Hiking

[emily_in_nc]

Good for you, Catrin! I have a real aversion to walking or hiking in mud. I just hate how it gets stuck in every crevice of my boot or shoe sole and builds up. Feels very yucky to me, not to mention the difficulty cleaning up afterwards. In NC we used to hike at the Eno River State Park often on weekends, and when the trails were frozen in the coldest winter mornings, I enjoyed it so much more than when things thawed out and brought the mud!

[Catrin]

Good for you, Catrin! I have a real aversion to walking or hiking in mud. I just hate how it gets stuck in every crevice of my boot or shoe sole and builds up. Feels very yucky to me, not to mention the difficulty cleaning up afterwards. In NC we used to hike at the Eno River State Park often on weekends, and when the trails were frozen in the coldest winter mornings, I enjoyed it so much more than when things thawed out and brought the mud!

It's certainly nicer when it's frozen - I didn't think it would be THAT muddy. It could have been worse however, and the trekking poles provide stability.

[Crankin]

Did a 4.7 mile hike this morning on a new (to us) set of trails in Concord. After dropping my car off for an oil change, we headed to the trail head in DH's car, about 2 miles away. It was very confusing, in an area of private roads/driveways, but after a few circles, we found it. The first part, a client had told me about, as it's a back door way to get down to Walden Pond, avoiding the state park parking lot fee. That part I remember! We were following a route on All Trails, but when it's cold out, the phone's battery is affected, so I made DH bring his hiking GPS, too, so we could mark the beginnning and have a way to get us back if the phone died. It did get very low on batteries, so we were glad we had the GPS, as this area is just full of trails, both Concord Conservation land and into the town of Lincoln. After skirting the pond, we went down, down, and turned toward Fairhaven Bay, which is part of the Sudbury River. We actually were right along the water's edge for a long time, and there were signs that this area is seasonally flooded. Then, we thought we were almost back, but we had about another mile.
There was a little elevation at the end, which was good. Nice scenery, and aside from the tourists we saw at Walden (4), only saw 3 other hikers. The trail was partially snow covered, with ice in a lot of places, so we were glad we wore our spikes.
The snow is falling steadily now, and they have upped our amounts since last night. My granddaughter was supposed to sleep over, but DS cancelled, as it's a 20 mile drive for him to get her here. So... I predict I will be x country skiing tomorrow.

[Crankin]

Did a 4.7 mile hike with my cycling group today. It's super warm out (50s), but the roads are slopped with melting snow from overnight rain, so no official ride. It was a nice hike, from Walden Pond, but across the street from the pond, so not where I was last weekend. I took the opportunity to buy my lifetime senior parking pass for the state parks, which I still hate doing, but after buying the national parks one, I am sort of over it.
This was totally in conservation land in the town of Lincoln, MA. I had been to the very beginning part, but the rest was all new. Due the melting snow, I was unsure about wearing my microspikes, but I did for 3/4 of the hike and although there was some clumping over snow and leaves in the cleats, they were useful in some spots. We got to a totally clear area and we wee near the end, so I took them off. Off ocurse, 2 seconds after that, we were back in the snow and I slipped, but it was a kind of down on one knee, barely and I sprung up, to the amazement of the people behind me. Embarrassing, but at least I wasn't splayed across the trail!
Getting up my motivation to do some work now.

[ny biker]

For situations when your phone battery might run low, it's great to have one of those portable lithium ion batteries that you can plug the phone into. I got one before a trip a couple of years ago to keep my tablet charged in case my flight was delayed; didn't need it then but I used it last summer when I was listening to Cape League baseball games on my phone. They really come in handy and are small and light. And not expensive.

I didn't realize that Walden Pond was in your area. We are looking at another trip to Massachusetts next summer so I will add it to the list of possible places to visit.

[Crankin]

Walden Pond is about 4 miles from my house. I would be happy to be your guide through all historic sites!
Yeah, DH ordered some super chargeable battery case for his phone that allows you to charge the case itself, which extends the battery life of the phone. Not sure I understand the premise as of now, but it is arriving tomorrow, and we will use Saturday. He decided not buy the Apple version, so it's a Chinese product. We shall see if it works.
I used to take my kids to Cape Cod League games every summer. It was a lot of fun.

[Catrin]

Glad to see good hiking going on! For here, it's either been below 0 or so warm that the trails are a total quagmire. 63 degrees yesterday (at 3am) It's close to 40 degrees colder today with a 2-day ice storm warning starts later today. Ugh. I hope to get a 4-mile walk in Monday - it will be in the 50's AND I'm meeting co-workers for an annual visit to the local Fogo De Chao (lunch). Otherwise it will be my usual kettllebell swings and Tai Chi schedule.

Crankin - pretty cool you're so close to Walden Pond.

My Galaxy S7 Active has a pretty robust battery for a smartphone but it would be nice to have a portable charging solution for long hikes as I use it for GPS tracking and other related things during all hikes. I've never killed it that way - though I admit I didn't use it during the 6 hour hike in October for that very reason...

[north woods gal]

All my hiking, so far this year, has been with snowshoes. Snow depth is now running about 2 feet in places with a lot of crusty layers so walking can actually be dangerous, not to mention just plain grueling. Snowshoeing in fresh deep snow is no picnic, either, though. Did three miles after a fresh 10" of snow, the other day, and my legs were feeling it.

