New England-area GTG #2: Winter Wonderland

I would also like to hear a final date selection.

Glastonbury Sounds good to me.

Or the places in NH suggested in the whites.

I am open for either of those weekends mentioned.

Someone voted (or changed their vote haha) and now 1/13 – 1/15 is the winner. Glastenbury sounds good to me. If no one has any objections, "Let's get it on!"

Seth – Carpool again? (my snow tires are going on soon! So I'm good either way.)

The date change just pushed me out of contention. I'll be out of the country until 1/19.

This sounds like fun. I'm not sure if I can make it or not.
Some info:
Glastenbury mt. section of 100 classic hikes in New England on google books:
http://books.google.com/books?id=eRPodpFAtrAC&lpg=PA106&ots=uHQiisZJj6&dq=appalachian%20trail%20Glastenbury%20Mountain&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q=appalachian%20trail%20Glastenbury%20Mountain&f=false

A neat map link, shows AT overlaid on google maps, click on trail segment box under the map:
http://web.eecs.utk.edu/~dunigan/at/googleat.php?lat=42.88782&lon=-73.09507&mt=3&scale=11

Looks like the trail head is a little under 1500', Nauheim shelter is 2300'.
1.6 miles rte 9 to Nauheim shelter, 10.1 miles rte 9 to Goddard Shelter.

When I did this long ago it was 100 degrees.

If you don't understand the youtube-famous WOW reference in the subject, that is okay. Looks like I'm in, and trying to convince my twin brother to join also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCNJRfSZBU

Q: Any ideas about nighttime lows for that area ? wondering how I should be thinking in terms of prepping a gear list for the weekend. Was thinking MLD Duomid w/ superlight bivy and an Exped UL 7…and then wondering what degree bag I may be able to get away with if I bring my Montbell Thermawrap Jacket and pants for camp and to boost my sleep system (have a 35* down, and can add a 50* synthetic quilt over that….over just borrow a 0* or similiar bag from EMS….Any input would be helpful. Thanks, Seth

Leroy rocks, but I'd kill him if we were ever on a Everest Climb and just went nutso. :p

I am going to plan for low 20's high teen's for night time temps and 20's to mid 30's during the day. VT is relativily warm and calm compared to its neighboring mountain regions to the east and west.

I should add that I tend to like it a bit colder than the average so I don't pay as much attention to low temps.

PS just put the trip in outlook!!!

I looked up average lows for nearby Shaftsbury in January:
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/daily/VTSPSH:13?climoMonth=1

Looks like planning for low of 0F is way to go?

I would say 0 is a good bet. It's been a warm season so far, but I haven't found the Green Mountains to be significantly warmer in winter than the whites (at similar elevations, at least). I have more experience in northern vermont, though.

Alright. Now that we've got the get-together #2 date figured out, let's start planning #3! End of January, White Mountains!

I'm all in Ryan – let's get even more reasons lined up to not pay any attention at all to work :-) Happy Friday Everyone ! Live for the long camping weekends !

Bryce – totally agree about Leroy on Everest…I'd leave him to fend for himself is my guess.

Good to see another reformed WOW addict. I think you have to be a WOW addict to understand that humor. I am a member of WOW Anonymous and it has been 789 days since my last login.

I don't know this Leroy, but I think I'm okay with that. My video gaming days are a little too far gone to have caught the WOW bug.

But as far as more winter stuff… Yes. How about the following weekend?
Or more seriously, sometime in early February? Less seriously, bring your sweethearts and call it a valentine's day vacation. In an igloo. They'd love it.

….the later into February the better. Gotta space these things out. :p (post a new thread?)

winter will be a bit of stretch. She likes snowshoeing and I can convince her of the occasional summer weekend trip, but I don't think she will buy into well below freezing temps at night. I will ask after finals next week though. I would be up for the whites in February.

What I'm saying is my GF won't do winter camping and she get jealous of the boy's club on backpacking weekends. So if we can space the Jan/Feb trip out a bit that'd be great. :p

I had you in mind when I said that, Bryce :)

Well, we'll stick with the January Glastenbury date for now. For now…

I'm all for a late feb trip…. and if it is in South Beach I ~might~ get my GF to come along too. :p

What system is everyone planning on using for:

– While hiking (w/ poles)
– Around camp / sedentary

I have poly glove liners, Military surplus trigger finger mitten liners, C.A.M.P. windmit'Ns shells for hiking, but I'm unsure if this is substantial enough for around camp.

What should I be planning on for snow — microspikes ? Snowshoes ? Just hiking boots, poles and a lot of luck ? Any thoughts would be welcome….as I'm also trying to get my brother set up, as it looks like he may be joining this party.

I'll have Atlas 930 snowshoes and microspikes. I also have a pair of these (gotta find them first) if someone needs them:
http://www.14ers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=27812&p=330047#p330047

I have a pair of Atlas 925 snowshoes for anyone that needs a pair (look up the weight suggestions, but consider the gear you're carrying and clothes you're wearing…I did not when I bought them haha).

Unfortunately I'm still not sure if Ill make it on the trip but I can tell you what hand wear I personally use. It is not UL as it is old but it is what I have and it works well enough. My winter gear is in serious need of updating.

OR goretex shell mittens
liner gloves or windproof fleece gloves depending on temp
single layer pile mitten liners
triple layer pile mitten liners (would like a ul option)

I hike in the liner or fleece gloves and add the shell mittens if I get cold or it is wet, this works most of the time. Lighter pile mittens are good most of the time when sedentary or hiking if it is really cold or my gloves are wet. I almost never use the super thick pile liners and probably won't bring them anymore as they are heavy. I tend to bring them for camp but most of the time I end up wearing my gloves for dexterity and use my puffy parkas hand warmer pockets while hanging out. If I don't bring the heavy pile mittens I would probably bring both gloves or add a fleece mitten. I still err toward an extra safety margin in winter and extra hand wear was drilled into me back in the day.

I am taking snowshoes and hiking poles, no spikes, they won't be needed. I have goosefeet and the overboots that ben makes for camp. If you go that route I highly reccomend swaping out the thin closed cell he includes with zlite cutouts. Much warmer in the winter (Hint Hint, Ben you should make this an upgradable on your website for the winter folk if you read this). As far as gloves, hats, and socks, my rule of thumb (pun intended) is also take extra. I bring a thin neoprene type glove to hike around in during the day, thick fleece gloves to change into for cooking and around camp and as a back up incase I get soaked in the hands, insulated mittens that can fit over either pair of the liners, and then shell mittens for nasty weather that can fit over a pair of liners and the insulated mittens. I take two hats, a OR gore windstoper that is on almost always, and a light wool hat as a back up. 2 of everything in socks. You need the extra incase you lose something or get a pair of something soaked and they become frozen and useless for the rest of the trip.

I really want to say I’m in for this, as I didn’t go winter camping at all last year. I just have to talk myself up for the 5 hr drive from Manhattan.

Also presuming no setbacks with my recently healed foot.

Mike C!’s winter list is always a good reference for winter gear.

I am very pumped for this trip, as I have never hiked in VT despite living in the state next-door. I am also excited to finally meet some BPLers!

Jim, perhaps I could give you a ride? I was actually thinking of spending Thursday night with my friend who lives in Union Square.