Spring Fever?

[una_dogger]

I've been thinking about hiking, and saying a sad goodbye to my first season of downhill skiing.
As MJ noted, I have one more peak (saved Haystack) before officially joining the 46r's club. Also have 15 more to complete the NE115 --- if I save a NH peak for last I can finish the NH48, NE67 and the NE115 all on the same summit...<glee!>..but we shall see. I'm looking forward to hiking again, and I'd like to see Michael and I complete our lists together this summer.

Thought I'd cross post this here (from VfTT)...this thread seemed appropriate...its sort of a mini Una_dogger mainifesto related to why I haven't been hiking that much this winter!!!!

<begin random musing>

I did something this winter that I *vowed* I would never do....I forsake the crowds, the noise, the artificial structures....and I learned to downhill ski.

I am now an addict, trying to get every last fix I can before the snow is gone for another year.

I used to look at open slopes on mountainsides in horror ...oh the injustice and the disregard for nature! Now I just want to find a steeper and longer one to carve my way down.

I feared that spending the winter on a chairlift would surely cause me to lose fitness...now I have gained so much new strength through skiing that I am trailrunning again, something I haven't been able to build back after a back injury in Winter 2005.

Similar to the personal journey and challenge I feel when climbing a tough peak or trekking long miles, skiing presented for me, a new opportunity to challenge myself -- physically and mentally. With every run, I wanted to get better. With every run, I coached myself to be more precise, more a part of the mountain and snow and air. Soon I couldn't stop myself. Every week I'd watch the weather and secretly plan a ski trip. I knew MichaelJ would be easy to convince.

I skied the bunny slope, then the greens, then the blues, then the blacks, and now the easy glades. I went from easy mountains to hard mountains and back to easy mountains again--always seeking the best conditions, from packed powder to deep fresh ungroomed wonder-snow. From skied-off bare ice headwalls to granular pellets to mashed potato mush. It was always different. Always fun, as hard or as easy as I wanted it to be.

To answer a question I was asked yesterday, "Yes, I do call myself a skier now"!

<end random musing>

[X-Linked]

I am always ready to hike. But especially during this time of year which offers some of the best hiking available. Violent rivers from all of the snow melt creates large waterfalls that sometimes are dried out int he summer. But also, all of the plants and wildlife are at their best right now. Baby animals, new parents in the wild, and all sorts of blooming flowers, fields and trees. Hope everyone ejnjoys this weeks weather as much as I do.

[MichaelJ]

Well, things are starting to fall into place. The first two big trips are planned, a traverse of the Devil's Path in the Catskills, and another traverse of the Great Range in the Adirondacks, both of which are over 8000' of ascent and over 18 miles. We also got our Baxter reservations for midsummer, right at Katahdin Stream campground, so with fingers crossed for good weather it will be a total peakbagging trip: the Brothers, Fort, Coe, Hamlin, and Baxter peak in two 12-mile days.

I'm skiing this Sunday, but I'm ready to start bicycling!

[X-Linked]

Yeah-eeee-eahhh! the spring and it's weather are finally arriving. We got a few last minute squalls of snow here int he poconos. But today was close to 60 degree and tomorrow will be as well. I have pretty much been getting out there 2 times a week so far but am trying to spend even more time out there. I have to split my time with my bicycle which I try to ride everyday I can, but I will not usually ride 10-20 miles to a state park or good hiking spot. This way I can do both in the same day. Believe me, it is the ultimate leg workout. The best way to keep them strong for ski season!

[MichaelJ]

I was out on the bike with una_dogger in the woods near our place yesterday.
It was good.

[X-Linked]

When it gets nice out. I'd rather be on a bike than in a car any day of the week.