Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday Things...
...will be posted tomorrow. The girls and I just came back from a wonderful hike up Mount Carrigain and now it's time for bed. :)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wednesday Shout-Out: Repeat -- Global Fund for Women
Last week, I couldn't link my Shout-Out to certain social networking sites due to a glitch that has since been fixed. Therefore, this week's Shout-Out is the same as last week's -- please click here to read my January 11 post about the Global Fund for Women.
The Tuesday Trip Report: Mt. Hale (winter 4K #31). January 14, 2012
The Higher Summits Forecast for this weekend was bad -- very bad. As in, negative-50-degree-windchills, frostbite-in-less-than-five-minutes, don't-go-above-treeline-unless-you're-a-penguin bad. There are hikers who brave the alpine zone regardless of such conditions, but I'm not one of them. On days like today, Alex and I stay below treeline and don't go much above 4000 feet.
Mt. Hale, therefore, was the perfect pick for today's hike. All the trails to the top are situated within the trees, and the giant summit cairn stands in a large clearing surrounded by nice-sized pines. Granted, the temperatures would still be cold (negative 5 to 0), but as long as we kept moving, we'd be okay.
In the summer, Hale is a short, 4.4 mile hike. In the winter, Zealand Road, the road to the trailhead, is closed and one must therefore walk 2.5 miles to the trailhead before starting the actual ascent; the total winter mileage of Hale is 9.4 roundtrip miles. (There is another way up the mountain using an abandoned fire warden's trail, but I'm not yet familiar with that route).
We arrived at Zealand Road's winter parking lot about an hour after daybreak and began the short trek to the beginning of the road.
Then came the 2.5 mile road walk. We had a few inches of fresh powder to push through...
Alex forged ahead...
...up a very snowy trail.
Larisa (LRiz in my forthcoming memoir, UP: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure) and Tim C. overtook us near the summit. They were here as part of Larisa's 48-in-one-winter Stop Northern Pass project.
Here, Tim approaches the summit.
On the top of Mt. Hale!
Larisa asked if we'd help hold her banner; we happily agreed.
We didn't linger on the summit, as the frigid temps necessitated constant movement. Tim and Larisa began their descent while I packed Alex's snowshoes and adjusted some odds and ends.
We got down Hale Brook Trail quickly (though not as fast as Larisa and Tim). For the first time this winter, Alex was able to use her sled.
Back at the trailhead!
From here, it was a fairly easy 2.5 miles back to the car. A lot of folks had been on Zealand Road while we had been on Hale Brook Trail; we were therefore able to walk out on a nicely packed snow-sidewalk.
From here, it was a short walk to the parking lot.
Mt. Hale, therefore, was the perfect pick for today's hike. All the trails to the top are situated within the trees, and the giant summit cairn stands in a large clearing surrounded by nice-sized pines. Granted, the temperatures would still be cold (negative 5 to 0), but as long as we kept moving, we'd be okay.
In the summer, Hale is a short, 4.4 mile hike. In the winter, Zealand Road, the road to the trailhead, is closed and one must therefore walk 2.5 miles to the trailhead before starting the actual ascent; the total winter mileage of Hale is 9.4 roundtrip miles. (There is another way up the mountain using an abandoned fire warden's trail, but I'm not yet familiar with that route).
We arrived at Zealand Road's winter parking lot about an hour after daybreak and began the short trek to the beginning of the road.
Then came the 2.5 mile road walk. We had a few inches of fresh powder to push through...
The trailhead! We were now more than halfway finished our one-way mileage...even though we hadn't yet started our ascent.
Alex forged ahead...
...up a very snowy trail.
Larisa (LRiz in my forthcoming memoir, UP: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure) and Tim C. overtook us near the summit. They were here as part of Larisa's 48-in-one-winter Stop Northern Pass project.
Here, Tim approaches the summit.
On the top of Mt. Hale!
