Training Log Archive: bl

Around 4pm, mellow day. Chose Stoneybrook, then thought I'd take a look at the power line. Lot of snowmobiles heard but didn't see any. It was icy going in to the PL. Decided to return thru the woods; more snow under trees than I'd imagined. One post-hole into muck. Wondered if I'd see the turkeys but they'd gone home for the day.

From Stoneybrook early pm - sun high, bright, low 40s. Off trail most of time, using sun for direction about 1/3rd of the time. Lots of turkey tracks - particularly on one small open marsh. Maybe a place to pass the night but no droppings which I might expect. Nice mini-adventure.

Token classic @ 5pm along the brook, over footbridge, by the brook again then along marsh & back. T got to 40F today. Began with freezing rain before dawn but 3" shoveling was pretty easy. Followed turkey tracks for a good bit of the time. Never see them though at end of day. Presumably they settle in a thicket above the contours. Very mellow, 3" settled snow on top of the slippery crust of a few days ago.

Indoor mentality today, and the house was cold. Outdoors was basically out. I chose the Y on the to-do list - which has been longer than usual recently with vacation approaching.

To Great Hill summit with Beth for the sunset and full moon rise. I felt like I didn't have the time to include this on short notice but she was enthusiastic so we went. Brilliant sunset and "perfect" moonrise from the very first bit of orange arc peeking above the hills. We spent quite a bit of time between sunset and moonrise (& after) with a couple and friend from Henniker. He was celebrating his birthday today with the moon rise as background. Driving home only a short while later, the moon was already brilliant white. Earlier it was pointed out that this was the 2019 super snow moon, a fact we'd missed.

Token orienteering at Pawtuckaway on the way back from Eliot visiting the boat which I hadn't seen since 11/24. I defaulted to Siri to take me to PSP from Dover via Lee which proved a bad idea beyond Lee taking extra time although I saw many old farmhouses and woods and fields filled and covered with snow. Prime NH countryside.

Should have had a copy of the map that allowed me to enter the woods right by the park entrance booth vs have to walk about 10' each way to map's edge. Woods were snowy/pretty. Didn't get very far into the park though.

Winter slumber in rural New Hampshire.

a Pawtuckway White Diamond Tr.

C • Lee to PSP 4

Another woods walk around noon to see the Boulder La. proposal for the Gardner subdivision. Nice woods - I never would have seen until threatened for the chopping block.

Token but not without "adventure". Hard crust for the most part. Heading down anything sl. steep was inviting trouble. Spent some time again following and wondering re the significance of several lines of streamers. Got to far side of marsh, then along the contours. Crossed the stream where it was < 3' from bank top to bank to top as the other side was flatter and hadn't been there recently either.

Vegetation closed in pretty much behind neighbor's house. Managed to fall hard ('head jar') on only snow-covered ground. Ski bindings requiring firm pressure on a nickle-sized surface for release I find to be a failing design, for me anyway. Needed to get a ski against a tree to remove it. Then went 50 yds & fell again --- after all the satisfactory maneuvering before. Crust seemed doubly hard near the end but it was probably me. Walked in by the garage & left the skis there.

Calm as could be, not a sound. Not a flutter of wings. Usual abundance of turkey and deer tracks. One set was dog-like, probably fox.