This past weekend I took three students on a field trip to practice skills we had learned in evening classroom sessions the week prior as part of the MWV Career & Technical Center Adult Education Program.
Participants learn how to use Terrain Association to located their position then confirm their beliefs with solid Resection and Triangulation compass skills
This comprehensive 8 hour course goes far beyond a basic map & compass skills clinic. Classroom sessions cover such topics as “Survival/Improvised Navigation”, reading topographic maps, understanding the many uses of a compass, triangulation, magnetic declination, with emphasis on practical real life use!
Our field session includes a short easy/moderate hike to practice skills learned in the classroom; bushwhacking, single point resection, using hand-rails, creating a white-out navigation plan, all with plenty of 1 on 1 coaching and modeling.
My favorite compass, the Sunnto MC-2 <- Full review of this compass herePlotting a bearing on a map can help you “stay found”With a solid foundation of map and compass skills is paramount I also share available modern tech like this app “PeakFinder AR”PeakFinder AR
This course is available year-round rain or shine! You can book directly here.
See you in the mountains!
Northeast Alpine Start
P.S. Two giveaways still have some time left to enter! Learn about upping your bug defense kit here and enter to win some sweet bug dope and compare some of the best climbing cams on the market and enter to win one here!
I first heard about the Furnace Industries Kronos Ice Axes through a review posted on a fellow gear reviewer’s blog. Technical ice axes made out of wood? The concept was definitely intriguing and I was pretty excited to check a pair out. Unfortunately these did not work for me. My experience with them did not match what other online reviewers have reported, and that’s ok. Reviews after all are largely based on opinions. Here’s how I tested them:
About a dozen days of ice climbing in the White Mountains on grade 3 & 4 waterfall ice. Routes like Thresher, Unicorn, Pegasus, Standard Route, Chia, Dracula, Hitchcock, and The Cleft. I loaned them out to a few fellow guides who collectively put another half dozen days on them. Their opinions largely echoed the ones I had developed and will share here.
Furnace Industries Kronos Ice Axe Review- photo by Peter Brandon
First, the manufacturer info:
The KRONOS® is the world’s first ‘T’ rated, CE certified technical ice climbing tool made from organic material.
A softer swing as the wood absorbs shock of the pick strike offering increased sensitivity at all temperatures
Wood handle offers enhanced grip and thermal insulation
Hand finished handle offers multiple grip options
The KRONOS Ice Tool has a Type T shaft
The Swing
One of the reported advantages of the wooden construction is the ability for the shaft to dampen vibration with each strike which could have the benefit of reducing arm and hand fatigue. This dampening effect was not as noticeable as it is when swinging carbon fiber tools like the Black Diamond Cobras or Grivel Carbon Tech Machines. The weight of the tool (1 lb, 8 oz) is 3-4 ounces heavier than most similar tools. That extra weight was felt by more than one tester to be a bit on the heavy side. The bulk of the weight feels like it is around mid-shaft which also felt less ideal for easy sticks.
My opinion here is likely effected by two decades of climbing on tools like the Petzl Quarks and Cassin X-Dreams where most of the weight feels closer to the head of the axe allowing for a bit of a “wrist flick” type placement rather than the kind of “elbow drop” type swing this design seems to encourage. One tester thought attaching some head weights might help better balance the tool but at an already comparatively heavy weight I think it would be better if they could move some of this mass higher on the tool somehow.
All in all while seeking fresh sticks in virgin ice a few of our testers felt the pick angle would cause occasional “bounce out” failed sticks and the heavier weight would contribute to fatigue. For hooking pegged out routes and dry-tooling the tool performed quite well, though felt a little on the heavy side for that to be the primary benefit of the tool.
Durability/Thermal Effeciency
While I’ve seen claims of great durability come from a few sources this is the other place where these really fell short for me. During our local Ice Fest I got first hand reports of a demo pair breaking and then my sample was damaged while another guide was taking them for a test drive. While still fully functional the two spots here where the laminated wood broke leave me concerned for long term durability. To be fair that upper trigger rest is a vulnerable spot on many tools.
In the past I’ve broken the removable trigger rest on the Petzl Quarks (and shortly after just always removed that piece from the Quark). The picks however have held up great for the amount of use they have seen. The hardened tool steel used here is probably the best thing about these tools. I’ve only tuned them twice and they hold a tune longer than most other picks I’m familiar with!
