Category Archives: Hiking

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Battling Mt. Battie

The gnarly ascent of Mt. Battie. Camden, Maine.

So, Jan and I just returned from a wonderful trip to the Maine coast. We stayed in the great little seaside village of Camden, and took in all the sights and checked all the boxes. Upon arrival at the Portland Jetport, we drove directly to McLoon’s Lobster Shack in Thomaston, Maine, and had the obligatory lobster roll. It was fabulous as I had not had a lobster roll in 40 years. My last one was in Bethel, Vermont at a roadside restaurant named Tozier’s. But that was a long time to go without tasting another lobster roll. This one did not disappoint.

Look at that claw!!!

We also hit the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound later in the week, but we have to give the nod to McLoon’s for the sandwich and the view of the harbor from the Adirondack Chairs.

Some of the other checked boxes were a sail boat ride on the Schooner Surprise. Built in 1918, it was a beauty of a restored vessel and the day was superb on the Penobscot Bay. Our Captain Laird was so excited that a schooner built over 100 years ago was able to do 9.1 knots on the return trip. We did a lot of walking in the village of Camden and also made an excursion to Rockland, Maine and took in the Farnsworth Art Museum which featured many of the works of the Wyeth family. NC, Andrew, and Jamie and all of their relations. Amazing that the whole family, including cousins, were all artists and featured in the museum.

Andrew Wyeth painting of Chadds Ford, Pa. His birthplace.
Coastal oil painting by NC Wyeth.
Janet on the Schooner ” Surprise”
The view of lighthouses from Penobscot Bay aboard the Schooner Surprise.
Captain Laird

We also drove almost two hours to see Acadia National Park and drove the route around the park to see the sights. Unfortunately, the park was jammed with cars and people and some of the sights we were unable to see even if we did have a reservation. Seems to be the norm now with National Parks. You at least have to have a reservation and parking is a challenge. But we were able to take in what we could and headed back to Camden.

Checking the boxes on restaurants, lobster, and seaside views, we were always on the move as is our custom. But the physical activities of the days were all about hiking and the place to go is the Camden HIlls State Park just north of town. Jan and I like to hike and with the leaves changing rapidly in Maine, the anticipated views of the coastal mountains and the bay were on our mind. We were told that the trails leading to Mt. Battie were the ones to take for the views from the top, and we began our first hike anticipating a nice long jaunt. What we didn’t know, and no one told us, was that the ” moderate to strenuous hike” as outlined in the website, was a lot to bite off and chew. I kind of chuckled when we started to ascend rough granite sections of the trail and eventually had to climb on all fours to proceed on the almost vertical sections. Coming back down on our butts and all fours in certain sections, was also interesting as the method of descent. For a mountain with only about a 1000 vertical from sea level, it is a brute if you take the more challenging trails. Janet was a trooper, as I am somewhat familiar with hiking in the New England mountains. I always knew that steep granite sections were the norm, but this little coastal mountain which is dwarfed by the Whites of New Hampshire and the Greens of Vermont and the Adirondacks, was still a challenge for anyone attempting to see the views from the top.

Checking the trail maps

I also got a kick out of the locals, many with gray hairs and years in their hiking boots, smiling and making their way. I have always marveled at how some people attempt bicycle centuries and running marathons and don’t really look the part. “How in the world are they ever going to make it?”, I always said. New Englanders are unphased, and their grizzle is readily apparent on the hikes up Mt. Battie.

The unassuming Mt. Battie from Penobscot Bay. Tougher than it looks.

Jan and I took another trail on another day which was still a rugged climb on tombstone granite rocks. The park ranger who gave us a senior discount to enter, was very vague when we asked for recommendations for alternate hikes. In typical Maine fashion, he was low key and left the decision basically to us. We surged onward and Jan was once again a trooper as we made our way up and then descended, sometimes on our butts over sheer granite sheets, grabbing whatever we could with our hands so as not to slide totally off the trail. You know, you can drive to the top of Mt. Battie? But why do that when you can get some exercise and scare yourself on some vertical rock formations? Those New Englanders are tough ,and we were impressed with our fellow senior citizens who took it all in stride. Understatement is always the mood of people from that end of the country, and I have always liked the “can do”,” no problem” of hikers and skiers from the northeast.

As a tribute to Mt. Battie, we bought some Maine State Parks trucker hats from the ranger at the station and after a rather non-eventful conversation, we made it back to our bed and breakfast in Camden- The Hideaway Inn http://www.hideawayinnmaine.com Highly recommended with wonderful hosts- Rick and Charles.

The Hideaway Inn- wonderful place to stay in Camden

On the last day, we proudly wore out hats and pounded down some pancakes for breakfast with plump, Maine blueberries and Maine maple syrup. Another checked box on our exit from the Pine Tree State.

Penobscot Bay from Mt.Battie.

Reflecting back on our trip this week, Jan and I both say we want to go back to Camden. We loved the seaside atmosphere, the sailboats in the harbor, the hiking, and the food. We have both skied in Maine, and it was a nice alternative to see the coast in the fall. I would highly recommend it especially this time of year. And if you want to battle Battie, go for it. The challenge and the views are really well worth the effort. Thanks for reading and ……………………..think snow!

