Saturday we attempted to snowshoe up Hedgehog Mountain and Sunday we used StabilICERS on the trail to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain, which has fine views over Squam Lake (completely frozen this time of year).
We weren't breaking trail up Hedgehog, but it was definitely more work than bare-booting it. We decided to turn back after two hours of climbing up due to fear of frostbite on my toes, which had gone numb from the bitter cold. It was frankly difficult to keep my hands warm given the extreme cold. Thank goodness for hand warmers!
We got too late of a start on Sunday to finish the Rattlesnake Mountain loop, where we would have been breaking trail after the first summit. Views over Squam Lake (in photo) were beautiful!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
In memory of Mark Podsedly (1962 - 2008)
The day before Thanksgiving last year, Mark lost his courageous battle with cancer. He was a dear, dear friend and he will be sorely missed.
I’ve known Mark for 15 years. I first met him in 1993 when we were working together in product marketing at Sun Microsystems. From the first time I met him, he struck me as an incredibly smart, highly motivated guy:
- he had surprising influence among the engineers at Sun, an engineering-driven company
- he was instrumental in developing the SPARCstation X-terminal – a product that was very advanced for its time… now, 15 years later, the latest technology buzz is about “cloud computing” and virtual desktops. His product, the X-terminal, would be a perfect thin client. In other words – it was a product ahead of its time.
- he was way out front with technology. I understand that he was one of the first people to get a PC -- even among his engineering friends. He was doing things with the Internet in 1993 that no one had even heard of. He taught me about URL links, for example.
Mark took it all in stride, laughing about it at the time -- though I'm sure he was puzzled -- and then REALLY appreciating the humor of it when he learned my husband's intentions -- he held the same opinion of Mark F! That was a good night -- a night of comradery for all of us working in that group at Sun.
It was at that Sun holiday party, that I met Melisa Stern. They got married the next year, 1995, and Mark was as happy as I'd ever known him.
Mark was one of my best platonic guy friends. He was so fiercely protective of me -- supporting me through difficult times and always asking if there was anything he could do for me. That was Mark -- selfless and full of grace and dignity to the end.
Mark was a determined man. Determined to fight his tumor ... Determined to be a loving husband to Melisa ... Determined to be a dedicated father to his daughter Natalie. And determined to be an incredible friend to me and many others ...
Friends are the family we choose. Mark and I, as friends, became family. In finding him as a friend, I found a treasure.
To paraphrase Adlai Stevenson (1962) -- I have lost more than a friend. I have lost an inspiration. He would rather light candles than curse the darkness -- And his glow has warmed the world.
May the glow of Mark's memory live on in all of our hearts.
Mt. Potash - my first winter hike of the season!
At long last, the White Mountains again! It was only about 12 degrees, but without the wind we were warm enough. We broke trail for most of the hike, snowshoeing the entire way, and seeing not a soul the whole time. One of the three brook crossings was a bit difficult, but doable.
With few yellow blazes along the way, the Mt. Potash trail is a bit difficult to follow. Thus it took us about 3 hours to get to the top. After lunch on the summit, we snowshoed back down. Because we had a clear trail by following our tracks, we made it down in just two hours. This is a great winter hike.
I am now fairly comfortable on snowshoes. I can now handle the steep inclines and declines that last year caused me to either hesitate (and proceed slowly and carefully) or to retreat. I just bagged my first "mountain" on snowshoes!
4.4 miles, 1,500' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Potash = 2,680 feet high
Route: Downes Brook and Mt. Potash trails, starting from the Kancamangus Hwy.
With few yellow blazes along the way, the Mt. Potash trail is a bit difficult to follow. Thus it took us about 3 hours to get to the top. After lunch on the summit, we snowshoed back down. Because we had a clear trail by following our tracks, we made it down in just two hours. This is a great winter hike.
I am now fairly comfortable on snowshoes. I can now handle the steep inclines and declines that last year caused me to either hesitate (and proceed slowly and carefully) or to retreat. I just bagged my first "mountain" on snowshoes!
4.4 miles, 1,500' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Potash = 2,680 feet high
Route: Downes Brook and Mt. Potash trails, starting from the Kancamangus Hwy.
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