Mt. Whiteface

Two straight weeks, two straight failed attempts at reaching the summit of Whiteface.  Scaled the ledges just fine with the ice axe and crampons, but with several feet of fresh powder up top, we simply ran out of time.  I was probably no more than a couple hundred yards from the summit when I turned back.

This mountain is one frustrating winter climb...

 

We luckily were able to follow old tracks most of the way up

 

Sun came out just for this opening

 Just shy of summit and very steep

 Lonely

Mt. Moosilauke

Brutal conditions along the ridge up to the summit of Moosilauke today; 60 mph sustained winds and 50 feet of visibility made for a tough going.   Barely took the camera out at all today; the wind managed to blow snow up and into my pack, effectively filling it (and my previously comfortable camera) with the stuff.  With how well my pack was sealed, I still can't believe my misfortune on this one.

Lack of visibility and the barren conditions made it very easy to get lost across the 1.8 mile ridge loop, and any exposed skin was immediately subject to frostbite.  Ice quickly formed across the pack and gear and left even the zippers on my jacket lightly frozen in place.

Looked like about six of us hit summit today, though conditions were reportedly substantially better in the morning given one hiker who mentioned he peaked without a face mask or goggles (impossible by the time I reached summit).

Shared the trail with Coco the stray Chocolate Lab on the way down, who was bitterly disappointed when I practically had to pull her out of the driver's seat of my car to inform her she could not come home with me.

Today's trip makes for 100 miles of hiking in the White Mountains in the past three months.

7.8 miles / 4hrs 45min

 

What to wear to a bank if you want to get LOTS of attention

 

Along final ascent up to Carriage Rd

 

Ice began forming on our gear (and my camera)

Descending after stumbling across the summit

Osceolas via Greeley Ponds

I decided to pick an easy hike today.  This would be my 4th and 5th summit in the past week, and I desperately needed to end on an easy note.

The Oseolas was an easy choice—two of the lowest peaks on the 4000' list, and widely described as “one of the first hikes by the average peakbagger given how easy a summit it is.” 

I never read past that part. 

If I did, I would have surely read, “...this, of course, is only referring to the trail via Tripoli Rd.  Don't attempt hiking this in the winter via Greeley Ponds Tr unless in the best of conditions and with ice climbing gear.”

Let's see... Conditions: First winter storm in New England.  Hmm.  Ice Climbing Equipment: Excuse me?

Fortunately the weather on the mountain wasn't nearly as bad as the rest of the state, and I also managed to tag up with a variety of hikers along the way (though, of the two dozen or so I saw, only four of us made it to--or past--the first peak). 

The MSRs handled exceptionally on the slides, though one of the rock scrambles near Mt. Osceola was near impossible without crampons or an ice ax.  I ended up switching-out for MicroSpikes just for that part, though the improvement was minimal.

I was very close to turning back several times during the hike, but in the end, it was worth it and quite a blast.  Didn't take the camera out much, besides a quick snap at the summit, which was of the only thing visible—trees.

I nearly lost a pole near the summit when I leaned heavily on it and it fell straight down into the 3' of snow.