Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I Tent Camping Stocking Stuffers
Vintage Camper of the Week
This glorious little gem is just screaming out to go for a road trip...Maybe an offbeat campsite...Maybe an overnight to a tiny coastal town in Maine...
Small enough for just a couple people and a dog...
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Hiking the 4,000 Footers: Adams and Madison 9.29.2012
Via Airline Trail
Hiking the Mount Adams and Madison via the Airline Trail is a Bucket List must-have. It's your classic New Hampshire hike up rock-strewn, steep trails with the reward of some of the most amazing views in the Whites.
Be prepared for a few hours of silence as your breathlessness can't compete with conversation.
It will be quiet if you go during the week or maybe off season. When you hit treeline your legs will be trying to tell your mind you are almost there- but guess what?- yeah you guessed it-- you ain't even close.
Get ready for some scrambling. You know those things called mountain climbers at the gym? Well you should've done some because that is exactly what you are doing here. Throwing your legs in front of you- scrambling for a sturdy foothold.
It's awesome. It's a must-do. Prepare yourself.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Builders, Dreamers, and Doers: Smokehouse
The Smokehouse from Smith Journal on Vimeo.
When we aren't climbing or hiking or biking- we are digging and planting and dreaming of things like this...
When we aren't climbing or hiking or biking- we are digging and planting and dreaming of things like this...
Planning
I hope the weekend found you all some adventure! We've been hunkered down with the cold that has been making the rounds, but finally starting to feel better!
The holidays are fast approaching and we are already planning our new year. We still have 11 more peaks from our List to finish. We have our heart set on the Winter List, which is essentially all of White Mountain 4,000 Footers in the winter.
The winter list is much more difficult and contains far fewer "members." All of the peaks are more challenging because they are covered in snow and may or may not have been packed down and you have winter weather to deal with. My favorite winter challenge is that many of the roads that lead to the trails are closed for the winter, which adds sometimes five additional miles to a ten mile hike.
Our plans this next year will also include a few traverses that we have dreamed about and up over the years. We grow a garden every year and every year learn something new about how to improve it. And I've also added log rolling to my list of must do's. What about you? What new schemes are you dreaming up this year? Do share...
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Hiking the Winter 4,000 Footers
The White Mountain 4,000 Footers are a collection of mountains nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire that are all over 4,000 feet. Ranging in height from just over 4,000 feet (4,003 feet is the first peak) to over 6,200 feet (Mount Washington).
The White Mountains of New Hampshire is home to some of the best hiking, camping, and backpacking in the country. Thousands flock to the peaks and the rivers throughout the year, but particularly during the summer months. By last count thousands of peakbaggers have tackled the 4,000 Footers during the typical hiking season (spring, summer, fall, etc.), but under one thousand (I read this in a recent newspaper article, but have not found a definitive number online) have completed the list in the winter.
The winter list has fewer hikers for numerous reasons. Throughout the year the Presidential Range of New Hampshire (part of the 4,000 Footer list) is known for some of the worst weather in the world with some of the highest wind speeds ever recorded. Average wind speeds are regularly over thirty miles per hour with hurricane force winds occurring during just about any month of the year. The Observatory records and studies these unique weather patterns.
Challenges of the list include severe weather including high wind speeds, heavy snow fall, mixed precipitation, roads closed for the winter adding mileage to already difficult climbs, shortened daylight, and well frankly more challenging climbing with heavy packs and heavy boots.
Our official start date:
We started our 4,000 Footer list this past summer and accumulated amazing memories and 37 peaks- read about them here. List from AMC here. We started the winter 4,000 Footer list this year on December 22, 2012. Any peaks we have already summited in the winter have been tossed out and we've started completely from scratch.
Our List:
The White Mountains of New Hampshire is home to some of the best hiking, camping, and backpacking in the country. Thousands flock to the peaks and the rivers throughout the year, but particularly during the summer months. By last count thousands of peakbaggers have tackled the 4,000 Footers during the typical hiking season (spring, summer, fall, etc.), but under one thousand (I read this in a recent newspaper article, but have not found a definitive number online) have completed the list in the winter.
The winter list has fewer hikers for numerous reasons. Throughout the year the Presidential Range of New Hampshire (part of the 4,000 Footer list) is known for some of the worst weather in the world with some of the highest wind speeds ever recorded. Average wind speeds are regularly over thirty miles per hour with hurricane force winds occurring during just about any month of the year. The Observatory records and studies these unique weather patterns.
Challenges of the list include severe weather including high wind speeds, heavy snow fall, mixed precipitation, roads closed for the winter adding mileage to already difficult climbs, shortened daylight, and well frankly more challenging climbing with heavy packs and heavy boots.
Our official start date:
We started our 4,000 Footer list this past summer and accumulated amazing memories and 37 peaks- read about them here. List from AMC here. We started the winter 4,000 Footer list this year on December 22, 2012. Any peaks we have already summited in the winter have been tossed out and we've started completely from scratch.
Our List:
Monday, November 26, 2012
Vintage Camper of the Week
Source
This little Gingerbread Shasta is honor of the holidays. Have you started your holiday decorating? I have to admit I rarely spend a lot of time or money decorating. We put up a few small trees and handmade wreaths, but we keep it simple.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Log Rolling with Key Log
This is the kind of sport that I want to spend my weekends doing....
Key Log Promo Video from Key Log Rolling on Vimeo.
If I had my own outdoor store I would totally be selling these logs for log rolling! Even better- start up log rolling classes!
Key Log Promo Video from Key Log Rolling on Vimeo.
If I had my own outdoor store I would totally be selling these logs for log rolling! Even better- start up log rolling classes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)