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It helps me.

“Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.” Psalm 104:25

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Memories of Tuckerman Ravine

So, last week, several of my younger ski pals made the trek from Western Pa. up to Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire to ski the famed Tuckerman Ravine. One group was a father and son duo, Eric and Jes Sauereisen. Eric and I have been friends for a long time, and it was his first trip to Tuckerman. He and I have talked about it for years but he finally got to ski it with his son. Great experience that they will never forget.

Jes and Eric. Father and son taking on Tuckerman Ravine. Both excellent skiers.

The second group that was there at the same time and didn’t know it, was the trio of Jason Eshleman( of Chair Report fame), Jason’s long time Vermont friend -Makaio Maher, and John Gerardi. John and Jason are excellent skiers and Makaio is a skilled snowboarder. Skiing/riding Tuckerman for the first time was just what the doctor ordered for them at this time of year.

The Three Amigos preparing to climb
Jason climbing the Left Gully.
Seven Springs legend- John Gerardi
Jason and Makaio. Lifelong friends.

Seeing all their posts on Facebook brought back a flood of memories for me. I skied Tuckerman Ravine 7 times and twice one year- returning on the Fourth of July. I would meet my pal Eric Durfee up there and we would climb up Sunday night, get situated in a shelter at Hermit Lake, and spend the week. As many of you know, there are no lifts and every bit of vertical feet that you ski, you earn by climbing.

The climbing and the skiing are steep.
Eric and I back in the day. Young guns.
Our external packs weighed in at 85 pounds. We were there for the week so we had to take everything.

Lots of memories, like when we skied Dodge’s Drop without climbing it first. We broke our rules that we had to climb everything that we skied. We were caught in the fog up top and skied down Dodge’s. Little did we know that we had to slide down on a frozen waterfall until we reached the snow again to finish the run. We laid the only tracks in Dodge’s that day and people were commenting on that from the Hermit Lake shelter area. We smiled. Eric did it with a cast on his wrist which made the most challenging run ….even more challenging.

Storms roll in and out on Mt. Washington, and one time, I sunk in up to my waist climbing Hillman’s Highway. I was a little scared because if I had sunk all the way through, they might have found me in late spring. Eric pointed out the storm behind me rolling in and said we had to get a move on. He was unphased by my precarious position.

You had to be careful to watch for falling rocks and ice as the days would warm up. One day, a Volkswagen sized rock bounced right over our heads. We ducked to the chorus of some people above us yelling at us to get down on the ground. One year- we watched as a group of people had a rope lowered into the crevasse that always opened up below the headwall. Seemed like some guy accidentally skied into the crevasse and it took a team of rescue workers to get him out. They might have found him in the spring as well.

Fourth of July runs
Dodges Drop
Doing the Mt. Washington Hillclimb back in the day. Sunny and warm at the base, 46 degrees and fog midway, and 41 and sleeting at the summit. In September.

Tuckerman Ravine( not Tuckerman’s- common mistake) has a lot of history too. Back in 1939, an Austrian tucked the headwall and skied on to the Sherburne Trail to win the famed Inferno race. His run was legendary, and you can read all about it. I had the good fortune one year to meet him and hear him tell the story for the New England Ski Hall of Fame. Lots of famous skiers have made that trek. You can somehow feel that history every time you are there.

But getting back to my friends, you have to hand it to them. Not too many people from around here make the 13 hour drive, climb up the Sherburne Trail to the base of the Ravine and keep climbing to the top to ski. It is a rite of passage for New Englanders ,but for those of us from Western Pa, it is not a regular stop. Lots of driving and work to get there, but oh so worth it. Jason and his gang are definitely going back, and I am sure the Sauereisen’s will be returning as well. These days I am happy to live vicariously through them and hear their tales as I dream about my past exploits there. I am happy with chairlifts these days, and comfier weekday living spaces. LOL! North Conway and Pinkham Notch are special places and I am glad that my friends got to experience the climbing, the history, and the skiing. Cheers to them for sure. Thanks for reading.

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A Break in the Action

Lake Tahoe near Incline Village

You know, one of my quirks is I like to get as much skiing in as possible during the year- considering the fact that I live in the Mid- Atlantic. This involves skiing locally as much as I can and going on a couple of ski trips during the year. This year, Janet and I took a late trip at the end of March to ski with friends in Lake Tahoe. There are so many great places to ski, and to have the opportunity to see the mountains along with the beauty of the lake is a real treat. But this year, I diverted from my norm and took a day off mid- week to do something different.

Our friends in Tahoe recommended a mid week snowshoe outing presented by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science. We all jumped at the chance and even though the snowshoe outing was changed to a hike, we anticipated the outing as a break in the action from skiing which was again- against my norm.

Judy and Mike Smith and Janet on the shore of the lake.