Larisa asked if we'd help hold her banner; we happily agreed.
We didn't linger on the summit, as the frigid temps necessitated constant movement. Tim and Larisa began their descent while I packed Alex's snowshoes and adjusted some odds and ends.
We got down Hale Brook Trail quickly (though not as fast as Larisa and Tim). For the first time this winter, Alex was able to use her sled.
Back at the trailhead!
From here, it was a fairly easy 2.5 miles back to the car. A lot of folks had been on Zealand Road while we had been on Hale Brook Trail; we were therefore able to walk out on a nicely packed snow-sidewalk.
From here, it was a short walk to the parking lot.
31 down, 17 to go. Those remaining 17 can be consolidated into 9 hikes, so we're still on track to finish this season.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Monday Muse: Some Answers...
Thought I'd use today's Muse to answer some frequently asked questions.
1. What kind of gear do you carry/use when you hike?
I'm the type that prefers to be completely prepared for an accidental night out, especially since I usually have at least one of my daughters with me. Therefore, my backpack includes:
Summer gear: sleeping bag, tarp, bivouac sac, insulated foam mat, extra base layers (no cotton!), personal locator beacon, first aid kit, duct tape, sunblock, bug spray, toilet paper, small and large plastic bags, food, water, Nalgene bottles with insulated sleeves, iodine tablets (for purifying stream water), bandanas, hiking poles or walking sticks, emergency bivy, emergency blanket (lightweight version), hat, wool gloves, waterproof gloves, waterproof pants, wind/waterproof jacket, fleece pants, fleece sweater/jacket, balaclava, facemasks, chemical hand and body warmers, multiple headlamps, a hiker towel, climbing rope or cord, extra bungee cords, extra socks, waterproof matches, emergency whistles, map, compass, a pocketknife, a hunting knife, and pepper spray.
I carry enough of the above for two or three people, depending on whether I'm hiking with Alex, Sage, or both -- except the girls carry their own changes of base layers and their own sets of gloves, hats, chemical warmers, balaclavas, food, water, headlamps, compasses, and emergency whistles. I also have them wear hunter orange vests when we hike, so they can be easily seen.
Summer footwear: waterproof hiking boots. We sometimes carry sandals or Crocs for stream crossings.
Winter gear: all of the above, plus goggles, a winter sleeping bag and sometimes, instead of the bivouac sack, a full-size tent. If I break a leg and we have to spend a night out in subzero temperatures, I want to make sure we have everything we need to stay warm, dry and fed until help arrives.
Winter footwear: Sorel boots (-40 degree) with liners. We also use/carry microspikes, Hillsounds Crampons Pros, and usually snowshoes.
2 . Do they girls always hike on their own two feet?
Yes, they always do and they always have -- with the exception of some of the highpoints. The rules for highpointing are unique -- any method of ascent/descent is allowed. Of the highpoints we've summited where hiking is the only option (no roads or railroads exist), the girls have hiked the trails on their own two feet -- with the sole exception of Mt. Marcy in NY, where I carried an overheated Sage for about a mile on the descent.
3. How often do you hike?
Once a week or once every other week, depending on our moods and goals.
4. Is hiking the reason you homeschool?
No, not at all. We used to hike solely on the weekends; we've only recently begun (occasionally) hiking during the week. We homeschool because we like the flexibility homeschooling offers. Our choice to homeschool has nothing to do with our hiking.
5. When and why did the girls start hiking?
We started on a total whim. Read my forthcoming book, UP: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure, to learn more. Publication date is April 3 (but you can preorder now using the above links).
6. How do you get the girls to hike?
This is probably the most frequent question I receive, and it's also my favorite...because it's so off the mark. I don't "get" my kids to do anything, lol. They hike because they like to hike. They enjoy the beauty of the mountaintops, they enjoy every aspect of nature. Also, hiking, for them, is normal, it's just what they do. The girls sometimes seem genuinely confused as to why others make a big deal of their accomplishments.