There is a bit of thermal advantage to using wooden ice axes (I have really warm hands so this benefit probably doesn’t get the credit it should). If you suffer from cold hands ice climbing this change in material may be of a greater benefit.
Summary
Without question these are hand-crafted with passion and are a solid accomplishment in engineering, but in my opinion they still need to be refined to cross from novelty conversation item to competitive and practical technical ice axe. I would encourage you to try them though! Other reviewers and better ice climbers than I have sung praises for them so this could definitely be a case of “not right for me but could be right for you”. I’d encourage you to grab a pair at your local Ice Fest and see for yourself. If a Kronos 2.0 arrives I’ll be eager to take another look!
See you in the mountains,
Northeast Alpine Start
A media sample was provided for the purpose of this review and has been returned to the manufacturer. All opinions expressed are my own. Affiliate links help support this blog.
This post originally published in Fall 2016. In Spring of 2017 I added a set of Black Diamond Ultralights to my kit and now with a year of testing it was time to update my findings. New contest for a free cam as well!
For the last two decades Black Diamond Camalots have been a mainstay of my rack. When the new C4’s came out in 2005 I upgraded my whole rack and saved over a pound in the process. While I’d been aware of the DMM Dragon Cams for a few years it wasn’t until I needed to replace a few well loved cams on my rack that I decided to give them a try. Note that this original review compares the previous version of the Dragons. The DMM Dragon 2’s are now available and have slightly wider cam lobes (more contact) and a textured thumb press for better grip.
C4’s vs DMM Dragon Cams
DMM Dragon Cams Review
I picked up the 2, 3, 4, and 5, which is equivalent to the Black Diamond C4 .75, 1, 2, and 3.
Since the numbers the manufacturers assigned for the sizes do not correlate well we will be happier if we refer to them by color (which thankfully correlates). So I picked up the green, red, yellow, and blue size.
A welcome addition to the rack
While they felt light in hand manufacturer specs and my home scale confirmed they are almost identical in weight to the Black Diamond C4’s. A full set of each weighs within one ounce of the other, with the Dragons coming in a hair lighter. When you consider the amount of quick-draws you could reduce from your kit while using the DMM Dragons (because of the built in extendable sling) the DMM Dragons are definitely a lighter option than a set of the Black Diamond C4’s.
However investing in the Black Diamond Ultralights one would save about 8 ounces, half a pound, over either the DMM Dragons or the Black Diamond C4’s for a full rack. That weight savings comes at considerable cost, about $200 more for a full rack. The weight savings are noticeable throughout the size range but the largest gains are made in the biggest sizes.
Breaking down the numbers
When comparing weight savings we have to take a look at probably the most noticeable feature of the DMM Dragons, the inclusion of an extendable dyneema sling.
Expandable sling not extendedExpandable sling extended
The advantages & disadvantages to this unique feature are a bit specific to the route & type of climbing you predominantly do, but lets take a look. First, you can gain 12-14cm of “free” extension on your placement without having to carry an extra quickdraw. How much weight can that save? Well 7-8 average quick-draws like the Petzl Djinns weigh close to 2 pounds, so that’s significant. On a straight up route where the gear is in-line this advantage is less pronounced as you’ll be clipping the sling un-extended, just like the sling on a C4. On a wandering line or alpine route this feature could probably save you a few draws and slings further reducing total pack weight.
Hot forged thumb press
There are a few considerations with this design. First, the “thumb loop” found on the Black Diamond C4’s is considered to be one of the easiest to manipulate when pumped or trying to surgically get the best possible placement in a weird situation. Personally I feel the thump press on the DMM Dragons is plenty sufficient to keep control of the cam while making difficult placements (and has since be improved with the DMM Dragon 2’s). The thumb loop does provide a higher clip point on the protection, which should only be used for aid climbing applications, so this point is quite obscure for non-aid climbing applications. The last concern is the more complex cleaning process for the second. If the sling is extended it can be tricky to re-rack the cam one handed without it hanging low off the harness. With a little practice it can be done, but it is definitely not as easy as re-racking an un-extended sling.
As for holding power there has been anecdotal comments since they were released in 2010 that the slightly thinner surface area might be a concern in softer rock (sandstone). I have not seen any evidence of DMM Dragons failing in softer sandstone conditions when a thicker cam head may have held, so I think that theory can be debunked at this point. (Update the newer DMM Dragon 2’s have increased their cam head by 1.5 – 2 mm in size).
