I haven’t updated in quite a while so I thought I’d post a little about what I’ve been doing.
Outdoor climbing went all the way through the end of November with trips to East Peak and another fun location. I haven’t made any breakthroughs in my climbing but I feel like 2010 was a great year of climbing. I did much more leading, primarily at the Gunks. Leading there is great because the multi-pitch climbs really force me to get my mental attitude in order. Especially when I am the most experienced of the trip.
On December 10-11 I went for a backpacking trip on the AT around Sheffield, MA. I hiked in from near Rt. 7 and stayed at Tom Leonard Shelter. I was expecting a cold night of solitude but turned out to have four other people at the shelter who were really having a party. Cabela’s was their outfitter rather than EMS or REI, if you catch my meaning. It was an interesting time and reasonable weather. Probably low 20’s during the day and 20 overnight. We got a some flurries that night and temps rose the next day on my hike out. The trip was 5 miles each way.
Just after Christmas I headed out to a section of the AT I’ve done before with some friends. This section is near Lime Rock Park. While there was about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground it was very warm and it was melting all the time. This 5.6 mile trip (each way) left me alone at Pine Swamp Brook Shelter. It was a bit creepy with the coyotes and their eerie cries as well as the mice/squirrels that were scurrying under the shelter.
In a little over a week I’ll be heading up to Mt. Washington with two friends to make a winter ascent. We’ll be staying overnight at Hermit Lake Shelters before heading up the next day. Stay tuned for that post.