Date: 2008-01-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

OK, then. Let's move on.My birthday is coming up soon, and we went out to a very local spot called Hatchet Mountain Public House for an early celebration on Friday night. There is something about having a small, rustic pub in the center of town after years of having nothing closer than about 9 miles. It just feels good to be able to go there on snowy nights when you otherwise wouldn't venture out. Or to meet there after work and be able to just drive around the corner and be home, more or less. Hatchet Mountain has a huge cast iron woodstove that they fire up around 3:00 pm, so that its pumping out the heat by 6 or so. We had a table tucked in a corner right next to the stove, and boy, did that feel good! When we walked in from the car, our boots crunched in the snow, sort of a crunch-squeak that happens only when its below 20 out. Made out of a post and beam frame, the inside of the otherwise modest barn-like structure is warm, airy and nicely lit. The golden beamed ceiling soars and a small balcony serves as a second floor for a few tables. The owner has put antique tools and such here and there, and tucked unusual furniture against the walls. At the meal's end we shared a small but mighty chocolate torte: think smooth, thick semi-sweet fudge with a toss of whipped cream, and opened my birthday card from v8: two classy dames playing accordians in a marching band on the front, with a tinny little musical regalia issuing forth as it was opened. " Still going strong, even if everyone else wishes we would stop." v8 wins this year's card competition, something we have taken VERYseriously for at least the last 15 years.Conditioning has continued the past two weekends, back at the Messalonskee Stream Trail. Yesterday I showed up at V8's and met up with Sally, a friend of hers that I enjoy, and the three of us took Stabilicers and packs and poles over to the parking area at 10:45. I hoisted a Mountainsmith Boundary pack onto my back, stuffed with a representative assortment of gear and water bottles somewhere in the neighborhood of 20#. More on pack-games later.This trail was close to perfect: even layers of snowpack, lightly travelled by snowshoes and skiis. We motored along with ease over the rolling wooded landscape overlooking the water. The trail crosses several brooks, all of which were running vigorously under the most amazing displays of scuptured ice. At the first footbridge we just stopped and stared. When nature produces a visual and auditory experience with this degree of aesthetic appeal, people just fall into a kind of worshipful silence. I love it when that happens, and I have found myself carrying that scene with me much of this winter. We followed the convoluted path as it meandered along the shore, and then went up an extended hillside towards the end of the second mile. There the trail opened out into a swath of white that extended in both directions beneath some power lines. Snowmobiles had been through here, making the footing extra smooth. Although it was a breezy 20 degree morning, we only saw one sledder out there, who thoughtfully slowed down to pass us. We turned around at the two mile marker, had a quick cup of tea from a thermos and headed back. It took us exactly two hours to go the four miles, and with packs, that wasn't too bad. There is nothing like sucking down a chestful of dry, cold, windy air, while beginning to break a slight sweat, trudging up the path through those hemlock and cedar woods.V8 and I did a little pack trial after the walk, taking an assortment of gear much like what we will each be carrying in March, and tried fitting it into several different packs we had accumulated. During the summer I had used a Granite Gear Vapor Ki and a North face Skareb 55, neither of which felt right for the gear I expect to be taking this spring. Without top-lids and significant pocketry, they don't seem to do it for me for more than a few days out. That is the basis of my comparisons at this point. The clear winner for scale and pocket arrangement and weight and comfort was the Mountainsmith. Definitely not a pack you hear about much, it just worked and felt best. The well padded belt and straps felt good on my hips and shoulders. At 4.6# it only had one pound over the lighter-weights, and kept to the old standard of one pound per 1000 cu's. I tried a hefty but elegant Lowe Alpine Ridge pack, but couldn't justify that extra 1#3oz. Also loaded up a new Kelty Trekker 3900, short torso. Maybe its my '70's experience, but I think externals are well designed and I wanted to try a recent model. Unfortunately, the thing was set up so that the load carried high and tended to sway when I walked. Since it also weighed in at 5#, the buzzer sounded on that one, too. V8 had gottn a Kelty Nimble and an REI UL 60, both of which lost favor with me due to very thin padding on hipbelts and straps. I hate the color, a dull denim blue with taupe, and general boring-ness of the Boundary pack, but plan to suck it up and appreciate its other features. Maybe a little trail flair will find its way onto the plain little thing?My right foot has some issues when pressed into service as a load mover. The foot guy said arthritis in the major toe joint, and deteriorated cartilege. He made a carbon fiber plate to go under the insole to inhibit joint flex and help with a little rocking motion. How impressed am I with this remedy? Not very. I took a three mile walk with Tom this afternoon, including a half mile of steep up and down, without pack. I changed from the Montrail Stratos ankle boot to my older HiTec leathers, and found that the support the HiTecs offered was helpful. I have been paying attention to the logic behind light weight gear upgrades, including that for footwear. But as with the above discussion about packs, I may start out this walk with a sturdier boot in order to keep the foot from experiencing needless stress. Meanwhile, some knee twinges have me starting some knee excercises, and praying that building up some strength will protect the joints and help them stabilize. I very seldom use antinflammatories these days, but will take Aleve on the trail. I do use as of a month ago, a glucosamine/chondroitine blend as directed. So far, not a lot of change. But I will keep that up another couple of months to see if it is cumulative.I want to say ssomething about those of you who have taken the time to write in my guestbook. It feels so incredibly good to hear from you, and has built for me a sense of connection that is so enriching. To Frosty, Survivor Dave, Jerry, Mrs Doolittle, Chairman, V8, Roots, Chuck, Tom, John, Limestone, Kristi, Cindy, Lipstick, Cannibal, Crabby A., Paws, Sheri and Mrs. Veto: you are such dears! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! Please throw your two cents in whenever you can, its been great to hear your advice, encouragement and good will.Yours truly, Mame