DMM Dragon Cams Review
Black Diamond Ultralights
As mentioned above I picked up a set of Black Diamond Ultralights during Spring of 2017 and now have one full year climbing on them. I guided over 40 days of rock in the East with them and took them on a two week trip to the Cascades. They are holding up extremely well for the amount of use they see and have become my most reached for set whether I’m heading to the local crag to guide or off on a Cascades climbing trip.
Still looking great after a full year of guiding and trips!
I’m hoping the above spreadsheet is helpful for some when deciding if the additional weight savings is worth the additional moo-lah. For some it will be a resounding yes, and others will be happier with the flexibility of the DMM Dragons (especially with the improvement made to the DMM Dragon 2’s), or the time-tested standby of the C4’s (especially if also aid climbing).
Where to Buy
First shop local! You can find most of these items at the following retailers in Mount Washington Valley!
Spring in the White Mountains is here! After a long snowy winter many climbers and hikers are chomping at the chance to get on some dry rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. Unfortunately in a couple more weeks many insects will be chomping at the chance to chomp on us! Get your bug defense program up and running before “Black Fly Season” gets underway!
Black flies try to fly away with Tom while rock climbing in the White Mountains. How many can you count?
In this post I’d like to share some time tested strategies to keep the dreaded “bug season” from keeping you from enjoying what it is you do in the mountains. To combat these little buggers we will use a four-pronged approach! Clothing, Repellent, Timing, Location.
Clothing
The first line of defense should be clothing. Everyone knows long-sleeves and pants are preferable for bug protection but they seem so hot when the temperature and humidity is high right? Some long-sleeve options actually feel cooler than going shirtless! Here’s my current favorite tops when dealing with an onslaught of bloodthirsty insects and warm temps!
These two pieces are super breathable and basically come with me on every adventure from April to September! For some lightweight breathable hiking and climbing pants check out the ExOfficio BugsAway Sol Cool Ampario Pants.
Repellant
We will look at two layers of repellant. One for your clothing/gear and one for your skin. Without question the most effective insect repellent is permethrin.
Permethrin for Clothing, Gear, & Tents- buy on Amazon
I’ve used this for over two decades and its effectiveness was proven time and time again from jungle warfare training outside of Iquitos, Peru to the northern jungle of Okinawa, Japan. Some clothes like the ExOfficio BugsAway Ventana Jacket and the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Traveler Pants come pre-treated with permethrin for convenience. You can also just buy a bottle of it to treat the clothing your already own. I treat a couple pairs of climbing pants every Spring and my approach shoes and haven’t had a tick attach to me in years!
DEET
Between wearing the proper clothing and treating it with Permethrin I rarely need to apply DEET to stay bite free but I do carry it as insurance during the worst feeding frenzies. A small application behind the ears and back of the neck can make leading a rock climb much more bare-able when those alpine gnats come out. Since I use it sparingly I tend to only pack the smallest of bottles like this great .5 ounce one from Sawyer. There are lots of size options for both spray and time-released lotions on Amazon.
Finally timing and location can help avoid the little nasties. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk so you could plan to be inside during those times. If you only have time to climb around dusk you could pick crags with consistent breezes. Some of my favorite destinations during the peak feeding season are Square Ledge in Pinkham Notch, Profile Cliff in Franconia Notch, Table Mountain off of Bear Notch Rd., and higher elevation stuff like Huntington Ravine (beware of those alpine gnats though). Avoid the low lying swampy areas during peak feeding times.
Pawtuckaway State Park, Stonehouse Pond, Longstack, lower Shell Pond, and even the North End of Cathedral Ledge can all be particularly nasty just before dusk during the peak feeding season. If you are walking through fields or tall grass on your hike out just assume you’ll pick up a few ticks and do a quick check at the car. I once skipped a tick check before driving home from a hike in Madison, NH and discovered 7 ticks crawling up my bare legs while driving (I wasn’t wearing my treated hiking shoes that day or wearing any repellent).
Shop Local
You can pick up most of the DEET and Permethrin products I suggested and support local businesses while in the White Mountains at these great shops!
Southern New England is already seeing the tick and mosquitoes appear which means we only have a week or two in the White Mountains before bug biting season starts for us. Now is the time to shore up your insect defense plan! To get your started you can enter to win a 3 oz bottle of Sawyer Premium Maxi DEET Insect Repellant. You can enter multiple ways through this link below!
