledge, and Sal was on his way to assist.

Closer still on the boiler.

Inside the beast.  You can see the internal workings there, the pipes that carried water through the heat to boil.

Little River completely frozen.  people were out there ice fishing, a cold sport it would seem.

Getting ready to leave.

Sal was ready to get home

2-23-13 Little River Skiing

I finally got back on my skies back in Little River.  I have been truant in posts and as I drafted all of them I realized how much time I have spent in Little River State Park.

After some warmth the snow was an icy mess, made it quite slippery.  I had to reapply wax multiple times.

It is good to look down and see these.  Also good to look back up and not go off the trail.

I was the only one out on the this part of trail.  It was nice and quiet and the snow was beautiful.

Sal was, as always having a blast.  The snow was partially solid but more than often his paws sunk threw.  I had to keep an eye on him and make sure he did not open a wound up from it.

Honestly my favorite thing is going down hill and telling Sal to hurry up.  We got good at syncing our speed but in a couple parts he had to be full force.

I actually ended up making my turning back point at a hill that I tried and realized that I could not make the turn on the bridge if I started at the top.  I did run after run slowly going further up the hill and found that I could not make the precision required.  A little left or right I was to end up in an icy river and the bridge was a narrow one so, being that I was alone, we turned back at that point.

Sadly my ski boots fell apart by the end of that trip, so I will need new ones but they served me well and I must say my skiing has gotten better.