I was treated to some snow showers on Route
302 on my way in the morning. Driving up Rte. 16 I saw a lenticular
cloud capping the summit of Mt Washington - uh oh, that means
serious turbulence on top. Arriving at Pinkham Notch Lodge, the
lot was nearly full at 7:15, just as it had been 2 weeks earlier
when I turned away after arriving at the lodge (I had opted for
some lift served at Jay Peak instead).... and just like 2 weeks
earlier, a cold forecast was issued - this time it was even colder,
with high temps forecasted to be from 5-10 degrees for a high
on the summits. This was hardly enough to warm things up from
the minus 45 wind chills on the summit that were being experienced
at the time that the report was issued. Almost equally disheartening
was the fact that a record low was missed by a mere 1 degree.
|
A Rockpile Weather Report is rarely
mundane ! |
 |
This time, I went for it, anyway. For sure
the sun will bake a few slopes and we’ll get some of that
elusive corn. I was feeling lazy, but when I put on my pack,
I became happy and energetic as I knew that I was in the element
that I enjoy - being in the mountains. Rather than bring my randonee
gear, I opted to hike up in my hiking boots and lug my alpine
boards on my back - I didn’t think that my soft Tua’s
would be effective on this day. Snow on the ascent trail didn't
begin in earnest until after the 2nd switchback. My tortoise
pace enabled a comrade from my internet ski group, Jon and his
friend Marty to catch up. Jon was the hare, bolting ahead and
stopping every now and then while I shuffled along at the same
steady pace. Hiking up was pleasant, but things were wild 'n
wooly at HoJos. Man it was cold. Nasty frigid downdrafts crashed
down on us from above and hardpack- measured at a 50"+ depth
- was the surface of the day. I also noticed how few people were
in the bowl and on Hillman's.With the porcelain plated hardpack,
avalanches were not to be a factor on this day unless a thermonuclear
device were to be detonated on one of the center headwall chutes.
|
 |
After I pointed out some of the prominent ski routes visible
from HoJos, Jon and his friend took off for the bowl, while I
remained, hoping that a strong sun would soften things. The sight
of someone sliding at an exponentially increasing rate in the
Right Gully off in the distance while I was talking to Jon certainly
had an influence on my decision. Jon was
game, though, as it was his first trip to "The Eastern Altar
of Sacrifice" and he was anxious to lose his Tucks virginity.
I talked to John (not to be confused with J-o-n) of the Mt. Washington
Volunteer Patrol and we deducted that the best thing to do would
be to ski down the Sherburne Trail and get an afternoon ticket
at Wildcat. I didn't do that, but I had to do something as I
was getting progressively colder. So, I opted to put on my classic
look crampons with the Scottish Binding strap system over my
raunchy classic look leather mountaineering boots and head off
for the bowl just to hike and practice self arrest with my ice
axe. A funny thing happened on the way - I noticed softening
snow underfoot. So, I headed back and suited up for skiing. Right
before I headed up Hillman's, I observed a brutal fall just below
the cruxes - more great inspiration -huh? The reports from skiers
of hardpack and lousy skiing didn't help.
Undaunted, I charged up the hill. I overhead
others also say "yeah, it was great". It's amazing
when people earn turns how often they'll say it great when it's
lousy - a failure to acknowledge the fact that they sweated for
nothing .... or they're better adventurers than I am! On my ascent,
I heard the ominous sound of scraping snowboards and chattering
skis navigating through some “frozen turkeys” that
an avalanche had deposited the prior week. Conditions rapidly
deteriorated the higher I got - it was more like frozen snowmaking
sludge. A little less than halfway up, I threw in the towel and
felt that it was better judgment to descend before getting in
over my head.
The skiing sucked. Period. Disappointed and needing more mountain
exploring, I put my leather boots and crampons back on (ahhh,
toys!) and headed for the bowl for ice axe
practice and picture taking. I was disappointed, especially when
I saw others skiing, though there were less than I had ever seen
at this time of year.
How could I possibly explain to others that
I went all the way up here and didn't even get a full descent?
Then it hit me - yeah ... I'll be a snob about it and just say
that the conditions weren't good enough for me. When I earned
turns in the past, I tasted nothing but the best candy - chest
deep in the Selkirk's, epic cold smoke at Bridger Bowl and luscious
corn on Left Gully. I was too good for today's crap. In fact,
when I get up in the bowl, I'll just laugh at the fools tumbling
head over heels towards the deadly rocks at the bottom. Ha Ha
HA! But it really wasn't funny .....
Cramponing my way into the frigid bowl past
the rescue hut, a group pulling a litter headed my way - with
someone in it wrapped in what S.O.L.O. terms as a "Mount
Washington Burrito" - a wool blanket plastic drop cloth
combination that is wrapped around a victim well on his/her way
to hypothermia. I immediately volunteered my services as I was
equipped to deal with treacherous terrain. The combined forces
of the AMC/WMNF/Mt Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol accepted my
offer to help.
