A bit over 6 miles roundtrip.
Today I will do something uncharacterisitic...I'll let the pictures tell the story. The Thanksgiving weekend leaves me pressed for time, so I'll spare the words and just supply the pictures. After the holidays, I'll revert back to my usual loquacious (rambling?) self.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Trisha,
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a way to contact you. I love your blogs..... My children want to begin on a 4000 footer adventure. We are being urged to wait until spring.... what's your advice - is it reasonable in the winter. Love your photos... my kids are 6 and nearly 8......
Hi beachgirl,
ReplyDeleteI just saw your comment, my apologies for the delayed response.
I would never suggest starting a 4K adventure in the winter -- not for a kid or an adult. Winter 4K hiking is very serious business, and I'd advise waiting until your kids have many summer 4Ks under their belts before even considering it. Have you winter hiked yourself? If not, I'd learn what to do through various hiking courses the AMC offers and getting out there yourself first, so you have an idea of what to expect.
There's no rush to get started. I heartily advise waiting. It's downright dangerous out there if you aren't prepared or inexperienced. You might want to read Not Without Peril, a great book which documents some of the tragedies that have occured in the Whites. The weather can and does kill quickly and easily.
By the time Alex and I hiked a winter 4K, we had logged almost a hundred hours on the trails together and I felt like I knew her hiking ability and her physical needs very, very well. I was at the point where I could anticipate what her body needed and I was always very on top of keeping her hydrated, warm, and safe.
I also carry the right kind of gear and clothing to keep us safe, warm, dry, fed, and hydrated for two nights out in the event we are in an accident and I have to wait for rescue. That means on every hike, I have a winter bivy, winter sleeping bag that we both fit into, a stove, lots of food, water, clothing, etc. etc. etc. I also carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), a device which pinpoints our location for Search and Rescue if I press a particular button.
Again, I must emphasize that winter 4K hiking is risky. Unprepared people die every year out there.
I would definitely wait until all the snow is gone (early June) before taking them out. You need to wait that long because believe me, you do NOT want to attempt a 4K when the snow is still there but not completely melted! You won't get far and it will not be a pleasant day (unfortunately, I speak from experience).
Here's what I'd suggest: take them up Welch/Dickey near Waterville Valley in late May. See how they handle that. It's not a 4K, but that will give you an idea of what they can do, hiking-wise. If that goes well, then go for Jackson, Tom, or Tecumseh next.
Also -- gear, food, and clothing. Go to a place like REI or EMS and have a wise sales rep walk you through everything you need to stay safe. This sport requires an awful lot of gear and proper layering. Even in the summer. People have died of hypothermia in August.
So, bottom line -- no, I don't think it reasonable at all to start in the winter, especially with kids. Please remember that Alex and I had a lot of experience together before we ascended a peak in winter conditions.
Hope this helps.
Trish