It took u
s 4 hours to get to the top, due to numerous gear issues; two in our group, Barbara Hough and Vera Kaufman, had defective snowshoes and had to bareboot it. But what an accomplishment! We all felt as high as the mountain (4,052 feet high) when we got to the top. We had successfully braved bitter cold (it was 0 degrees F. at trailhead and got down to at least -2 on the trail) and succeeded in hiking up our first 4,000 footer -- and a Presidential no less -- in winter!It was incredibly beautiful. The tree branches were so laden with snow that we marveled that they didn't break.
Highlights included:
- my first experience glissading -- FUN!
- a gray jay joined us on the trail
- 2 chickadees singing in the trees
- 40-50mph gusts on the summit, fogged up sunglasses and a realization that one really does need goggles for winter hiking
- the hair around our faces turned to icicles, making us look like we had white hair!
- delicious snickerdoodle summit cookies
- always-smiling and helpful leaders Reji James and Michele Grzenda
Summit: Mt. Jackson (4,052' high)
Route: Webster-Jackson Trail
See more photos.
P.S. My car slid sideways into a snowbank the night before, as I was turning into the driveway of the Highland Center. Fortunately, I had a good shovel in my trunk and dug the car out; it took about 30 minutes. Vanessa Johnson had gone to get help; the rescue team of 5, including Reji James and Larry Tackiff, arrived just in time to help me out with a hefty push. An exciting way to begin the weekend at the Shapleigh Bunkhouse at AMC's Highland Center. :-)
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