Hillman Highway 04/28/2008

andyzee · Apr 27, 2008, 8:55 PM

Date(s) Hiked: April 25-26 2008

Trails(s) Hiked:Tuckerman Trail, Hillman Highway, and Sherburne.

Total Distance: Approx. 7 miles , 3400 Ft. elev. gain

Difficulty: Moderate some steep sections

Conditions: Sunny blue skies, no clouds, no wind, no rain (TB)

Trip Report: Trip to tux and I'm putting it in the Hiking section, hmm... well did much more hiking than skiing. Hiked up Friday with full backpack (85 pounds). Checked out Tux last year for the first time, this year decided to do and overnighter. Anyway the hike up was tough, I'm in the worst shape of my life and decide to carry 85 pounds up Mt. Washington, good one!

Wasn't easy,but I did make it up to HoJos and the leantos. Big blisters on both of my heels, but made it.

Met up with Snowmonster along the way, he hiked with me most of the way up. Got up there after 4 hours of hiking, got my spot in a leanto and just took it easy the rest of the day. Took in the sights and then had some chili for dinner, hung out with the guys I shared the leanto with. Went to sleep about 8:30. Got up the next morning about 6, had some coffee and cereal snacks. and everntually started my hike up HIllman Highway. Tuckerman just had far too many runnels and dangers of falling ice. Hillman was the run for this weekend.

Originally I had hoped to hike to the summit and ski down the eastern snowfields and Hillman, but taking into consideration the strenuous hike up and my sad shape, wasn't gonna happen. I did climb up Hillman Highway, hung out at the top for bit, walked around took in the scenery, and then skied down an nice bumpy Hillman Highway. Corn and bumps all the way, real nice and sweet. Got to the bottom, hiked over to the leanto and packed up my stuff. The original plan was to spend the night,ski down the next morning and head over to Mt. Snow. However Sherburne was only open half way down and and I figured that I might as well leave that afternoon instead of spending the night.

With about 60 pounds on my back, bit less since I took the skis and boot off, it took a bit of getting used to skiing down Sherburne. Wouldn't have been too bad, but with all that weight and tons of bumps, had to do it very carefully. Didn't take me long at all to figure out that I had to stay out of the back seat. Hit one bump and you get pushed back, then the weight kicks in and you say hello ground

At the point, it's no easy task getting up. Anyway Sherburne was open about halfway down, worked up a good sweat doing it. But, it was still better then hiking down the top half of Tuckerman, which is the steepest part and covered with snow, both soft and firm. Eventually got to the end of Sherburne, took my skis and boots off, put them on my backpack, bringing the weight back up and cut across to Tuckerman Trail for the rest of the hike down. Bit tricky walking down with all that weight on rocks and snow, mostly snow. Eventually got back to the car about 8:30, it was already dark. One real funny sensation is when you take such a backpack off, I suddenly felt like gravity was pushing me forward and down

and my legs felt like rubber.

Drove to White River Junction where I got a hotel for the night. Had a bit of trouble walking, with the skin torn off my heels, my muscles aching in both my arms and legs, and a sunburned neck. But damn, felt good doing it! Pics can be found here: http://killingtonaccessrd.com/cpg/th....php?album=116

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Apr 27, 2008, 11:37 PM

Wow nice report..even if the dates were wrong..You brought an incredible amount of gear along for one night..nice pictures..I'm tired just reading about your gi-normous backpack..

snowmonster · Apr 28, 2008, 6:05 AM

Congratulations on surviving! Good pics and I'm glad you got to do Hillman's. It did look pretty sweet and, if I spent the night there, I surely would have hit it the next day. Bowl itself was actually quite good. Left and Right Gully were soft and bumped up. The runnels on the face itself were not too much of a problem. Just had to treat them like bumps.

I think I have another Tux trip in me before the season ends. I'm getting a hang of climbing the ole Rockpile. I'll remember to pack light.

andyzee · Apr 28, 2008, 6:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrilledSteezeSandwich

Wow nice report..even if the dates were wrong..You brought an incredible amount of gear along for one night..nice pictures..I'm tired just reading about your gi-normous backpack..

Date fixed, was still bit worn

**thetrailboss** · Apr 28, 2008, 10:20 AM

I suck...I know

Things were crazy...now much more under control....

cbcbd · Apr 28, 2008, 12:47 PM

Andy, good stuff and way to just get out there and do it... you looked mighty prepared with that pack

I'm not sure I'd put "nice", "bumps" and any line in the Whites under the same TR... but that's just me

**Greg** · Apr 28, 2008, 1:15 PM

Great report and nice pics! Could have done without the stinky foot shot though.

Time for some moleskin, my brotha!

andyzee · Apr 28, 2008, 1:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Great report and nice pics! Could have done without the stinky foot shot though.

Time for some moleskin, my brotha!

Thanks. Funny thing is, someone recommended that I take moleskin on the trip. Meant to buy it, but was so rushed, I forgot.

**Greg** · Apr 28, 2008, 1:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

Meant to buy it, but was so rushed, I forgot.

Well, if you didn't waste so much time spamming your trip on the forum, you would've been better prepared. Doubt you could have fit that little package of moleskin in that honkin' 85 lb. backpack of yours though anyway...

andyzee · Apr 28, 2008, 1:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Well, if you didn't waste so much time spamming your trip on the forum, you would've been better prepared. Doubt you could have fit that little package of moleskin in that honkin' 85 lb. backpack of yours though anyway...

