- Month #4 of the elevation challenge flew by and was a grind, in a good way. I sadly had to hang up my splitboard early in the month, but I was happy to get in two Polecat runs on Wildcat during their last weekend of operation.
- I ended the month with 114K of elevation gained. 110K on foot and 4K on the splitboard. 36 - 4K peaks, 25 of which counted toward the 29 Grid #3 peaks for April. Over the month we (Sarge and I) also did 7 Bowl Pawtrols, 1 Hojo's, 4 North of the Notch Run Clubs, and a few sub 4k runs/hikes to round out the month.
- For the year, I have 460,000' of elevation gained, right on track with my strategy of averaging 115K a month through May. June through August will have a little bump up to 125K, leaving a manageable September of 50K for 1 million by the last day of summer before heading to my offseason "Fall Cactus League" stint in Arizona
- Highlights of the month included catching beautiful early morning undercasts from South Moat, the Carter Range, Whitefcae, and Passaconaway. There were also a few abundant sunshine days in Tuckerman Ravine on Bowl Pawtrol with Sarge to watch the skiers do their thing in the gullies and over the Lip. Over the final weekend of April, I was able to get in my first 50K route of the year, Hale-Zealand-Twins-Galehead,-Garfield loop which went without a hitch. Last but not Least, Todd and I were able to get in our first Lion Head hike up to the Rockpile on a warm day that softened up the snow for safe passage across the difficult/dangerous snowfield below treeline.
- This month, I was also interested in how my body would hold up transitioning to all hiking/trail running at such a high volume for me this early in the year. In the past, I didn't start ramping up to 100K on foot until June. Other than a slight discomfort in my hip in the middle of the month, where I took two days off, I'm ending April as good as it gets for what I'm putting my soon to be 47 year old body through. "Maintain Strength Training" at 5am most days of the week, I attribute to being able to keep the body rolling at a good clip without injury.
- May outlook: more of the same, as I'm looking forward to warmer days and more snow free trails, as there are still some deep pockets below treeline. Hopefully, by the second half of May, most trails will be snow free, so I can get a little more creative with routes.
Early April in the Wildcat - Carter Range
Presidential Range from Mount Jackson's summit
Bowl Pawtrol!
Sarge is ready to assist from his perch at the upper first aid cache
North of the Notch Run Club (Lookout Ledge and Mount Randolph). King Ravine in full view
"Freaknoculars" at the Cannon summit tower
Sarge scopes out the construction area along Lincoln Woods Trail
Owl's Head from Black Pond
Sarge sporting his knee-high brown colored boots at Old Camp 12 off Lincoln Brook Trail
Sarge on Polecat Ski Trail with the ravines of Mount Washington behind him
One of the few hydro dams along the Androscoggin River.
Mount Madison towering over the town of Gorham, NH
Undercast from South Moat!
Staring down into Carrigain Notch from Signal Ridge
Sarge strikes a pose on Signal Ridge
More Bowl Pawtrol
Jumping for joy, and snowballs!
Cairn throne on South Kinsman
Kinsman Pond and Franconia Ridge from North Kinsman
Maple shack and Bald Peak
Big views and big clouds from Mount Moosilauke
If there's a patch of snow, Sarge will cool his toe beans off in it!
Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
Carrigain Notch from Zeacliff, Zealand summit, Mount Guyot, Presidential Range from the North Twin / South Twin col.
Galehead, Garfield, Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, Flume as seen from North Twin summit.
Dry River Wilderness Boundary on the way to Mount Isolation
Mount Isolation summit
Todd descends the Lion Head snowfield, Boott Spur in view. In the winter, this is avalanche terrain and closed, hikers are advised to use the Lion Head winter route.
Heading up Mount Madison. Madison Spring Hut and JQ Adams in view
Along the Gulfside Trail with Mount Madison summit cone in the background
Sarge at the hut with JQ Adams behind him and then on top of Mount Adams
Undercast from the Blueberry Ledges
Mount Passaconaway floating above the clouds
Inlook Trail ledges with Mount Madison rising above Sarge
114K in April, the train kept on rolling! Another solid month for all, and Amber is in full grind mode as she keeps ticking away towards the 3.65 million vert world record.
NHL playoffs started in April too. As you can see, Sarge is a huge B's fan! As of May 1st, the Boston Bruins are down 3 games to 2 vs. the Buffalo Sabres (loss, win, loss, loss, win)
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