Last Weekend's Goodness

Blazed my way from school on Friday, dressed for a hike.  Did not even stop at my parent's house; drove right to the White Cap trailhead (the one I never hike).  I wanted some fresh air and space for the dogs to run, and I will be working with the Mahoosuc Land Trust on Community Service Day for Dirigo.  So I was scoping the trail, timing the hike, getting a lay of the land so I was well-informed (even though it is not until May 17th).  What a beautiful afternoon to be out and about.   Saw no one and loved it.

Summit Sky.

The dogs were on fire.

From here, I hiked down and headed to my parent's house.  Home by 5:45.  Shared a healthy dinner with Jim and got a good night's sleep for the big day at Sunday River (Someday Bigger).

Washington was out in force from one of the summits of the River.

My beloved, ass-kicking Goose Eye.

This is how we roll when at the scene that is Sunday River.  I head to White Cap lodge, not only because that was where I worked when I was in high school but mostly because it is THE least sceney spot on the mountain (and it has a bar in the lodge).  Found ourselves a secluded parking spot for the dogs and got lots of runs in.  It was sunny and warm, but not too much so.  Seriously good conditions.  Spring skiing is awesome.

Goose Eye again -- I don't know what it is about mountains, but I know it is only me.  I sit on the lift and I look and I look, and I identify each one, and I am obsessed.  I was loving the way the light dusting of snow on Old Speck highlighted the contours and edges of its ridge. I asked Jim, "Does that do ANYthing for you?"  After I had explained that I physically feel it in my body - in my heart - when I look at mountains...  He answered that he thought they were pretty, but that no, he felt nothing.  Interesting.  I wonder why I feel the way I do...  I would love to know.

After skiing drink - sitting outside and loving it.  The girl ahead of me ordered a Tic Tac - Stoli O (orange vodka) and Red Bull.  Seriously?  You are nuts, broad.  No wonder you are stick thin.

Before heading to the Matterhorn (yum!!) I wanted to get the dogs out and go for a good walk.  So we drove up toward Frenchmen's - parking where they stop plowing.  Walked in for about a half hour or so and then went to the Sunday River (the real one) to check it out.  Dix was into it.

Riverside.

Riverside again -- I learned about this in Geology - uplift, I think.  When the bedrock is sideways like this...  Pretty pretty.

Jim - walking back to the rig - with Sunday River in front of him.  Off to the Matterhorn!

And on Sunday we went to my FAVORITE place to ski - the 'Loaf.  The place feels infinitely different than Sunday River for SOOOOOO many reasons.  Even the lot is different; people are either from Maine or Canada.  Of course there are Massholes there too, but even they are different.  We went all the way to the top and did a quick hike to the summit.  

KATAHDIN was OUT and snow-covered!  Seriously special.  If you look closely, you can see its white mass in the center of the picture, but it's about 150 miles away, so it's a little tough to see through the camera.  We could see it from all over the mountain. 

We started with a top to bottom run down Tote Road - and that might be my favorite part of Sugarloaf.  It's a long run on a big mountain.  No, that's not my favorite, it's the Bigelow Range everywhere I look...  And it's the people I know and the restaurants I love and the feeling of belonging when I am there.  God I love that place.  I am hitting it again on Sunday (the last of my parent's hard-earned vouchers) with my girl EmJay.  We are both SO looking forward to it.  It won't be bluebird like this morning was, but it will be great, no doubt.

Jimmy - charmed and annoyed with me because I wanted to hike to the summit while it was epically clear and Katahdin was calling.  That is Abraham/the Longfellow Range behind him. 

Looking down at the Crockers and the Old Gondi Shack.  I spent the night up here when I was 21 or 22 or so - with 12 other people (employees).  We stayed up there to gape at Hale Bopp; it was so bright in the night sky.  We all took last lift up - drank tequila straight out of the bottle (Mezcal - not wanting to bother with mixers) and partied all night.  I remember this killer, impromptu jam session.  Someone started tapping a stick on something and then another person joined and before long, the place was rocking with sound.  There was a wood stove up there, and being employees (lifties, patrollers, etc.) they had gotten a bunch of wood in there.  We were toasty (on all levels).  It is an excellent memory and one the Gondi Shack always evokes.  I remember stumbling up to the summit to play in the wind.  But I have no recollection of where I slept or what I slept on.  The ski down in the morning was special too - just me and my friend Andy, heading DOWN to work.  So cool. 

Washington from Sugarloaf - still big, still white.

Oh, the Bigelow Range, how I luv thee.

The graphics on my snowboard are SO ME!  Not.  The name of the company sure is me though: Never Summer.  Pretty much : )  I chant it like a metalhead and give the devil symbol any chance I get.  Picked it up for $60 (Flow bindings included) at the Sunday River Ski Swap about three years ago.  I am due for some new gear, and I have decided I am going back to skis.  Why not?  Skiing is more comfortable for me.  Looking forward to that. 

NEVER SUMMER!  Jimmy-Jang.

The whole range - including Little Bigelow.  Al and I once did a 14 mile snowshoe in February.  We started all the way over to the right on Little Bigelow.  We traversed across Little Big, into Safford Notch (the Notch between Little Big and Avery Peak).  We were on top of Avery at 4:30 pm, with the sun setting (no worries, we had headlamps).  Then we hiked down to the col between Avery and West and then went down Firewarden's.  Met four Quebec folks heading up (headlamps on).  Once down, we traveled out on Stratton Brook Pond and met Barry at where they stop plowing.  It was an epic day - back before I was 30.  She and I need to do that again - soon.

But for now, this is what I do, and I love it.  Excellent weekend.

Here's to this coming weekend and NORTH CACKALACKY in less than ten days!  Wahoooo!