A fall the entire length of the Left Gully
had left the victim - Timmy - in rough shape. The scene was surreal
- his face had severe abrasions, swollen lips, a messed up nose
and blood splattered all over him. He barely murmured how very
cold he was and he was not functioning well - if not at all -
mentally. It reminded me of reading Catch-22 when Sergeant Yossarian
had to tend to a mortally wounded tail gunner who, as he died,
complained of being very cold. I became nauseous and choked up,
it was time for me to put away the camera out of respect for
the victim and the rescue team of which I became a part of. It
was also time for me to regain my composure and do what had to
be done.
We grunted and strained and hauled the litter
down to the Little Headwall where Simon (MWVSP) had set up an
anchor comprised of snow pickets and a static line rope system
which would greatly aid us in lowering the litter down the steepest
part of the headwall. I assisted in communications midway down,
since I would be needed to physically help with Round 2. Yup,
poor Timmy wasn't the only one - his friend Peanut also biffed
and was on another litter that was on its way.
After Timmy was lowered on a muenter hitch
through the crux, I scampered back to the top, joined John and
we maneuvered victim #2 over bumps and rocks and around holes
above the stream that were forming. The rope ran out and we then
used our ice axes to anchor the litter. We then reorganized as
a larger group, gingerly carried him downhill crossed 2 small
brooks and lugged #2 up to the Snow Ranger HQ just across from
HoJos.
We then loaded both victims onto the back
of the Thiokol where a THIRD victim who was somewhat ambulatory
crawled into the front seat. I was amazed at the field medical
skills that were being practiced by patroller Karen (who I think
is also known as Phoebe), who analyzed Timmy and his quasi-brain
dead state up above and as he was being loaded onto the Thiokol
meat wagon.
It was the classic Presidential Range catastrophe
- some innocent folks from a blue collar town (Charlestown, Mass)
in search of adventure on their own, getting cruelly blind sided
by the North Country weather and then getting the chop.
|
After all of this, it was time for me to reward
myself. First, a Snickers bar. Then, a fun-filled cruise down
on one of my favorite classic New England trails - The Sherburne
Trail.
It was a bit crowded, but other than that,
it was a beaut - there was spring snow, bumps, frozen granular,
glare ice, brush, twists, sudden turns, bare spots. By reading
the shadows on this narrow trail, I was able to pick out the
edgeable stuff and because of that, was always on my toes which
contributed to my stellar run.
Sadly, the trail ran out of snow just above
those fabulous S-turns (can you imagine being Toni Matt after
just unloading on the Headwall at 85+ MPH and then being treated
this roller coaster ride for dessert!).
So I switched to hiking mode and headed back
to my truck. The Sherburne run was as excellent as my experience
on Hillman's was lousy.
Yeah, maybe I'm a wuss by not bagging any of the big Tucks descents.
But, I know one thing that I am NOT --- hospitalized.
The following week …
The Boston Globe reported that “Timmy” and “Peanut”
from Charlestown Mass were hospitalized but in good condition.
|
|
… and from an internet bulletin board
posting from Jon:
“we saw a snowboarder look over the lip at the top of the
gully, not more than 100' above us. He was very cautious and
looked tentative on the steep ice. He started to scrape his heal
edge down over the lip, but it never held. He slid past us trying
to grip an edge, skipping and bouncing. He was yelling as he
passed 50' from Matt and I. By the time he had slid through the
chute, he was moving fast and started to tumble. I'm sure he
was unconscious the last few hundred feet of the slide, because
he was limp as he continued to spin down. He stopped down past
where we had stashed our bags. This was Tim, the same that Mark
Renson help to evacuate. I hadn't known his name until reading
Mark's post. Now I was scared. We decided to skip the lip and
start from where we were. We could see a group of people converge
around Tim. I was really not sure he was alive after sliding
the entire length of the gully. We climbed a until we found a
place to put our equipment on. While getting ready, not 2 minutes
after the first accident, we heard another snowboarder scraping
down the same lip, on his heel edge. He didn't fare much better
than Tim. He slid the entire length of the gully too. At least
this person didn't tumble as badly as the first and he stopped
a bit above the rock where we had rested. I found out this person's
name was Peanut. He and his friends had left their packs by the
same rock that Matt and I had. He had to be evacuated along with
Tim. His friend said that he had a broken ankle and a concussion
but that he was speaking. The skiing was hardly noteworthy after
the two falls. Despite the conditions I felt more comfortable
with my skis on. I even moved around a little to help Matt with
his snowboard. The snow was hard frozen granular that was barely
edgeable until just after the chute where it softened and loosened
up, but only a very little. I'll agree with Mark and will not
try to justify the long climb by saying the skiing was good.
It sucked."
OK, now it’s time to pack the
gear for another weekend adventure …..
Check out our newest sponsor:
 |
Editor's note: watch for parts 2 and 3 coming next week!
Cover Page .....Site
map