Jan 31st, 2016
Those who hike with me know from talking tome that i try to avoid going all the way up to NH in the winter because my car does poorly in the snow.
Well, i have been reminded of it once more again. Not sure why i didnt take that into consideration when i decided to hike up Washington from Ammo today.
I totally did not realize how long the Base rd was (6miles) and that it is pretty hilly. What more it is pretty much all covered in snow.
Yeah the first 4 miles were doable with few skids here and there, but then the hill came and Matrix said no! I did not expect this to happen so i was totally shocked when we stopped half way up the hill, i spun the wheels but didnt move an inch, so from previous experience going up Clinton rd? to Jefferson, i decided to reverse until i hit flatter ground and try again. Unfortunately it didnt help, i rolled down even further back and hit the gas, yeah!! we made it!!!
My happiness was short though another hill was ahead of us, and this time it was even harder, i didnt give up easily, went down once and got up once more but the car was totally in disagreement with me, i freaked out when i started smelling burnt stuff so i decided it was it, but, when i tried to put the gear in R it wouldnt go!! I started spinning again and the car was sideways on the hill. Luckily(or not) nobody saw my pathetic driving skills). I put the car in neutral and started sliding down, how scary was that!I got a little shaky but thankfully suddenly i was able to put the gear in reverse and back out to the flat. I was not going to try it again.
When i was going down 8 cars passed me, nobody stopped. I parked myself on the side of the road and decided to walk to the parking lot hoping it wasnt too far away.
Thankfully for me another passing car stopped and the driver offered me a lift.
I wasted half n hour but i managed to get on the trail quarter after 8.
Me and mishe were ready to get it done! I quickly passed group of 7 or 8 and i did not see anybody to almost the base of the mountain where the Hut was.
The group that was hiking there was 6 people and a guide, they were carefully walking up icy section on step at a time. I was wearing just microspikes but i managed to get over the same section much faster, in one place it got a little sketchy because Misha slid down the ice into the people, i was so glad they stopped her and nobody slid with her!!
I was so upset i didnt let her go in front of me like i always do, but because i got caught up in the middle of the group i was just trying to pass the people as fast as i could.
When we got to the hut, we had quick snack and i left my pack so we could move faster on a way to Monroe. I could see single track in front of me, which meant somebody else was walking to Monroe already before me. We met the guy in his way down the summit right at the rocky section, he was going to get to Washington and possibly Jefferson so i knew we were gonna meet again. It was good to exchange a little info,it gave me some peace of mind knowing somebody else was gonna hike up Washington as well.
It was really cold and windy on top of Monroe so we didnt waste much time there and when we got back to the hut the guided group was already there.
I checked my pack and realized i must have left my map in the car rushing to gather my things when i was offered the ride up the road. So i asked the group if i could take a pic of their map to have something with me.
To my surprise only one person had a map, and the guy was so generous that he offered his map to me, saying they r not gonna need it, they had THE GUIDE.
Funny though, the guide did not speak to me even once, i must have looked very irresponsible right next to the group he guided. Wearing microspikes and one layer of clothing with no hat, while the group was equipped in mountaineering crampons, wearing face masks and googles and several layers of clothes. And i didnt even have a map with me!!!!!
Some of the people asked me if i wanted to go with them to the summit but i thanked them and said i was gonna be fine.
The approach to the summit was little tricky, with only one person in front of me there were very little visible tracks and in many places i had to find my own way. It was very icy and MIsha was slow going, she did not like the crusty ice, in a few places i had to help her out but eventually we got to the summit.
Oh boy it was windy!! There was a group of guys sheltered on a side of one of the buildings, the guy that i met before and two other guys that i didnt get to talk to.
My friend from Monroe snapped a few pictures of me and Misha end we had a little chat about our further walk towards Jewell trail.
It was getting cold so i didnt wanna spend too much time up there. We headed down after few minutes, when another group was summiting, they had two dogs with them, which run towards me and MIsha and i knew she was not gonna like it, i guarded her as much as i could but i couldnt get the dogs away from her i was glad one of the other hikers helped me get them away from us. Their owners totally did not pay attention celebrating and taking picture at the summit. Duh!
I was glad we were on our way down looking for Jewell trail, it was still very cold and windy and the area was very icy, to the point that i had to abandon the Gulfside trail for a while and look for safer way for MIsha to walk.
When i finally got to the Jewell it was much quieter, we had a little break and my Monroe friend joined me as well.
He decided to go for Jefferson, since it was only 12 o.clock. I was a little tempted to join him at first but then i decided i better get down early and figure my car situation, i still had to drive back the base road!
We got down to the parking lot fairly quick, it was nice and fast going with nobody else on the trail.
I decided to just walk to the car instead of waiting for possible lift.
It took around 15 min, so i assumed it must have been close to a mile, i got to the car unloaded the gear and tried to turn the car around to face the right direction.
Well that was not happening. The car moved a little, then i put it in R and i got totally stuck, partially in the snow pile, wheels were just spinning. I was yet again going nowhere.
OH how happy i was when in a minute or so a truck stopped and guy asked if i needed help. He told me he was gonna push me out of the snow and help me turn around. I was soooooo happy! Peter, i found out was his name got me out in the right direction and was willing to stay behind in case i was not gonna me up the hills on my way back.
And because we had such a warm day today, the snow got softer and i managed to get over all the hills and get out to 302. I thanked Peter again and i was on my way home.
Also when i got to the car i searched my pack again and i found my map tucked in the corner of the main compartment, so after all i had it with me all that time!!
Oh Boy what a day that was. I am sure i m not gonna take my car abilities for granted any more!
OH and i went up Washington in Winter all by myself!!! :)
