Camels Hump in winter.

Got the itch to hike a big hill, and went up Camel's Hump (Vermont's 3rd highest peak) on Friday. Gorgeous clear day for a hike. I was the first one up from the east side in probably a week, so I was breaking trail the whole way up. The first half was packed firm enough to skip snowshoes, but I had to strap them on the rest of the way up. I haven't done much winter hiking to bigger hills, so I was surprised to see just how much snow there was the higher I got. However, once I got up near the bald and windswept summit, there was hardly any. I was able to snap a few photos when I was still in the trees, but by the time I was above treeline, it was so windy and cold that Chrissy's old camera froze up on me. Take my word for it though, the views were gorgeous.
Also was surprised to see some birds pretty high up too. Some sort of woodpecker. Mostly black and white, maybe a Black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)?
Here's some photos:

Into the fir zone...


Looking back at the beginning of the firs...


Lots of snow up here, about 6" of fresh.


Clearing near the summit.


Side trail to the summit, last picture before the camera froze.

By the way, I finally ordered myself a new camera. Latest generation of the waterproof Pentax's I've had for the past 5 years or so. This will be my 3rd one. Can't wait, I miss carrying a camera everywhere I go.

Winter Fun.

I've been doing a good bit of XC skiing lately as a substitute for riding the trainer (which I've also been doing a bit). Actually, it got warm enough the other day to ride outside (and trash my drivetrain with salt and road grit).
Anywho, yesterday, Chrissy and I took a walk down to where I usually XC ski, at the Waterbury Reservoir. Obviously, it's frozen now. I'm not brave (stupid?) enough to actually ski out on the lake, but there's a peninsula that goes a ways out into it that's fun to go to. That's what we did...

Yours truly.


Chrissy...


My ski tracks from the previous day. Skating yo.


Out onto the lake.








These pictures were taken with Chrissy's old camera, which eats through batteries. I really need to get another one...

Well, we finally got reliable internet at the house. I haven't had good internet since I left Mississippi, so it's been a long time coming. Anywho, here are some pictures from summer and fall. There are some others from our Washington trip I have to track down, but these are some from around Vermont. Unfortunately, these will be the last photos I'll have for a while since my camera got stolen...


Apples from the back yard...

...turned into delicious apple sauce.

Chrissy and friends atop Camel's Hump. And some dogs. Yes, the daschund made it.

Canoe on the Waterbury Reservoir.



Tamarack (yellow) around Zack Woods.

Aspen in fall.

Back yard pond with fall foliage.

Front yard fall foliage.

Early fall ride in the woods.

Chrissy and I at Moss Glen Falls.

Jack-o-lanterns. Chrissy's on the left, mine on the right.

Chrissy on the bridge I built over the little creek in the yard.

Teal in an old cellar hole.

Teal the morning we found Moss Glen Falls.

Atop Mt. Hunger.

Benchmark on Mt. Hunger.

Some of the yard... love it!

Milkweed letting the seeds go.

More to come...

Almost winter...

Sorry it's been such a long time since I've posted anything on here. Lots has happened since the last post, but I haven't had reliable internet at home to share it with. Pretty sure most of you who read this (the family) know everything that's been going on anyway. I'll try to add some new stuff once I get a good internet connection (which is proving hard to find). Until then, here's Teal and Sheila atop Camel's Hump - Vermont's 3rd highest peak, and highest undeveloped peak (the top 2 have ski resorts).

Spring at last

Almost summer actually. I've been busy lately and my internet sucks, so sorry for not posting much lately. Looking forward to seeing the family soon.


View on a road ride...


Ah, Vermont...


After a night hike.


The 'cross bike enjoying a scenic rest stop.


Chrissy strumming the guitar.


Green River Reservoir.


The Salsa's new incarnation.


Stormy weather on Cape Cod.

Camera found!

That's right! Went back to the same place and dug around a bit more since the water was down, and sure enough, I found it! It seems like it still sort of works, but not really. That it does anything at all is amazing. It was submerged in icy cold water for 3 weeks! Anywho, here are some photos from that hike (Mt. Worcester) taken with my new camera (newer version of the same camera). Also, skipped work today and paddled the Winooski again. Really windy, so it was slow, frustrating going most of the time but it was still better than work!



The old camera at the scene of the crime. Can't believe I found it.


Bit wet near the top...


Lots of streams on the way up, really pretty.


Snow near the top. Not much fun wearing shorts and sneakers.


The canoe at the put in.


Along the first stretch.


Customary sandbar lunch stop place.


Speaking of lunch... aw yeah!


Rad stickers.


At the portage of the first dam. One day I'll have the guts to run it (assuming the water is high enough, which is wasn't).

Wow.

Makes me want to have another trials bike again, but makes me realize how much I sucked at trials when I did do it...

Bummer.

Well, after 4 years of faithful service and countless nice photos, my trusty camera is no more. This past Saturday, I was hiking a new hike (Mt. Worcester) on a nasty day by myself. I had the whole trail to myself in fact. It started off great, despite the rain and mud and occasional post-holing through the remaining snow. There were all sorts of pretty streams and waterfalls sourced by the melting snow and April showers. Near where I turned around (I didn't get to the top), I paused to take a photo of a particularly pretty little cascade. As I put my camera back in my backpack pocket, it slipped out of my hand, into the pool of water I was straddling. It then got washed over a little waterfall, and I saw it go over another one after that. I didn't see it go any further, so I rushed to the base of the second fall. The water was all frothy, so I couldn't see anything, but I dug around in the rocks until my hands turned numb (which didn't take too long, it was freezing). In the end, I gave up. I sure liked that little camera, pity to have lost it. I'm going to go back and hike that again once the snowmelt slows down. I bet it'd be fine if I could find it. Tough little camera... So, that means no new photos until I can either find it, or get a new one. I guess I'll have to get better at describing my adventures in words in the meantime.