Date: 2018-11-28
From: Mass Rt 23

To: Homes Road 
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

I was up early this morning for my planned 18 mile hike. This will get me out of Vermont and into Massachusetts!  When we arrived at my start location the snow was really deep. Our SUV got stuck in the parking lot. Thankfully Papa Big Swig was able to get it out using 4 wheel drive. With more snow falling I quickly realized that I was not going to be able to hike this area today.  Back to the hotel for a plan B. I decided to go south into Massachusetts where the snow wasn¢t quite so heavy. This will create a change of plans with my shuttle driver later in the week. Changes changes changes.  One giant leapfrog later I was at Mass Rt 23 and planning a 12.9 miles hike southbound. The snow was definitely not as deep, and since I¢m only hiking 12.9 miles now Seylor gets to come with me!  It was 10:30 this morning before we stepped foot or paw on the trail. I was so happy to see a winter wonderland! I enjoyed the beauty all around me while catching snowflakes on my tongue.  The terrain in the beginning was not bad. The snow was about ankle deep, but I could visualize the trail. Within the first mile there were two road crossings. Oddly I watched a snow plow pass by before crossing each one.  After crossing the second road the trail went UP, and the snow got deeper. Not only was the snow deeper, but it was sticking to the trees as well. Most white blazes could not be seen.  I¢m so glad I had Seylor with me. She has the innate ability to find the trail. I trust her completely, but there were moments when even she was confused. I spent a lot of time using GPS burning cell battery.  In two hours I had gone exactly 2 miles. This is not good. At this rate it will take until 11pm to go 12.9 miles. I had to make a plan C.  Once plan C was in play I felt a ton of bricks come off my shoulders. No more worrying that I would be feeling my way through this snow after dark. Time to have fun! The temp was in the 30¢s. There was no wind blowing so I was comfortable. Snow was still falling, but lightly. It really was a beautiful day!  In many places the trail wasn¢t visible because ALL of the small trees were bent over from being weighted down by snow. Many of them laying across the trail. I used my trekking poles to knock snow off, and magically they would stand up tall again. Trees rising as I walked by made me feel like I was a princess out there!  I cannot let all of this snowy white beauty allow me to forget the true danger out here. I never know what¢s under my feet or where my next step might land. I say this because as I was lost in this Winter Wonderland I took a step on a slab going down, yep down. Just like that...down goes McGinney. OUCH! I had no idea I was about to step foot on a slab. Right after the slab incident, I came to an area with lots of trees down. The trail was so obscure I couldn¢t see it. Seylor couldn¢t sniff it. I pulled out my Guthook¢s app again but it wasn¢t acting right. This happens when there are clouds overhead. Specifically rain clouds or snow clouds. That¢s another danger out here in the winter. If I can¢t see a trail, and I can¢t see blazes, then I must be able to use my GPS. it¢s just not a safe.  With Seylor¢s help I made it to a view about a mile from the extraction point. From the view there were footprints going down. The only sign of life I saw today.  I was not able to wear micro-spikes today because the snow balled up underneath so badly that I couldn¢t walk. I nearly rolled my ankle once. That being said, there was icy slabs going down from the view and down goes McGinney AGAIN! This time I nearly did the splits.  Papa Big Swig was waiting patiently for us at the bottom. It was 4:30pm and just starting to get dark. I had only gone 5.9 miles in 6 hours.   For the first time today I was forced to consider calling it. Papa Big Swig had already cancelled his trip to Florida out of fear for my safety. The weather has made things dangerous out there. Big Kahuna is a New Englander and he strongly suggests I don¢t go up there by myself anymore. I have a lot of thinking to do. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?