As we entered the state park, we were greeted by some volunteers who did the usual sign-up sheets and gathered emergency contact information. But the leader of the group was a young gal named Sarah Hockensmith, who is an outreach director for the Tahoe Institute and is very well versed on the ecology of the Lake Tahoe area. Some of the information that was interesting to me was that most of the tree growth in the area is only about 170 years old. During the Comstock silver mining era, most of the land was cleared to provide lumber for the mines, housing and other requirements for lumber. After the mining era had come and gone, there was an effort to reseed the land and allow for some natural growth as well. So many of the trees are relatively new compared to the larger lodgepole pines and other large pine trees that survived the onslaught of the Comstock clearing.

Emerald Bay

Sarah also told us all about the turnover of the lake, how the volcanic granite soil acts as a natural filter to keep the lake so clean.( The cleanest lake in North America), and also the dimensions of the lake. She reviewed with us the native species of plants, animals and fish as well as the invasive species that have caused some issues. But suffice to say, the lake is super clean despite the traffic that surrounds it during high tourist seasons.

The natural waterfalls and the backdrop of the Sierras provided a wonderful picture for all of us on the hike. We all see the mountains when we go on ski trips and marvel at the majestic peaks as we ride the chairlift. But to have some of the nuances explained to us by a naturalist familiar with the area, was a rare treat and well worth the day off from skiing.

The beauty of the area and the natural attributes attracts some folks who have made Tahoe home. After going on that hike, and also looking at the mountains and the lake again during our ski times, I was reminded of why I like it so much. Janet had never seen it in the winter and had the opportunity to see it during a warm and sunny week. Full disclosure, she went back to Pittsburgh after a week, along with the Smiths and I stayed for a few more days. Had the opportunity to ski some powder as the weather changed right after Janet and the Smittys left. Felt kind of bad that they missed the powder as I pulled out my 107s, but you know what they say? No friends on a powder day. LOL!!!

88 year old Fred and Janet.

An interesting side story is about the people who really value skiing in the Lake Tahoe area. The gentleman above is a friend of my friend who lives in Incline. Fred is 88 years old and skis about 5 days a week driving from his home and back to the Tahoe resorts. ( About a 60 mile commute) and one or two days he drives all the way to Mammoth ( 2 +1/2 hours each way) because he loves the Sierras. And- he is the first one in the parking lot each day. He told me an interesting thing on the chairlift. He said he has a real passion for the sport and the passion is fueled by drive. I love that statement. Passion fueled by drive. He is a beacon of light to me for my future in skiing.

This will be a wrap for the ski season for Janet and me. But I was wholeheartedly surprised at the wonders of the hike and so glad we took the time to do it. Sometimes you have to take a break from the skiing and enjoy the area and what it has to offer. I am not usually accustomed to doing that as I try to jam in as much skiing as possible. But don’t make my mistake. Take the time to see the mountains and the lakes. I have been to Tahoe many times but never took the time to really hear all about the beauty of that area. I also am impressed by people like Freddy who make the trek to be a part of the scene and my friends who live in Incline. They have chosen a wonderful place to live.

As I flew back to Pittsburgh, I thought about all what we had seen and how much fun we had. Can’t wait to go back. I love ski season and I love the mountains wherever I might find myself. Thanks for reading.

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Pack it In!

My motto- you can sleep when you’re dead.

When I saw this on the door of the Cafe LeMont up near State College, Pa. I laughed. It is so true. Carpe Diem, seize the day, pack it in. Janet always says I am in a hurry and always rush her into things. But when she gets it together and packs it in, she is happy. She doesn’t want to miss anything. And when we get together with our friends, Judy and Mike Smith, they are definitely cohorts in crime when it comes to squeezing every opportunity out of a day. Janet just rolls her eyes at the three of us but always complies. She may be tired at the end of a day, but always glad that she ……..packed it in.

Mike and Judy Smith- out hiking, cycling, and ski buddies. They are professionals at packing it in.

So, Janet said to me last week, ” where do you want to go for your birthday?” I really didn’t know, and we settled on a trip to State College with the Smiths. Janet and Judy were room- mates at PSU and Mike and I are usually along for the ride. We had not been to State College for a while and decided that would be a fun place to go. We stayed at the newly refurbished Nittany Lion Inn which was available because it was a non- football weekend. The busy itinerary for the weekend began when Janet and I drove to the Cafe Lemont, had lunch, and then donned the backpacks and headed up Mt. Nittany for a hike. Judy and Mike arrived a little later, and they set the land speed record up and back. LOL!! We all laughed and headed to check in at the hotel, shower, and then out to eat. No grass was growing under our feet that day. Hiking up Mt. Nittany is always fun and a rite of passage for Penn Staters. Again – Mike and I were along for the ride.

The view of Beaver Stadum from the top of Mt. Nittany.

Judy and Janet on their beloved Nittany Lion. Judy was a cheerleader back in the day. She still could be one.

