Training Log Archive: bl

At White Farm. Wanted to try crust, gravitated to WF in case that didn't work, there'd likely be groomed surface. Which there was and it was good. Tried some crust that gave too much and was satisfied with freshly groomed by Capital Ski & Outing Club. Very windy which was dissuading but discovered that it was not biting. Spent much of the time in a lee anyway. Crust may have been usable earlier from the look of a few tracks that didn't make much surface impression.

Waxed my skis for first time in a while. It helps...

Door bell ring this morning...a Jehovah's Witness trying to sell me Jesus. I was impressed that someone would come to a door in this day & age. Told him so.
Also pointed out I was a devout atheist, that my "bible" was The God Delusion and that today's world looked pretty god-forsaken to me - all which he accepted with equanimity - what choice did he have. We ended up having a nice chat about the stream, firewood, weather fluctuation etc.

Spent $100 on bluetooth earphones yesterday - been thinking about such a purchase for a while. Made weights at the Y considerably more "multi-dimensional". No more ear buds and the like. It kept a signal some 40' away from the phone as a trial.

East of house, start along the brook.
One last fling for the day. Low sun on the snow beckoned on this blue dome, windy March day. The crust supported the skis. Fell once though which was "snowy". Single digits tomorrow morning.

at BMS end of day. It was NW windy. Had no interest in exposing myself to
the open parts of the two schools so I just walked around BMS a mile's worth.
We passed the Ides yesterday, March is half over. Today's wind seemed like it would blow it away entirely. A raw day, winter into spring.

OOB to advantage with roof raking and shoveling

Alpine at Sunapee. Missed this last year (actually turns out last time was 2/3/2015, ouch) and now this year is about over --- had to get there at least once. Conditions were excellent. Of course, how could I ever get better going as infrequently as I do.... But, still, felt good about getting out on a mountain, getting fresh air and giving the ole sense of balance a run for its money, and, mainly, leaving inertia at home. Right thigh did knot up with the work of either turning or braking .Always pretty much solo when I am there. The only person I spoke to in a half day was a really keen 77 y/o skier (ends the season with a month in the West at 3 ski areas, one of which was Jackson Hole so we could talk about JH to a level of mutual interest). And the ladies who sold me lunch and the lift ticket. That's about it. Also fun to make the comparison of August visits to the NH crafts fair with Beth when it is as green then as it was white today.

Coming home, poked around Bradford for the first time which looked charming as so many NE towns are.

"Routine" Sunapee

Probably had 18" yesterday. Snow flurries on & off today, still snowing 7p Wed. Looking like deep winter for the time being.

Two sessions of shoveling light snow, the second around 10:15p when the NE'er was largely over and it seemed extra quiet. Some 14" est. fell. The sun's power will provide a quick remedy. However, the snow fall made for an enjoyable day at spring's doorstep.

Out back on snowshoes. Haven't done such in a few winters. Thought roundly of a mile, came closer than expected after feeling that 40' or so was getting sufficient. As much as even 2' in a few places, mostly less though. Truly a winter wonderland with snow falling hard/fast but gently, too, all pm. Followed the stream, then up into the contours, under hemlocks everywhere as much as possible. Not much was distinguishable until what I believe was the first or second '09 BG control, a prominent knoll. From then hunches proved right to the site where we used to set up tent. Then down to the bottom and "straight". I was beginning to wonder had I managed to lose sense of direction but then spotted the house. Fell once, got hands cold a bunch, stopping for photos and gloves were inadequate anyway. But not a cold day, either. A nice mini-adventure on a day when much is paralyzed - schools, library etc closed, voting white-out etc.

"Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl"
James Russell Lowell, 1898

Always liked that stanza though the story the poem relates is very sad. Surprisingly to me when I first learned, Lowell is buried in nearby Dunbarton in small Stark cemetery in the woods, at this moment perhaps much as he describes in his lines of old. I first visited there on a very cold winter day about a year ago.

In Boston for a MEEI appointment at 2:30 so had time for a walk. Wandered away from roads/traffic where I could. At one point, I came upon the route from Charlestown I ran to lecture a few years ago. Generally nice day, a bit raw March. In one garden, a few green shoots pushing up. Lucky to be there and back before snow made it all not possible.

Cocoon City for live aboards.

Old warrior

Went to BHS on early side. Didn't feel like what crust there was was of any use. Walked the school loop and to my surprise saw a groomed oval by the high school. Likely done yesterday - certainly a surprise given that it is the weekend and time of year. Skied for about 20'. One other set of tracks that were made when the surface was quite soft.