saxman
05-13-2002, 09:58 AM
Stayed at the Joe Dodge Lodge Fri night with Richard, Cathy, and Dick. All Sat night the wind was howling like a freight train. Sat a.m. woke to the same, clouds traveling very fast and seemed to be building. Cold enough for winter gear at Pinkham notch, gave it 'til 8:30, hit the trail, sans sax.
Good going all the way to Ho-Jo's. Grivels were not needed. Slushy long snow patches from a little before 2nd and 3rd bridge up. Little headwall almost totaly clear of snow on the walk from Ho-Jo's to the ravine.
Ravine was sunny but windy, wind ended up diminishing into the afternoon. On the hike out it made me wish I had brought the sax and waited it out, but at the time the call was made (8:30 a.m.) not to bring it, it was a good one. Many times I have brought it anyway, only to end up with 13lbs of useless brass in my pack.
Ski conditions - There were still people climbing all the way up over the headwall and sneaking through a few of the chutes on the left side and sking the whole thing. Right side has those every year nasty smiley cracks you don't want to fall into. It still amazes me the number of people that put themselves in harms way over there. Many people were sking all the way right, along lunch rocks. Hillmans highway looked covered almost all the way to the top, and there were people sking it.
I would say there is plenty of sking left if you are thinking about next week-end, and probably the week-end after, depending allways, of course on the weather. Plenty of up-downs to be had, for several week ends beyond that, climbing up to just below water fall level, but stay to the left of it because of the crevasses and undermined snow.
That's probably it for me this year. Two unsaxable trips, but the beauty and splendor of the ravine remains, playing a tune of its own. Maybe next year I will get to augment its music - if it lets me....
Respectfully submitted,
/Saxman
Good going all the way to Ho-Jo's. Grivels were not needed. Slushy long snow patches from a little before 2nd and 3rd bridge up. Little headwall almost totaly clear of snow on the walk from Ho-Jo's to the ravine.
Ravine was sunny but windy, wind ended up diminishing into the afternoon. On the hike out it made me wish I had brought the sax and waited it out, but at the time the call was made (8:30 a.m.) not to bring it, it was a good one. Many times I have brought it anyway, only to end up with 13lbs of useless brass in my pack.
Ski conditions - There were still people climbing all the way up over the headwall and sneaking through a few of the chutes on the left side and sking the whole thing. Right side has those every year nasty smiley cracks you don't want to fall into. It still amazes me the number of people that put themselves in harms way over there. Many people were sking all the way right, along lunch rocks. Hillmans highway looked covered almost all the way to the top, and there were people sking it.
I would say there is plenty of sking left if you are thinking about next week-end, and probably the week-end after, depending allways, of course on the weather. Plenty of up-downs to be had, for several week ends beyond that, climbing up to just below water fall level, but stay to the left of it because of the crevasses and undermined snow.
That's probably it for me this year. Two unsaxable trips, but the beauty and splendor of the ravine remains, playing a tune of its own. Maybe next year I will get to augment its music - if it lets me....
Respectfully submitted,
/Saxman