After a quick cup of coffee the next morning, we all went out to Shingletown Gap for another hike. A beautiful trail with wonderful scenery and lots of rocks. I told them all that the people who hike the Appalachian Trail always call Pennsylvania ” Rocksylvania” because it is one of the more challenging sections on the route. Mike and I would agree because, as we knew full well, the subsequent mountain bike ride for the both of us would be full of challenging rocks. The ladies regrouped back at the Inn and Mike and I made our way to the Longberger Path and the Tussey Mountain Trail in the Rothrock State Forest. A route that he and I have ridden many, many times on our PSU weekends for football games with the ladies and their clan. As we made our way to the” Beer Tap” which is a fun marker at the confluence of a couple of trails, we forged ahead through heinous rock gardens along the way and wondering where the heck that Beer Tap was so we could begin the long descent back to the car. Mike led the way as I watched him battle the rock sections for as long as he could riding his bike before we had to hike some sections. But as the sun was setting, it was cold on the descent and the shower back at the hotel was a welcome relief. That trail seems longer and longer every year. Could it be that I am just getting older? Hmmm.

If you ever get the chance to see a NCAA Div 1 Volleyball game- go do it. Exciting.
Mike Smith at the Beer Tap- Tussey Mountain Trail
The Tussey Mountain Trail- Rocksylvania for sure.

Rushing back to pack it in some more after the hike and the ride, we all made our way to Rec Hall to watch the women’s volleyball game between PSU and Illinois. An exciting match for sure and thankful that Judy got tickets. We rushed to The Tavern right after the game, rammed down some food and then began our walk through the town and back up the hill to the hotel. A long day but …………….you can sleep when you’re dead. Right?

The next morning, after a road coffee, we did another hike at Mt. Nittany, had some lunch at the Cafe LeMont again and headed back home. A whirlwind couple of days which was anything but relaxing, but we did a lot and I, for one, was happy. The more I can pack in, the better I like it. Janet rolls her eyes again. But she knows who she married.

In the gondola in Utah with the Smittys and our friends Ralph and Amy Phillips

We will be heading back out west for another ski trip with the Flying Smittys this winter and I am sure that they will be up at at em early as is their usual protocol. Janet is used to the deal by now seeing that we have been taking ski trips with the Smiths for quite a while now. They love to ski, I love to ski, and Janet- well, once she is out and at it, loves to ski too. We just have to crowbar her out sometimes. LOL!!

So, I guess, the moral of the story for me here is ……………..get it while you can. There are so many opportunities in life that the operative word these days should be” yes”. It doesn’t have to be far away from home either. Lots of good places to visit and pack it in right in your home state. Great to travel, great to pack it in out of state or out of the country, but always wonderful to go for the gusto right in your neck of the woods. Remember- you don’t quit doing things because you get old, you get old because you quit doing things. Thanks for reading and pack it in – will ya?

A post snowshoe picnic right near the trails near our house. With the Smittys!
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The Bell

Many of the trails that are used today are multi- use. That means, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and trail runners, all use them and, in some cases, there can be conflict. Typically ,things happen when a group of mountain bikers come up suddenly on a group of people on horses and startle the horses and the riders. Or maybe someone is peddling up a steep climb on a trail and another group of mountain bikers are rocketing downhill and ignore the rule about the uphill riders having the right of way. Conflict happens. Or trail runners often have a negative feeling about mountain bikers because they startle them, or they come screaming past them and expect the hikers or trail runners to move off the trail. Conflict happens again. It seems that the responsible users of any trail system really have to know the rules and, well………, just be aware of being courteous to other users. No wonder conflict happens, and it seems like I spend time on every ride trying to improve the opinions of other users. I try to be courteous and get off my bike when horses are present because I am aware that bikes spook horses.

The trails are for everyone.

It seems like I am always trying to make up for the few bad apples who seem to taint our reputation with their rude behavior. Can’t we all be courteous and just get along? Again, I spend a lot of time trying to improve the perception that mountain bikers are all rude, young, ignorant people who will take what they need. Some of us are older and have a little more sense and can obviously see when there is an opportunity to share the trail responsibly. That is one reason why I got a bell.

Riding Rothrock at State College

A number of years ago, I attended Dirt Fest in Big Bear, West Virginia and was walking through the expo and came upon a booth that sold Timber quick release bicycle bells. You can see mine in the photo above. A nice little bell that basically you unlock when you see someone ahead. The bell rings as you ride along the uneven trail. You don’t do anything but release the lock and the bell rings as you bounce along. Most people appreciate the bell. Some people have earbuds, and you still have to gently make your way past them. But for the most part, people tend to stand aside, let you by, and usually make a favorable comment about the bell. I tell kids that I am one of Santa’s elves and ask in the presence of their parents, if they are behaving. This usually gets a laugh and lightens the mood.

Rocks help the bell ring.

But for the most part, if you use your head and consider the other party, you can do the right thing for other users. Oftentimes, if I see the same people twice on a local ride, I will get off my bike and let them pass instead of always expecting them to move. They appreciate it. I also use the bell around corners because mountain bikers tend to move along quickly and can startle people coming at you from a blind bend in the trail. Again, they appreciate it. Sometimes you have to sell the fact that mountain bikers are not all that bad to some user groups, but the more courteous we are, the more successful we will be. An interesting statistic is that mountain bikers do the most work on trail systems. This was validated locally in a meeting with our local county officials who sang the praises of our Trail Pittsburgh organization. Most of us try to do the right thing but we seem to always be righting a wrong of a small few who ruin the reputation of those of us who care.