I don't believe in trying to "get" your kid up a mountain if it means pushing or cajoling in any way. Mainly, because I don't see the point. I don't even think it would work, not really. Maybe once, maybe on one hike, the kid would get to the top of a peak. But repeatedly, over and over again, month after month? Can't see that happening. Mine go because they want to. If they don't want to go, then we don't. It's that simple. There've been times when I've turned us around because someone decided they weren't feeling up to it that day. That's never a problem -- I've no desire to hike with anyone who doesn't really want to be out there. Again, I don't see the point.
7. How experienced are Alex and Sage?
Tricky question. Depends on what you mean by "experienced." Alex will have almost finished two and three complete rounds of the NH48 by the end of this winter, Sage has finished one round, and both have hiked many highpoints and a multitude of peaks on other NH lists. They've each hiked in subzero temperatures and high winds. They've each used microspikes and snowshoes. However, due to their young ages, I wouldn't allow them to hike anywhere alone no matter what the trail or weather, and they still get distracted on descents because they both like to talk and sing all the way down the mountain (ah, youth). They both have a ton of spring, summer and fall hiking experience, but Sage is a beginner when it comes to winter hiking. Alex is fairly experienced in winter hiking, though most of that experience has been below treeline.
That's it for now. There are a few more FAQs to answer, but I'll save those for another day.
1. What kind of gear do you carry/use when you hike?
I'm the type that prefers to be completely prepared for an accidental night out, especially since I usually have at least one of my daughters with me. Therefore, my backpack includes:
Summer gear: sleeping bag, tarp, bivouac sac, insulated foam mat, extra base layers (no cotton!), personal locator beacon, first aid kit, duct tape, sunblock, bug spray, toilet paper, small and large plastic bags, food, water, Nalgene bottles with insulated sleeves, iodine tablets (for purifying stream water), bandanas, hiking poles or walking sticks, emergency bivy, emergency blanket (lightweight version), hat, wool gloves, waterproof gloves, waterproof pants, wind/waterproof jacket, fleece pants, fleece sweater/jacket, balaclava, facemasks, chemical hand and body warmers, multiple headlamps, a hiker towel, climbing rope or cord, extra bungee cords, extra socks, waterproof matches, emergency whistles, map, compass, a pocketknife, a hunting knife, and pepper spray.
I carry enough of the above for two or three people, depending on whether I'm hiking with Alex, Sage, or both -- except the girls carry their own changes of base layers and their own sets of gloves, hats, chemical warmers, balaclavas, food, water, headlamps, compasses, and emergency whistles. I also have them wear hunter orange vests when we hike, so they can be easily seen.
Summer footwear: waterproof hiking boots. We sometimes carry sandals or Crocs for stream crossings.
Winter gear: all of the above, plus goggles, a winter sleeping bag and sometimes, instead of the bivouac sack, a full-size tent. If I break a leg and we have to spend a night out in subzero temperatures, I want to make sure we have everything we need to stay warm, dry and fed until help arrives.
Winter footwear: Sorel boots (-40 degree) with liners. We also use/carry microspikes, Hillsounds Crampons Pros, and usually snowshoes.
2 . Do they girls always hike on their own two feet?
Yes, they always do and they always have -- with the exception of some of the highpoints. The rules for highpointing are unique -- any method of ascent/descent is allowed. Of the highpoints we've summited where hiking is the only option (no roads or railroads exist), the girls have hiked the trails on their own two feet -- with the sole exception of Mt. Marcy in NY, where I carried an overheated Sage for about a mile on the descent.
3. How often do you hike?
Once a week or once every other week, depending on our moods and goals.
4. Is hiking the reason you homeschool?
No, not at all. We used to hike solely on the weekends; we've only recently begun (occasionally) hiking during the week. We homeschool because we like the flexibility homeschooling offers. Our choice to homeschool has nothing to do with our hiking.
