The winter gods have smiled on us in the northeastern US....they have given my locale 33 cm of delightful, semi-fluffy snow yesterday
Just to prove that New England weather can be very unpredictable, I should mention that on the day before, we had temperatures as high as 15 C. During the snowstorm, temps fell to -4 C during the day and -15 C at night, not accounting for the wind chill factor.
Of course, this gave me the opportunity to drive out to the western section of the Ives' Trail for a 6 mile trek with my winter pack load-out
Bennett's Pond Trail System is where I started out, at the southern end off of Bennett's Farm Rd. From there, I travelled north and then east until the trail curved back north, handrailing the south and western side of the pond. This area is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, as is Wooster Mtn State Park on the other end of the map.
The pond itself home to a small colony of beavers. Last time I counted over 12 lodges. With the high winds and snow, visibility was minimal, not unlike blizzard conditions.
From the north end of the pond, my course led me to the longer and easier way up Pine Mtn, the tallest ridge in southwestern Connecticut. Like almost all the other hills, Pine Mtn was carved out by the glaciers, giving it a distinctive north-south shape. By now the snow was getting too deep for my boots, so it was time to strap on my snowshoes.
Here's the bluff view on Pine Mtn. Not much to in the valley below LOL
I had to keep moving to get out of the high winds, which were gusting to considerable force from the north. I eventually found a somewhat-sheltered location off-trail where I could stop for a rest break.
This is the flysheet from the Guide Gear tipi tent that sportsmansguide sold for a short time. It weighs a few ounces less than my DD 3x3. It takes 4-5 stakes, and it is solid, but the ventilation needs to be improved. The only vent is relatively small and does little to stop condensation buildup inside the shelter. Sometime I'd like to modify it with 3 more vents as well as a stove-jack so I can turn it into a hot-tent system.
The snow stopped around mid-afternoon after I packed up and headed back on the trail. When I reached Wooster Mtn State Park, I had to negotiate a 100 ft climb where the trail went straight up a rocky ledge, without any switchbacks, at a 60 degree angle. That took a lot of perseverance. After that, the trail was mostly downhill...thank the Stars!!!
The trip was only 6 miles, but it felt like more than 12 with the amount of energy I exerted. Snowshoeing in conditions like this can be a double-edged sword. If you're the only one out, you can revel the solitude....but then you are also the ONLY one who will pack down the trail. It's basically the same as going cross-country on snowshoes, and can be a great way to increase your endurance.
Originally Posted by OakAshandThorn
The winter gods have smiled on us in the northeastern US....they have given my locale 33 cm of delightful, semi-fluffy snow yesterday
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