Wiseguys, dime a dozen around here

So, I'm thinking of starting early planning for next year, you in?

Apr 27, 2008, 8:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
andyzee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Home Posts: 6,991	Hillman Highway 04/28/2008 Date(s) Hiked: April 25-26 2008 Trails(s) Hiked:Tuckerman Trail, Hillman Highway, and Sherburne. Total Distance: Approx. 7 miles , 3400 Ft. elev. gain Difficulty: Moderate some steep sections Conditions: Sunny blue skies, no clouds, no wind, no rain (TB) Trip Report: Trip to tux and I'm putting it in the Hiking section, hmm... well did much more hiking than skiing. Hiked up Friday with full backpack (85 pounds). Checked out Tux last year for the first time, this year decided to do and overnighter. Anyway the hike up was tough, I'm in the worst shape of my life and decide to carry 85 pounds up Mt. Washington, good one! Wasn't easy,but I did make it up to HoJos and the leantos. Big blisters on both of my heels, but made it. Met up with Snowmonster along the way, he hiked with me most of the way up. Got up there after 4 hours of hiking, got my spot in a leanto and just took it easy the rest of the day. Took in the sights and then had some chili for dinner, hung out with the guys I shared the leanto with. Went to sleep about 8:30. Got up the next morning about 6, had some coffee and cereal snacks. and everntually started my hike up HIllman Highway. Tuckerman just had far too many runnels and dangers of falling ice. Hillman was the run for this weekend. Originally I had hoped to hike to the summit and ski down the eastern snowfields and Hillman, but taking into consideration the strenuous hike up and my sad shape, wasn't gonna happen. I did climb up Hillman Highway, hung out at the top for bit, walked around took in the scenery, and then skied down an nice bumpy Hillman Highway. Corn and bumps all the way, real nice and sweet. Got to the bottom, hiked over to the leanto and packed up my stuff. The original plan was to spend the night,ski down the next morning and head over to Mt. Snow. However Sherburne was only open half way down and and I figured that I might as well leave that afternoon instead of spending the night. With about 60 pounds on my back, bit less since I took the skis and boot off, it took a bit of getting used to skiing down Sherburne. Wouldn't have been too bad, but with all that weight and tons of bumps, had to do it very carefully. Didn't take me long at all to figure out that I had to stay out of the back seat. Hit one bump and you get pushed back, then the weight kicks in and you say hello ground At the point, it's no easy task getting up. Anyway Sherburne was open about halfway down, worked up a good sweat doing it. But, it was still better then hiking down the top half of Tuckerman, which is the steepest part and covered with snow, both soft and firm. Eventually got to the end of Sherburne, took my skis and boots off, put them on my backpack, bringing the weight back up and cut across to Tuckerman Trail for the rest of the hike down. Bit tricky walking down with all that weight on rocks and snow, mostly snow. Eventually got back to the car about 8:30, it was already dark. One real funny sensation is when you take such a backpack off, I suddenly felt like gravity was pushing me forward and down and my legs felt like rubber. Drove to White River Junction where I got a hotel for the night. Had a bit of trouble walking, with the skin torn off my heels, my muscles aching in both my arms and legs, and a sunburned neck. But damn, felt good doing it! Pics can be found here: http://killingtonaccessrd.com/cpg/th....php?album=116 __________________ 10-18-12-16 Last edited by andyzee; Apr 28, 2008 at 6:14 AM.

Apr 28, 2008, 6:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
snowmonster Stowe - December 31, 2007 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my mind, northern New England Posts: 694	Congratulations on surviving! Good pics and I'm glad you got to do Hillman's. It did look pretty sweet and, if I spent the night there, I surely would have hit it the next day. Bowl itself was actually quite good. Left and Right Gully were soft and bumped up. The runnels on the face itself were not too much of a problem. Just had to treat them like bumps. I think I have another Tux trip in me before the season ends. I'm getting a hang of climbing the ole Rockpile. I'll remember to pack light. __________________ To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.

Apr 28, 2008, 10:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
thetrailboss Paddling...... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Now Playing at Sugarbush and Burke. Posts: 10,320	I suck...I know Things were crazy...now much more under control.... __________________ Live, Ski, or Die! Trailboss' Ski Videos now on YouTube! Trailboss' Photo Albums. 66 days for the 2007-2008 ski season!!!! 36 of the 48 New Hampshire 4,000 Footers Completed and Counting!

Apr 28, 2008, 12:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
cbcbd Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Shoreline,WA Posts: 1,249	Andy, good stuff and way to just get out there and do it... you looked mighty prepared with that pack I'm not sure I'd put "nice", "bumps" and any line in the Whites under the same TR... but that's just me __________________ Sign, sign everywhere a sign... pointing out the trails, can\'t make up my mind.

Apr 28, 2008, 1:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Greg Mad River Glen - 2/8/08 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 18,916	Great report and nice pics! Could have done without the stinky foot shot though. Time for some moleskin, my brotha! __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs.

Apr 27, 2008, 11:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
GrilledSteezeSandwich Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5,395	Wow nice report..even if the dates were wrong..You brought an incredible amount of gear along for one night..nice pictures..I'm tired just reading about your gi-normous backpack..

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