5. When and why did the girls start hiking?
We started on a total whim. Read my forthcoming book, UP: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure, to learn more. Publication date is April 3 (but you can preorder now using the above links).
6. How do you get the girls to hike?
This is probably the most frequent question I receive, and it's also my favorite...because it's so off the mark. I don't "get" my kids to do anything, lol. They hike because they like to hike. They enjoy the beauty of the mountaintops, they enjoy every aspect of nature. Also, hiking, for them, is normal, it's just what they do. The girls sometimes seem genuinely confused as to why others make a big deal of their accomplishments.
I don't believe in trying to "get" your kid up a mountain if it means pushing or cajoling in any way. Mainly, because I don't see the point. I don't even think it would work, not really. Maybe once, maybe on one hike, the kid would get to the top of a peak. But repeatedly, over and over again, month after month? Can't see that happening. Mine go because they want to. If they don't want to go, then we don't. It's that simple. There've been times when I've turned us around because someone decided they weren't feeling up to it that day. That's never a problem -- I've no desire to hike with anyone who doesn't really want to be out there. Again, I don't see the point.
7. How experienced are Alex and Sage?
Tricky question. Depends on what you mean by "experienced." Alex will have almost finished two and three complete rounds of the NH48 by the end of this winter, Sage has finished one round, and both have hiked many highpoints and a multitude of peaks on other NH lists. They've each hiked in subzero temperatures and high winds. They've each used microspikes and snowshoes. However, due to their young ages, I wouldn't allow them to hike anywhere alone no matter what the trail or weather, and they still get distracted on descents because they both like to talk and sing all the way down the mountain (ah, youth). They both have a ton of spring, summer and fall hiking experience, but Sage is a beginner when it comes to winter hiking. Alex is fairly experienced in winter hiking, though most of that experience has been below treeline.
That's it for now. There are a few more FAQs to answer, but I'll save those for another day.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Friday Wrap
This week flew by! Hard to believe it's Friday already.
Let's see...the girls and I finished creating a new New Hampshire hiking list, The Terrifying Twenty-Five, we threw ourselves back into full-time homeschooling (which was a bit of a shock after our nice, long Christmas break), and, tonight, Alex and I are preparing to hike our 31st winter 4K. We had hoped to do a slew of mountains this weekend, but the Upper Summits Forecast calls for no visibility, -40 wind chills, and all-around inhuman hiking conditions. The mountain we'll do tomorrow is the tamest we have left on our list. Even so, we'll be in full winter gear (minus crampons), and I'll probably stick a chemical body warmer or two on Alex's base layers.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Let's see...the girls and I finished creating a new New Hampshire hiking list, The Terrifying Twenty-Five, we threw ourselves back into full-time homeschooling (which was a bit of a shock after our nice, long Christmas break), and, tonight, Alex and I are preparing to hike our 31st winter 4K. We had hoped to do a slew of mountains this weekend, but the Upper Summits Forecast calls for no visibility, -40 wind chills, and all-around inhuman hiking conditions. The mountain we'll do tomorrow is the tamest we have left on our list. Even so, we'll be in full winter gear (minus crampons), and I'll probably stick a chemical body warmer or two on Alex's base layers.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Thursday Things: New Hiking List: The Terrifying Twenty-Five
It's Thursday, which means it's time to report our progress on 101 Things in 202 Thursdays.
We're happy to report that we can now mark as complete number 35, "play every board and card game in the house," and number 46, "create our own hiking list name it, and create an appropriate patch."
Playing every board and card game was both fun and tedious. It was nice to revisit games we hadn't played in a while, but, unfortunately, the girls aren't ready to let go of anything. Arg. I'd REALLY like to declutter the game cabinet...
Now, number 46, our new hiking list: The Terrifying Twenty-Five
UPDATE (June 2012) -- CLICK HERE FOR REVISED AND FINAL LIST.
