While I longed to stay in Mexico and revive hopes of being a lifelong expat- fitness was calling me back north. As expected getting back into the swing of things after vaca was a challenge but for those who know me my persistence for fitness can be uncanny.
Trekking: I’ve committed to (at least) one winter summit per month. There was a group hike scheduled for a 13-mile loop in Carter Ridge which had gotten canceled, so I stepped up to the plate and volunteered to lead but everyone bailed save for one brave soul who works at Dartmouth College. Snow forecast led her to cancel (with a long apologetic text) at 5 am the morning of but I was already up in the Whites so there was no way I’d be going home without a summit. I was tossing and turning about whether to take a short solo hike or rent backcountry skis and try my luck on the “Sherb” but I imagined the snow was a bit crusty due to recent rain. I then swapped plans and said to my fam that I’d hike Madison but at the Appalachia lot I knew Mt. Adams was calling me.
The mountain has some serious history as I’ve taken two lost loves up through the boulder/cave scramble of the route that is Subway< King’s Ravine > Airline. Reflecting on past smiles of fresh summer love were long gone and I knew a winter summit of Adams would be equally emotionally as physically taxing. Then again, that’s exactly what cemented the plan as something I definitely had to fuckin’ send. Us adventure junkies aren’t fueled merely by caffeine and wanderlust; it’s the demons that are the spurs on our heels to climb harder, and to be better, faster, and stronger. Armed with a 65L pack (okay I definitely need a winter hiking backpack) with all the survival and snow gear I needed for sustenance and success I trudged up a steep slope in snowshoes before breaking treeline and was treated to the serene gray bliss of the undercast alpine zone. Once again, the White Mountains poked up over a sea of clouds that blanketed the earth as far as the eye could see.
While some balk at the idea of seeking summits in winter, I’d argue that such adventures can be far more enjoyable than the muddy boulder scrambles that is summer hiking in the granite state. In winter, the terrain is reduced to a plane of white with technical decisions reduced to whether it’s time to change your traction to spikes or snowshoes. I stuck with the later after a fellow hiker shared beta of the snowfields far ahead. Navigating icy rocks on snowshoes is no great joy, especially in “no fall zones” in which a slip could land you sliding down into the depths of King’s ravine. Nonetheless, the snowshoes of choice are not the rawhide-wrapped wooden numbers of Yukon explorers but instead are compact plastic & carbon fiber platforms armed with jagged crampon teeth. The snowfield across Edmunds Col on the AT across the presidential range was one of deep snow with clear evidence of hip-deep post-holing from those ill-equipped for such adventures. The final scramble up Adams was an arduous mile of ice-covered rocks and short steps with poles being vital to your ability to remain upright. I had a quick chat with a lesbian couple who shared delight in our mutual brand of snowshoe (a rare French export I must add) and we laughed at our unconventional pursuits of type II fun when so many others dare to leave the comforts of their couches in winter months.
On top of Adams (nearly 2,000m) I had the summit to myself where I whispered names of past lovers into the wind and made peace with the stoic pile of rocks. I kicked myself for not bringing a summit beer or nip to take the edge off, but it was safer to keep my wit sharp. My packed PB&Js had rendered my food back into a surgery site of sticky red so I fished out other high-calorie snacks for a late lunch. At that moment I swore off PB&Js for mountain treks for they are far too fragile unless you eat them early in the hike. Okay perhaps sitting on your bag when changing winter traction didn’t help that situation but seriously, if you have a suggestion for hiking sandwiches/ meals, do leave a comment below.
The descent could have been skied and I did see a guy skinning up Valley Way, albeit a bit late in the day to enjoy much daylight, plus his girlfriend didn’t have skis. What an odd combo. The descent was a slow slog but winter joggers passed me by and inspired me to keep up the pace though I shook my head and how few supplies they brought- will that base layer still keep you warm if you sprain an ankle and have to stumble down the mountain? This boy scout dropout thinks otherwise.
I made it back to the car by 15:30 with a total time (including breaks) of 7:37 hr with a total vert gain of 4,495 ft. and burned 3,577 kcal. Justifying eating junk food throughout the hike is a great motivator 🙂
Climbing: I got to top rope with a belay partner this month and sent a few 5.10s but yeah my overuse of arm technique was laughed at– yeah I know I’m bad. So working on technique and finesse remains a constant goal. For auto belay, some new routes have been set which means there are new 5.9s & 5.10s to gas out solo.
Running: I’m up to 10km!!! This was a big achievement and the longest I’ve run in years. Again, this is more of a mental than a physical challenge as soon as I’m halfway through my intended route I’ve already laid out ways to extend the run and once I commit to that there’s no way that I’d dog it and walk home. I definitely channeled David Goggins to break through the “pain cave” and keep pushing, albeit not at the quickest pace but I’m proud to now aim for one 10km run a week.
Lifting: Uni. students are back which means the gym is a zoo. I’m trying to get there later in the evening which means weaning off pre-workout powders but my progress is consistent. I am still sticking to 20-40 min on the Stairmaster which renders me a ruddy-cheeked, sweaty mess, but some workouts have netted between 800- 1,100 kcal burned in about 90 min so that’s not too shabby.
Again, the “leanface” RPG is a daily quest, and a few weeks of progress can be pushed back by a bender or too many cheat meals. Looking forward to continued commitment in future months and am excited for an ice climbing course in Feb.
Stay strong,
Anders