2.17.2009

Weekend of 2/21 - 2/22

We've got a winter storm watch in effect here in the north country for Wednesday night into Thursday evening. We won't have a good idea of storm totals, but it looks like the main problem may be a mix of rain and snow - which for me is just dandy. The crust in Danville is so beautiful that Spanky and I could xc-ski today anywhere on my skinny skis without even breaking through. But it's also not icy - is a great crunchy crust coating with light, blown snow, like skiing on, um, something firm, crunchy on top, that doesn't collapse w/ skis or snowshoes.

If this storm dumps on top, it'll move around on the summits but it's real excellent for (excluding MadDog's remaining 48):

  1. Lincoln's Backbone
  2. Long weighted pack trek into Zealand Notch (Thoreau Falls)
  3. Ski-Trek into Zealand Notch
  4. ...
The Katahdin trek departs Friday on the tail of a big snow - Good Luck to the hardy adventurers. Results of that trek will be posted as news arrives.

[Update 2/22] Wyoming Bob Brings 'em There And Back Again!
Pics From The Puppet Master HERE. Pics from tMail HERE.
PM's Trip Report:
Great weekend and adventure. Some high points:
  • 8 cars off the icy roads in Portsmouth
  • Meeting Bob's neigbor Keith while he was plowing, saying "Hi" and getting the Mainer "Uh-yuh" in response!
  • Spicy pasta and chicken
  • "Margaret, don't go that way" at 2am
  • The ride into Abol
  • Looking up Abol Slide and thinking "Yep, that's steep."
  • Looking in my pack at the ridge and realizing my extra warm layer was back at the camp (oops!), forcing me to stick with the same base layer all day!
  • Walking onto the ridge, checking the "N/S finder" for the E/W line
  • G$ eating up cairns like a pac man - to the summit and back
  • Walking "drunk" and feeling as though my pack was a dead monkey swinging on my back (thank you 50lbs and 20mph winds!)
  • The American flag
  • Wands good
  • On the descent, stopping to take in the break in the weather and watching the blue skies open above us... except over the ridge and summit!
  • The sunset through the trees
  • Getting passed on the ride out by snowmobilers going 70mph+
  • Chili, beer, sake, and cookies... mmmmmmm
Again, great time and thanks to Bob for the invite and hospitality. Look forward to the next adventure.

tMail's Trip Report:
  • Drive up to Millinocket (Longhorns, Maine High School Basketball, Methane)
  • Wildman’s Cabin
  • Chicken Pasta and Fra Divalo
  • The train coming into the station at 4am…walking out to the outhouse no head lamp, no toilet paper
  • The ride to Abol camp
  • Nascar Nate “EEEEEEEE Yeah”
  • Packing out the trail
  • Abol slide is one relentless son of a bitch
  • Poking my head on the ridge and see nothing
  • Planting wands along the way
  • G$$$ was like a bloodhound to the summit
  • Old Glory on the Summit
  • The 10 minute descent back to the slide
  • Completely loosing all feeling in both hands
  • LL Bean Chem warmers (note to self wear liners)
  • Screaming across the lake on snow machine and going through water…HUH?!?!
  • Chili, Sake, more Sake
  • Sunday around 2am getting up kneeling on side of bed…peeing in the piss bottle
  • Breakfast…..Chili again!
  • La Casa De Fiesta. Address: Rte. 157, P.O. Box 699, Millinocket, ME
Wildman thanks for the invite….if you build it they will come….great times and good fun!!! PM thanks for the ride and the pizza Thursday night!!!

2 comments:

  1. MZ...PM / G$$$ / Tmail depart for Millinocket, Maine this Friday...with a planned assault of Katahdin on Saturday. We might be breaking some serious trail and be in a bind with possible Avi danger on the rock slide leading to the ridge.

    More to come as snow totals come in over next 24-48 hours.

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  2. This next system is looking interesting. The MWO is cautioning that the system will be slow to move out and be followed by ongoing precip in its wake.

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