The bell seems to symbolize courtesy. It reminds us that we need to be kind, and helpful and respectful to others not only on multi use trails, but anywhere we go. Wouldn’t it be nice if more people thought of others instead of themselves? It seems like a lot of people seem stressed today and tend to look out for themselves. They may not think of others who may be having difficulties,, or seem to be in the way of our quest to get somewhere quickly. Maybe we need a bell with us in our daily life and not just on the trails? The multi- use trail systems are really like a pathway of life. We all are following that pathway together. Let’s watch out for each other. Thanks for reading.

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Have a Bernie Bar and Relax

So, I opened up a box that came in the mail the other day and to my surprise, it was a box of Bernie Bars from my skiing friend Mark Hutchinson up in Vermont. Hutch is a retired postal service employee and ex-ski coach at Stowe, and knows Bernie from his routes around Randolph Center. I joked with Hutch about where my Bernie Bars were, and lo and behold- they showed up. LOL!! Hutch and his lovely wife Nancy are fun people to ski with, they are avid hikers, and enjoy everything about the Green Mountains of Vermont. In typical Vermont fashion, their political persuasions are more towards the left of center, and I have always admired their zeal to persuade folks towards their way of thinking.(Ethan Allen would be proud ) I personally am becoming more and more a-political, but Hutch keeps me informed on the happenings in the government world and relays his experiences to me. Rich Roll said the other day on his podcast that the most effective way of communication is to not give advice, but rather relay experiences. The Hutchinsons have lots of experience with Nancy and her avid hiking and writing, and Hutch with his ski racing and coaching background. And they are well read on the political scene in Vermont.

Mark and Nancy skiing with us in Bend last winter.

The cool thing about skiing and hiking is that both sports attract those of us who love the outdoors, no matter what we do for a living, what our political persuasions are, whether we have faith or no faith, and have different educational backgrounds. Rarely will you hear a heated political debate on the slopes or the trails. Rather the conversation tends to be about ski technique, ski areas, the conditions of the day, and in hiking, remarking on the beauty of the trails and the great day together. You make really good friends on the ski slopes and hiking trails, many of those friendships last a lifetime – like mine with Hutch and Nancy.

Hutch and I in Mammoth several years ago.

Nancy is a school teacher and a gifted writer and we have shared experiences with our passion for writing. Hutch is a real student of ski technique, and we have many conversations about that topic. He sends me videos all summer which I love to get, seeing that I can talk about skiing all summer too. But rarely do we get into a political discussion. My view is what do we really know? What is spin and what is not? On either side of the spectrum. I don’t get too excited because there is not much I can do about the world today other than perhaps cast my vote to get someone in or out of office. Also being kind to people helps, because you never know what they are going through. Kindness is definitely a way to make a difference- one person at a time, one neighborhood at a time. Politics is not really that important to me (maybe it should be?) – but Hutch keeps me in the game. I have learned things that I did not know before. And he sent me Bernie Bars!

Lifetime friends Eric and Hutch at June Mountain, California.

I have spent a lot of time skiing with Hutch, especially when our friend Eric was laid up and could not ski at times. Hutch and I would go out and ski and never look at a map. We just went wherever we felt like going. LOL! Hutch has a wonderful sense of humor and he makes me laugh when we ski and maneuver our way around a ski area. He finds the funny things about skiing and has me in stiches, as many times he was my room- mate on our guys ski trips – organized by Eric Durfee. I tend to think that Hutch missed his calling. I have videos of him commenting on camera up at Whiteface and at June Mountain out in California. He is so articulate on those videos and also humorous. I have posted them to the amusement of my ski friends.

So, the upcoming election cycle has a lot of people with their shorts in a wad. There is going to be a lot of political division even more so than what is taking place right now. It is good to educate yourself, but like Rich Roll says, just relay your experiences in conversation and don’t ruin a good friendship with a political discussion that will really not make much of a difference anyhow. Enjoy your friends. Eat a Bernie Bar and enjoy it as people all around you lose their heads. Ski with a friend, hike with a friend, and enjoy the outdoors because the older you get, those quality days left are really what is important anyhow. Thanks for reading.

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The Older We Get- The Better We Were.

Howard Johnson’s at Tuckerman Ravine- 1984

So, I was surprised this week when my friend Eric, from Tahoe( formerly of Vermont), mailed me some pictures from way back when we skied Tuckerman Ravine together. Looking at these 40 year old photos, I thought back to a time when we laid down the only tracks one day in Dodge’s Drop ( and Eric had a cast on his wrist). We had some good times up there as we skied it many times together. But the thing that is amazing about this picture is the equipment we used. I mean, look at the skis. Probably 203 or 205 cm GS skis. Look how narrow compared to today’s equipment. 

External frame pack made for interesting attachments. 

