Mount Washington: Jan 2010
The Plan:
- Saturday, January 16th, 2010
- Drive to North Conway
- Stop at the REI and/or IME and rent or buy gear (plastic boots, crampons, ice axe, etc.)
- Meet up at Dana Place and have dinner either at Dana Place or somewhere else,
- Meet up and have drinks, sort out any last minute gear issues, plan out our attack the next morning
- Sunday, January 17th, 2010
- Dressed for early departure (This year we plan on leaving no later than 6am, possibly 5am)
- Climb the Tuckerman’s ravine standard route up the mountain
- Meet up for dinner either at Dana Place or in Town. (I’m going to the BBQ place. Been dreaming about it for 9 months now)
- Hang out and drink wine and tell lies
- Monday, January 18th, 2010
- Breakfast
- Depart for home or…
- This year I may stay for an extra day and do some snowboarding or skiing at Wildcat or Loon if someone else will too.
The Room Arrangements:
- There were a few hitches in the plan and our reservations at Joe Dodge Lodge got a little screwed up. However, I was able to book us at Dana Place Inn which is 5 miles from the AMC Lodge. http://www.danaplace.com/
- The rooms are pretty reasonable. A spot is roughly $75 per person per night.
- This includes breakfast and après ski wine and cheese from what I’m told.
- I’ve already booked FIVE 2 person rooms for us.
The Crew officially IN:
- Todd Butler: The trouble maker aka Shrek, hungriest mountaineer in history
- Joseph Violante: My other partner who also did the canyon with me and did Washington last year for the first time. He’s from Jersey too so… nuff said.
- Teddy Berlin: This is my friend from work. He’s a virgin mountaineer popping his cherry on the BIG one! I’m so proud.
- Eric Amato: Teddy’s friend from work. Not sure his experience but assuming he’s a first round draft pick as well.
- Glenn Leighow: Glenn, you’ll need a break from diapers by January. Plus what if we need a tire iron or a kite? Where would it be but your pack!
- Brad Winer: My partner in crime who’s now done Mt Washington with me (twice) Grand Canyon , Mt Rainier and Mt Marcy with me. Always game for an adventure.
- Yangil Na: Brads Friend: Climbed Ice with Brad in Korea and survived an ice tool flung by Brad at his head
- Saglinda Roberts: Climbed with us the last two years. Trouble maker but she Ice climbs so we like her anyway.
- Alex: Saglinda's climbing buddy. Has done some mountaineering, ski mountaineering and rock climbing for about 10 years in Chile and the Alps
- Geff Graham: Saglinda's climbing buddy. Climbed Red River Gorge and the Gunks. Climbed Rainier, Kili and Aconcagua.
Getting There:
- Please let me know who has a car and will be driving and who can pick someone up so I can get a sense of the Carpool situation.
- New Hampshire at this time is very snowy so if you don’t have a 4x4, you need a ride!
- I will be driving from NJ/NYC area. My Ford Explorer comfortably fits 4. 5 squeezed in but for a long ride like that, would prefer to avoid that.
- Glenn will be driving his 4x4 beastly truck from the Bloomsburg, PA area. Not sure how many Glenn can fit but assume its in the neighborhood of 4 or 5 as well.
Saglinda, Alex and Geff - Friday Early Option:
- I have booked two of the rooms for you the extra night on Friday so you can go early and play.
- FYI, if you want to snowshoe, this place has a hookup so let me know and I’ll give you the info. They might have hookups at the local ski resorts too, so it would be worth asking about that as well.
Gear:
- Besides Teddy (and possibly Eric) I think everyone has experience in climbing/mountaineering and has all the gear they need or can rent the few things they don’t have.
- Anybody else need something, let me know and I’ll see if I can get it. I have a few connections so may be able to get you something.
- Click here to see my gear list and each of the items in more detail...
Weather
Mt Washington can be windy and cold. Pay special attention to keeping your core, fingers and feet warm. You should have a full cover for your head and it should be windproof. On the climb, we’ll carry a day pack with food water and spare clothing, camera etc.
Those of you who need to rent stuff should do this on Saturday afternoon. You’ll need good boots (possibly Plastic if it's getting below 0), gaitors, crampons and ice axe. Trekking poles are useful but be sure you can attaché them to your pack when we do a short, steep section through the woods - for that section you’ll need to use your ice axe.
Consider how you’ll keep your water from freezing – start with hot water and then insulate it somehow. They will sometimes have thermos' and nalgene insulators at the Visitors center 20 feet from the Joe Dodge Logde next to the cafeteria.
Pics from Previous Years Climb
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