Many thanks to all the folks at VFTT for their advice and suggestions!
This list includes slides, rock scrambles and boulder caves that can be found along maintained trails within the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
No one but us may want to do this list, but that's okay...our primary objective is to do the kinds of hikes we like best.
Sage came up with the name -- The Terrifying Twenty-Five (she wanted to make it seem especially grandiose, hence the word "terrifying").
Alex drew the design for the patch.
I went through Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide, 28th Edition and, based on the trail descriptions and the input of the girls, came up with a list of trails. I then asked the community at Views From the Top (VFTT) to post their advice.
Since there is no one definite measure of what constitutes frightening, extremely difficult, or very interesting, I created two sections of this list. The first section consists of required trails, ones that most agreed were especially tricky, scrambly, and/or just plain fun. The second section consists of elective trails, trails that some found frightening but others found tame. One can choose any five trails from that section, based on what the individual hiker wishes to experience (ladders, a wee bit of scrambling, boulders, etc.) On Monday I hope to post a short description of each trail; I'll take the descriptions from Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide (and credit the authors accordingly).
Required trails:
Baldface Circle Trail (southern portion, from South Baldface Shelter to the summit of South Baldface)
Caps Ridge Trail
Castle Ravine Trail
Castle Trail
Chemin des Dames
Eagle Cliff Trail (to viewpoint)
Flume Slide Trail
Great Gulf Trail
Great Gully Trail
Huntington Ravine Trail
Ice Gulch Path
Madison Gulf Trail
Mount Percival Trail (boulder cave route)
North Slide, N. Tripyramid
Six Husbands Trail
South Slide, S. Tripyramid
Sphinx Trail
Subway (King Ravine Trail)
Table Rock Trail (from eastern trailhead, to ledge)
Zeacliff Trail (note: I might replace this with Percy Peaks Trail)
In addition to the twenty required trails, one must hike any five of the following:
Airline Trail
Algonquin Trail
Beaver Brook Trail
Brook Trail
Blueberry Ledge Trail
Desolation Trail
Devil's Hopyard
Goodrich Rock Trail
Hi-Cannon Trail
Osseo Trail
Percy Peaks Trail (note: I might replace this with Zeacliff Trail)
Piper Trail
Walden Trail
Wildcat Ridge Trail from route 16 to E peak
Willey Range (ladder section up Mt. Willey)
If anyone besides us has any interest in doing this list, here are our rules:
Get to the trailhead however you like.
Given the nature of the trails, no special winter patch will ever be created.
Must hike the entire trail on your own two feet.
Above all -- hike at your own risk. We are not liable for any injuries or accidents. These are tough trails and should not be attempted by the inexperienced or the cavalier.
If you take on this list, then let us know when you finish and we'll send you a patch. Please note if the number of finishers/applicants ends up being more than we expected, then we may have to start charging for the patch (just expenses, no profits).
Your application should be sent via email to: patriciaellisherr@post.harvard.edu.
Type the following in the body of your email (I will not open attachments):
Your name, mailing address, names of the trails and the date you hiked each. Comments and links to trip reports would be nice, but they're not required. You're on the honor system. Karma will eventually get you if you lie.
See you out there!
We're happy to report that we can now mark as complete number 35, "play every board and card game in the house," and number 46, "create our own hiking list name it, and create an appropriate patch."
Playing every board and card game was both fun and tedious. It was nice to revisit games we hadn't played in a while, but, unfortunately, the girls aren't ready to let go of anything. Arg. I'd REALLY like to declutter the game cabinet...
Now, number 46, our new hiking list: The Terrifying Twenty-Five
UPDATE (June 2012) -- CLICK HERE FOR REVISED AND FINAL LIST.
We will turn Alex's design into a patch.
Many thanks to all the folks at VFTT for their advice and suggestions!