The other interesting thing about these pictures was the external frame packs we used. We added cross bars with latches and wingnuts to secure the skis to the frame. He was from Vermont and naturally used wood. I was from the steel city and with the help of my dad, we used aluminum cross bars. All in all, with the boots secured in the bindings, our clothing and food for the week, sleeping bag and mat, the pack weighed in at around 85 pounds which was a pretty good load to haul to the shelters where we stayed. One year, I thought I would save some time and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ahead of time. By the time the week ended, that package of sandwiches had been slept on, eaten from, and generally the once nice, neat stack of sandwiches had turned into a peanut butter dough ball. Lots of memories came flooding back to me as I opened the envelope this week from my friend. 

In today’s world, people who climb and ski as we did, use internal frame packs. There are slots in the side of the packs that allow easy placement of the skis and the internal frames are much better suited to securing a lot of cargo. Lots of guys today use skins on their skis for climbing, and AT equipment to hike and ski to their destinations. Eric and I basically hauled our alpine equipment up to the shelter, and from there basically climbed up in our ski boots with our skis over our shoulders. Equipment surely changes and evolves over the years and skiing is no exception. 

Pro Skier Cody Townsend climbing with his internal pack and AT gear. 

The other things that evolve over time are the stories that we tell about the old days. Sure, there are embellishments, the runs are bigger and badder than perhaps they were, and the stories that we tell each other evolve with the passage of time. But like my friend Paul Vey still says many years later, our trip down Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole, was the highlight of his athletic career. He played Div 1 basketball at UVM and that is still saying something. Somehow the beers taste better when the stories start cranking up. Eric’s wife Helen usually disappears when she starts hearing the old stories. She has heard them way too many times. But when pictures like these start showing up again, they remind me of a time gone by and the good times that we had. I mean, we are still at it – 40 years later. Maybe not camping and hiking Tuckerman Ravine anymore, but still skiing in some pretty good places and having a pretty good time. And still skiing relatively well. 

Eric and our other skiing pal Hutch at June Mt., California. Yes, the beer tastes better when the stories start flowing. 

So, if you get a chance, go look in your old photo boxes and take some time to review your old times with great friends. They will remind you that friendships are important and like equipment and stories, they evolve over time. Having friends that you can still do things with after many years is a true blessing. Encourage each other to stay in shape, stay at it, and make the effort to get together whenever you can. And always remember- the older we get……………the better we were. Thanks for reading. 

40 years later at Mammoth Mountain, California. 

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The Headwall at Tuckerman Ravine

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Accountability

Even when it is nasty

This is the time of year when people make resolutions for a healthier life. Among other things, the beginning of a new year is filled with promise, hope, and thoughts of making one’s life more productive and more enjoyable. One way to start that process is perhaps a new diet or way of eating, and sometimes a new exercise program. For those who have not done one for a while, it is a good idea to check with your doctor before embarking on a new program, especially if you have been a little sedentary. But nonetheless, a new exercise program or a return to former exercise program is great for anyone at any age. 

The woods are my gym. 

For me, I always like to have a goal to work towards. It doesn’t have to be anything big at my age, but a goal is always a good program for a new year. I am not a gym guy, so I am always doing outside things like mountain bike riding and hiking all year, and skiing when the season is upon us. I like fresh air and being outdoors and never really took to the gym. However, for a lot of people, the gym is a good place to start especially in the winter when the weather gets inclement. I see a lot of people walking and jogging in our local parks this time of year. I call them the New Years resolution crowd because many of them will begin, but then the numbers dwindle off as the year goes on. But for many of them, if they ease into it, start slowly, and be consistent, it can be part of their lifestyle that can make the resolution a reality. I can’t emphasize enough to start out easy and build up slowly. 

The Endura MT500 Riding Outfits. 

One thing that helps if you want to begin an outdoor exercise program is to get the right clothes. My friend the Shark always says,” no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing.” If you have the right clothing that keeps you dry and keeps the wind at bay, you can go out in the lousiest of weather and have a good workout and enjoy the ride. My Endura MT 500 jacket and pants are the ticket (us.endurasport.com) and when it gets real wet and nasty, I turn to a similar outfit made by Frogg Toggs (available at Dick’s Sporting Goods in the hunting department) that basically sheds water. But for the most part, the Endura outfit is the way to go. Ski socks, a wool skull cap under the helmet, and warm gloves are also key. 

But perhaps the most important thing to make an exercise program stick are friends who want to do the same thing. My best friends are my mountain bike and skiing friends, and we all hold each other accountable. Some days we may not feel like going out into the cold, nasty weather, especially at night, but our friends hold us accountable, and we bring the lights, the outfits, and have at it. At the end of the session, we may have a beverage, talk about the ride or the ski day, and then figure out when the next outing is. The best motivators are your pals who love to do the same thing as you do. So if you do not have a posse to hang out with and hold you accountable to show up……… find one. It is pretty easy if you join a group either found on -line, or recommended by shops, or simply showing up where people start their rides or programs in your local park. If you make the effort, you can really have some fun with a lot of people who eventually become your best friends in the world. No one beats my mountain bike clan or my ski pals. But the big thing about a group or a couple of friends, is that they hold you accountable. I will tell you that I have been doing this stuff for a long, long time and I really don’t need much encouragement or motivation. I have no issue skiing or riding in the rain. But I like to get people into these sports, and I welcome them and hold them accountable to show up. Most of the time it is successful, and our groups have welcomed a lot of newcomers over the years who now are motivating others. 