[Crankin]

So jealous, North Woods. All of our snow has melted and there is none in sight in the next 10 days. While I will get to hike and perhaps ride, I will have to travel for snow.
There was a most discouraging article on the front page of our paper today. It seems that climate change is affecting New England at a higher rate than all other places. So, pretty much snowless winters, punctuated by larger nor'easters with lots of snow a couple of times year.
I don't want the long winters of the midwest, but right now, I'd kill to be in Oregon or Washington. Of course, the year I went there to ski, there was no snow.

[north woods gal]

I get that, Crankin'. We've had some really oddball winters, too or more like very inconsistent, one to the next, and that is unusual for us. The climate change thing affect us, too. A state forester has shown that our true north woods are receding north and will eventually become more hardwoods than conifers at some point. We're also only a little north of the snow line where winters stay cold enough for snow to stay on the ground all winter. Without snow in the winter, our economy is going to take a big hit.

This winter, despite our usual sub zero cold and snow has been punctuated by a number of ice and even just rain storms and that is making a mess of our snow sports. In fact, here it is at 4 above, now, and we are forecast to get some rain next week. Just crazy.

[ny biker]

Walden Pond is about 4 miles from my house. I would be happy to be your guide through all historic sites!
Yeah, DH ordered some super chargeable battery case for his phone that allows you to charge the case itself, which extends the battery life of the phone. Not sure I understand the premise as of now, but it is arriving tomorrow, and we will use Saturday. He decided not buy the Apple version, so it's a Chinese product. We shall see if it works.
I used to take my kids to Cape Cod League games every summer. It was a lot of fun.

Thanks Crankin. We're don't have dates or specific plans yet. Over the holidays I went with my parents to see an exhibit of paintings on the Revolutionary War, including some depicting Lexington and Concord. I suggested that we could spend a day or two there on the way to or from the Cape. It will depend on what they want to do, especially since my father doesn't get around as well as he used to. But I will send them info about it so they can think about it. My mother had also mentioned visiting the Rockwell museum in Stockbridge, though that is much farther away.

[Catrin]

It's been crazy here for Indiana! Only one accumulating snow so far - and NO non-accumulating snow at all. Temps so far have ranged from -3 (actual temp, windchills ~-15) to 65 just the other morning. Yep, morning - it was actually 3 am at the time they say. Freezing rain today and tomorrow, and apparently temps back in the 50's next week. We have had a couple weeks now where the temps were <20 consistently, but not like it usually is here. Reminds me more of a southern winter (border south, not deep south) where I grew up than a normal Midwest winter

No saying I don't like the warmer temps and not having to drive much in ice and snow but it makes it difficult to adjust to the season.

[Crankin]

Did the same hike as last weekend, except in the opposite direction, and with our friends. It was definitely easier in this direction. We didn't add on the big hill climb as DH is really sick with a cold, but he didn't want to ruin the what we had planned with our friends who were in for our theatre night on Friday. The temperature was about the same, too, starting at 18 and going up to 25, but no impending snow. In fact, I didn't bring sunglasses, as it was cloudy and then the sun came out. It was fun, despite the depressing discussion about climate change and no snow for x country skiing. One of our friends is up in Craftsbury, VT this weekend, which is almost in Canada. It usually has very relieable snow cover and she said it's "sketchy." I just hate it when it's this cold and no snow!
Well, it's going to be in the 40s later in the week, so I guess I will get my bike out, if the roads are not too bad. Meanwhile, we will go out to Amherst and do some hiking out where our friends live sometime in hte next 2 weeks, if we can't plan any skiing.
NY, we went to the Rockwell Museum last summer, after not going there for like 15 years. It is awesome. We do go to the Berkshires every year, but it's focused on cycling, so we don't a lot of cultural stuff. Last summer was so hot when we were there, we had to do a very short 17 mile ride one day, much earlier than usual and then we went to the museum. The grounds themselves are worth the trip. It's about 2.5 hours from Concord, definitely doable in a day from here, but it would be a long way to the Cape. Maybe you could plan an overnight around here, or out in the Berkshires. It's such a lovely area of Massachusetts that most around here never visit. Most of their visitors and 2nd home owners are from NY or NJ.
A few years ago, DH and I drove to Lenox to meet Lisa (remember her) from TE to go to a big winter clothing sale at an outdoor store there. Lisa lives about 25 miles from the MA/NY border. Deb, who was winter camping out there, also joined us. It was a very fun TE experience and DH ended up buying the most stuff!

[Catrin]

I remember when you met Lisa and Deb, TE outings are always a lot of fun - that's been my experience over the years.

I've not been able to hike since Jan 1, and I'm itching to get out. The trails are very muddy however, that's the downside of such warm winter temps. Your conditions sound perfect Crankin, much easier to hike on frozen trails

I really want to get out solo however. I do have hiking friends, but there is a small downside to that. It almost makes me feel bad to admit it to myself, but my local hiking friends do not seem to be capable to have one second of a hike pass in silence. I love these women, they are very good friends, but I need to make certain I do more solo hiking this year. I enjoy hiking with them, don't get me wrong, but when 2 or three involved conversations are happening throughout the entire hike it gets tiresome. Part of why I like to hike is to reconnect with the world around me, and I can't do that with constant chatter. Am I the only one like this? So my goal this year is to attempt to alternate solo and group hikes. I also would like to hike in every state park in Indiana - though there are two that may be overly technical for my knee.

[Crankin]

No, you are not the only one. I like my hikes with our friends, because it alternates between talking and silence.
DGD slept over last night. She didn't go to bed until midnight and I had to do the brunt of the care, as DH is sick. She slept until 7 AM, and I am exhausted. I am hoping to get out for a short hike later, as my dreas of an 8:15 tabata class went out the window very quickly.