Saturday, 11/29

IT STARTS: tMail started the chatter. it's already Friday and while we've tossed around the idea of going on a hike tomorrow we have yet to enumerate any options. g-$$$ suggested Sunday might be better for him, I think MadDog said he can't do either day, the PM had mentioned a bum knee, and now that I finished my 96 I'm pretty much up for absolutely anything, either day with no obvious preferences. So right now things are kind of floating in the air.

WEATHER: Here's what I know weatherwise: Today in the north-country we're getting a weird little instability that should dump a few inches everywhere. My neighbor's been grooming the x-c trails around here to lay down a firm base (which firmed up nicely with the recent rain and warm weather - promises to be a great xc season) so the added snow means i'm getting out on my skis next week. But that should be done by morning, leaving Saturday with remnants like light blowing snow and clouded summits. Sunday is likely to be the sunnier day if you're looking for a tan, but we have a serious weather system coming in on Sunday night:

A SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON SUNDAY ACROSS
THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WILL TRACK NORTHWARD BRINGING A
WINTRY MIX TO THE NORTH COUNTRY SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. MIXED
PRECIPITATION MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE PERIOD.

It seems unlikely that this would make the drive home from a Sunday adventure hazardous since the expected start time is closer to midnight than noon.

CONDITIONS: So what can we do? Franconia Ridge? F**k that. tMail and the PM were just out on Franconia Ridge last week and as unbelievably cool as it always is I kind of think of that as the hike of last resort. Adams? No way man. I'll do Owl's Head before that slag-heap. So what can we dream up? Well, let's consider the conditions:

• light snow cover at lower elevations that's gone through some rain/freeze/thaw cycles - not enough to cover the rocks.
  
• similar at high elevations, but more snow - although not quite snowshoe worthy and probably not crampon-ready above treeline.
• temps seems likely to be in the teens with lusty air-blowage above 5,000ft but just lightly breezy below that.
• with no liquid precip in the forecast, we will be limited to personal moisture control, but with 10lbs of thanksgiving in our bellies, do we really want to race over hill and dale?

ROUTE IDEAS: I'm open to suggestions - certainly anthing that offers a unique perspective on life and the outdoors. Throw out ideas in the comments and I'll post them here. Whatever we don't do we'll keep on file for later - although once MadDog is back on the trail we may end up focussing on the last of his 48.

• Huntington Ravine (bring crampons and ice axe)
• Something in the Carters? Well, tMail & the PM are planning something in two weeks.
• Up Ridge of the Caps, over Jefferson, down 6 husbands, turn around in the Great Gulf and climb up the Sphinx Trail and back to the cars.... or is that what you guys did last summer?
• Sandwich Dome?
• xc ski lesson for tMail in Jackson w/ dinner at the fox?