The Night Riders
Ski pals forever- we lost Proctor a couple of years ago on the right. Cherish your friends.  
The Mountain Bike Clan at Penn State
The local ski guys at Holimont. Been skiing with them for a lot of years. Andy, Hiller, Porter and Jamie.

So, if you are new to a sport and you want to have a resolution this year to get involved, find your group. The right ones will drag you out in the worst weather, drag you to the most challenging events, in rain, snow, sleet, hail, and make you smile the whole time. Ease into it, make your resolution stick, and get ready to be with a group who will be your best friends forever. Thanks for reading. 

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The Massacre at Tea Creek

The Tea Creek Trail Head
The Tea Creek Team

We all kind of laughed at the potential title to this post but in some ways, it was kind of true. Syed Hyder, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, John Casuccio and his daughter Haley, Pete Hilton and I all made the trek to Snowshoe, West Virginia to take in the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Races and do some riding in the always challenging trails of West Virginia. Little did we know that our ride in the Tea Creek area would turn into probably one of the most challenging rides we have ever done all due to a navigational error. But we will get into that in a bit. First things first. We started out with a nice ride at the Baker’s Ridge trails near the WVU campus with our good friend Roger Evans. He led us around these beautifully created trails as a first stop on our way south.

Roger- upper left. Gave us a good tour around Morgantown.

Moving towards Slaty Fork and Marlinton after the ride, we made our way to a wonderful cabin at the Jerico Bed and Breakfast complex. The cabins there are restored pre-Civil War structures that are truly spectacular. If you ever want a nice place to stay- look no further than the Jerico and rent one of those beautifully restored cabins. https://jericobb.com

The Lee Cabin- named after the famous Confederate general. Right near Marlinton, WVA.

After settling into the Lee Cabin, we awoke the next morning to a spectacularly sunny day with the changing leaves all holding court for our visual enjoyment. John and I had discussed the route on the Tea Creek ride prior to the trip and had agreed on a plan to take us down the Gauley Mountain Trail, making a right turn on the Bear Pen Trail which would eventually end up on a fire road which we could take back to the lot, or we could add a few miles by rerouting on some of the trails generally around the parking area. John and Haley had downloaded the map on their Garmin devices and I went old school with my map of the area from the old Wild 100 days. I have had a lot of experience riding in that region and had a pretty good idea of the good routes versus the tough routes. John suggested that we make a right turn on the way down the Gauley Mountain trail which deviated from our plan. But we were all cool with it as we were challenged on the rocky, rooty, always slimy terrain. As Shark would say, ” it gets West Virginia in a hurry” once you begin riding anything in that region and the Gauley Mountain Trail and the Red Trail were no different. You always have to keep your speed up because momentum is your friend. As soon as you slow down and think too hard about what is in front of you, trouble ensues.

Pondering the crossing
John and Syed slogging through

Had we decided to go all the way down, we could have hit the Tea Creek Mountain Trail which several of us had ridden before. That would have led us to the Tea Creek campground with an easy out on the Bannock Shoals trail to the fire road to the finish. But what could have been a nice “Gilligan’s Island” three hour tour turned into a true backcountry slogfest when our only route out was the Tea Creek Trail which was clearly marked on my map as ” not recommended”. I knew when we were headed there that it would be a very challenging route out. Most of it was unrideable and it even would be challenging as a hiking trail with multiple stream crossings before the trail ended.

We all tried to keep our shoes dry by handing each other our bikes and gingerly crossing the slimy rocks in the Tea Creek. But by the time we hit the 6th stream crossing, we all basically were trying to get across the best way we could which included hip deep wading and steep banks on the other side where we once again pushed our bikes up the steep inclines out of the creek and passing the bikes up the bank when needed. Our shoes were soaked and the going got tougher when we tried to ride some sections out. Shark fell and banged his noggin and had some blood on his lip which caused his Confederate general, snowwhite beard to sport some red. Doc Hyder made sure he was ok and we plodded on primarily pushing our bikes over four miles of steep, rocky, unrideable terrain. Along with the usual annoyances of stepping on ground bees nests and getting multiple stings, falling in the creek, getting pounded by the relentless uphill rocks, roots, and mud bogs, we finally escaped the Tea Creek Trail and made our way back to the fire road and ultimately to the parking lot……………..5+1/2 hours after we began. Including a half hour lunch break of pre-packed peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Always a winner and a life saver on long rides.