This list includes slides, rock scrambles and boulder caves that can be found along maintained trails within the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
No one but us may want to do this list, but that's okay...our primary objective is to do the kinds of hikes we like best.
Sage came up with the name -- The Terrifying Twenty-Five (she wanted to make it seem especially grandiose, hence the word "terrifying").
Alex drew the design for the patch.
I went through Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide, 28th Edition and, based on the trail descriptions and the input of the girls, came up with a list of trails. I then asked the community at Views From the Top (VFTT) to post their advice.
Since there is no one definite measure of what constitutes frightening, extremely difficult, or very interesting, I created two sections of this list. The first section consists of required trails, ones that most agreed were especially tricky, scrambly, and/or just plain fun. The second section consists of elective trails, trails that some found frightening but others found tame. One can choose any five trails from that section, based on what the individual hiker wishes to experience (ladders, a wee bit of scrambling, boulders, etc.) On Monday I hope to post a short description of each trail; I'll take the descriptions from Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide (and credit the authors accordingly).
Required trails:
Baldface Circle Trail (southern portion, from South Baldface Shelter to the summit of South Baldface)
Caps Ridge Trail
Castle Ravine Trail
Castle Trail
Chemin des Dames
Eagle Cliff Trail (to viewpoint)
Flume Slide Trail
Great Gulf Trail
Great Gully Trail
Huntington Ravine Trail
Ice Gulch Path
Madison Gulf Trail
Mount Percival Trail (boulder cave route)
North Slide, N. Tripyramid
Six Husbands Trail
South Slide, S. Tripyramid
Sphinx Trail
Subway (King Ravine Trail)
Table Rock Trail (from eastern trailhead, to ledge)
Zeacliff Trail (note: I might replace this with Percy Peaks Trail)
In addition to the twenty required trails, one must hike any five of the following:
Airline Trail
Algonquin Trail
Beaver Brook Trail
Brook Trail
Blueberry Ledge Trail
Desolation Trail
Devil's Hopyard
Goodrich Rock Trail
Hi-Cannon Trail
Osseo Trail
Percy Peaks Trail (note: I might replace this with Zeacliff Trail)
Piper Trail
Walden Trail
Wildcat Ridge Trail from route 16 to E peak
Willey Range (ladder section up Mt. Willey)
If anyone besides us has any interest in doing this list, here are our rules:
Get to the trailhead however you like.
Given the nature of the trails, no special winter patch will ever be created.
Must hike the entire trail on your own two feet.
Above all -- hike at your own risk. We are not liable for any injuries or accidents. These are tough trails and should not be attempted by the inexperienced or the cavalier.
If you take on this list, then let us know when you finish and we'll send you a patch. Please note if the number of finishers/applicants ends up being more than we expected, then we may have to start charging for the patch (just expenses, no profits).
Your application should be sent via email to: patriciaellisherr@post.harvard.edu.
Type the following in the body of your email (I will not open attachments):
Your name, mailing address, names of the trails and the date you hiked each. Comments and links to trip reports would be nice, but they're not required. You're on the honor system. Karma will eventually get you if you lie.
See you out there!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Wednesday Shout-Out: Global Fund for Women
A year ago, Sage asked how she could help women and girls around the world. Specifically, she wanted to "stop women and girls from being treated badly" (we've had many discussions about the lack of equal rights for women-- and in some cases, human rights for women -- in many parts of the globe). I told her we could look into raising money for a charity. She and I then went online and researched a variety of foundations and organizations (I read the sites' content aloud to Sage and explained what all the terms and phrases meant); it didn't take Sage long to favor the Global Fund for Women.
In the words of their mission statement, "The Global Fund for Women plays a leading role in advancing women’s rights by making grants that support and strengthen women’s groups around the world. We mobilize and redistribute resources that enable women to develop creative solutions to local, regional, and transnational challenges. We bring grantees and donors together in an international network that promotes women’s action for social change, equality, peace, and justice worldwide."
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