West Virginians are tough as we saw several of them on the rides plowing their way through everything. They are used to this challenging terrain, but our crew held our own in what was truly a backcountry adventure leading me to the conclusion that any deviations from the mapped plans can lead to more than we would bargain for. Haley, the mother of two young kids, was undaunted by it all and showed that once again, youth is wasted on the young. She was amazing.

The World Cup Races were fun to watch especially the downhill on Saturday. The fitness displayed by the XC racers on Sunday was amazing to see as well as they are all the best in the world and we had the good fortune to see them up close. Snowshoe does a great job putting on these races every year and hopefully the UCI schedule will permit another wild, wonderful event in the premier showcase resort in the area.

East Coast Legend Jeremiah Bishop. The always smiling Pete Hilton in background.
Defending Olympic Gold medalist and current World Champion Tom Pidcock. So cool to see him in person.
The very personable Brit Evie Richards -always a contender for the women’s XC crown. Our doc Syed on right.

I am getting a little long in the tooth for 5+1/2 hour rides, slogs, hikes or whatever you want to call it. But sometimes age and treachery survives ,and I will be back to try the new 30 mile trail system currently being developed near Marlinton. This system we are told, will be an IMBA Gold Trail System- the first on the East Coast. This will bring Marlinton well into the game of being a top- rated destination spot for mountain bike riding. But I will be using my maps for sure and not deviating from the plan. However, if it were not for the deviation, we would not have had the adventure we had. So, no problem, John. A fun adventure. Sometimes you have to deviate. Thanks for reading.

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When the Autumn Weather- Turns the Leaves to Flame

Skipper Lake at the Lodge at Glendorn

The title line here is from the iconic “September Song” – arranged by Kurt Weil and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. But when I play this song on my piano, ( from my mother’s sheet music), it reminds me that fall is here and the leaves are changing, the nights are cooler, and probably my favorite time of the year has arrived. As much as I try to rush into ski season, more and more I am relishing the cool, crisp days of fall with the spectacular foliage we have here in Western Pa. I am in no hurry for winter. It will come soon enough, and I will surely enjoy it. But as I get older, I really enjoy the changing of the seasons – especially summer to fall.

The other night, our posse was out mountain bike riding on one of our regular weekly scheduled rides, and we noticed that after the sun went down, it got real cool ,real fast. The sweatshirts came out and we sat around with our post ride beers and snacks ( courtesy of Bob K), and really enjoyed riding and relaxing in cooler weather without the swelter of summer. I seem to ride better when the humidity is lower and the temperatures start to moderate. But aside from that, to sit and take in the cool weather, a nice IPA, and listen to the cricket symphony of early fall is a true blessing.

Bear Cub sighting last fall.

Sometimes when you hike or ride in the fall, you come across some interesting things- like two bear cubs scampering up a tree in the Allegheny National Forest. I was looking for mom when I snapped this photo but got it and then quickly took off so as not to irritate the mother bear. The Laurel Mountains, close to here, also paint a picture a little earlier than in the suburbs. It is great to venture east and see the changing of the leaves happen a little earlier with the slight rise in elevation. Sunshine, cooler weather, and colder nights, seem to bring out the colors faster than in the city and suburbs. I tend to visit the Laurels a lot in the fall because of the wonderful fall portraits that display themselves in Ligonier, Somerset, and Rector, Pa. The fireplaces are cranking up and that smoky smell just excites me to no end. The smells of fall are intoxicating. There is something about a crackling fire that enhances the fall experience, and the smell of leaves is not really accurately describable – but we all know that smell.

I am also a fan of the tastes of fall. Nothing like a good Octoberfest to get you going. And even though I don’t enjoy the great wursts, sauerbraten, and pork loins anymore because I am not a meat eater, nobody can slam potato pancakes and apple sauce like me along with some nice braised red cabbage washed down with a great German beer or a local Penn Brewery Octoberfest lager. Maybe a warm pretzel as well! I like to listen to the ooom pahh German bands too. They seem to go along with the great beers and food.

Great time to hike or ride a mountain bike and take in scenes like this. Seven Springs, Pa.
My old outdoor fireplace was always blazing in the fall.

You know, I am not really sure I could ever live in a place that does not have the change of seasons. Especially a place that really does not have a fall season. I love wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, and even those times where you have a puffy jacket on and a pair of shorts. That kind of describes the weather here in the Mid -Atlantic and the Northeast. Cool mornings, warmer days, and then cool again at night. Great sleeping weather. I don’t miss the summer AC at all.

Bondieu Lake- The Lodge at Glendorn- Bradford, Pa.

As time marches on, I find myself taking time to really enjoy what God’s creation has to offer. I notice the flame red leaves on the trails as I ride, I take in the smells, I look for little things that might have gone un-noticed as a younger person. Watching a particular maple tree in my neighborhood change colors so slowly but yet somehow- so quickly. Holding my wife’s hand on a hike instead of rushing up a hill to be the first guy there. Fall is like that. It gives you perspective, but rewards you with scenery that you only see for a short time- once per year. My advice to all of you is get out there and enjoy it and take the time to enjoy it all. We have a good deal here in Western Pa. Thanks for reading.

The Transition Spur in transition time in the Laurels.