Northern Iceland seems to offer unlimited potential for backcountry ski tours. Last week I returned from my second ski trip there. I’ve updated my original travel guide to backcountry skiing in Icelandwith more resources on planning a trip here, and in this post I’ll share some details of some classic tours we conducted on this most recent trip. Enjoy!
Day 1- Karlsárdalur Valley and Siglufjörður ski resort
After settling in to our accommodations in Akureyri we planned a light warm up tour for the next morning in the Karlsárdalur Valley that we became familiar with last year. This scenic and easily accessed valley is just a few minutes north of Dalvik. We skinned up to about to about 650 meters on the second ridge coming off of 988 meter Karlsarfjall mountain and enjoyed a spring condition snowpack run back down.
Skinning in to the scenic Karlsárdalur Valley just north of DalvikHeading up a shoulder of KarlsarfjallA rocky prominence at about 650 meters on Karlsarfjall with Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland behind meOur highpoint on this quick morning tour is the prominent point in the background
Here’s our GPS track from the tour and relevant details. Keep in mind we took quite a few photography/filming breaks along the way and this could probably be a quick 2.5 hour tour without these breaks.
After this quick morning mission we jumped back in the car to scout some potential northern locations. We drove north on route 82 through Ólafsfjörður then hopped on route 76 through a virtually uninhabited valley referred to as “Tunnel Town” before reaching Siglufjörður, arguably the northern most size-able town in Iceland! Here, while scouting a potential tour location and running into our back-east-home-town guide-of-guides Mr. Marc Chauvin, we had a couple locals pull up in a truck to promote an upcoming ski race they were hosting. They also informed us they ran the local ski hill and invited us to visit free of charge!
Faster than skinning! photo by Cait BourgaultMost scenic T-bar I have ever been on!
This ski resort operates a series of 4 t-bars that whisk you up to 650 meters (our current morning highpoint) in just under 20 minutes! The views on the descent are stellar and their groomed main trail offers night skiing (though we opted for some off-piste on our second descent). A huge thanks to these folks, and especially Patrick who shared a lot of his towns history and info with us while we enjoyed some complimentary dried Cod and Icelandic beer on the ski lodge porch!
Dried Cod, a tasty local snack high in proteinSize-able avalanche paths threaten the small town of Siglufjörður hence the “avalanche fencing” visible high on the slopes above the town! Photo by Erik Howes
Day 2- Sunrise summit of Karlsarfjall (988 meters)
For day two we rose at 0200 so we could get higher on Karlsarfjall and enjoy the spectacular Icelandic sunrise during our approach. We were also treated to an Aurora Borealis display as a bonus!
Erik Howes captures some Aurora Borealis and the Big Dipper!Alpine glow starts to light the place up! Photo by Brent DoscherLooking southeast off the summitAlmost to the summit of Karlsarfjall… the Norwegian Sea stretches on for days! Photo by Cait BourgaultSummit of Karlsarfjall- Photo by Cait BourgaultLayering up for descent- Photo by Cait BourgaultThe prominent Kerahnjukur peak is off to the north and looks quite tasty!Spring turns off Karlsarfjall- Photo by Cait BourgaultEnjoying the turns- photo by Brent DoscherParty ski with Baejarfjall in the background- Photo by Cait Bourgault
With a forecast for rain and feeling some travel fatigue after touring for two days we decided that Day 3 would be our sight-seeing rest day before our final couple of tour days. We decided to explore the Lake Myvatn region about an hour east of Akureyri. About halfway along Route 1 we made a quick stop at the scenic Godafoss waterfall then continued to Route 848 and drove around the south side of Lake Myvatn to the small village of Reykjahlíð.
From here a very short drive back on Route 1 brings you to Route 860 and the Grjótagjá caves. This underground thermal hot spring has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, partially due no doubt to being the filming location of Jon Snow and Ygritte’s steamy encounter in the popular Game of Thrones show!
Grjótagjá caves- photo by Erik HowesFun exploring around this volcanic fissure revealed a few underground thermal pools
Day 4- Kaldbakur (1173 meters)
For our fourth day we decided to tour on the east side of Eyjafjörður just north of Grenivik. A small cat touring operation runs almost daily trips up this peak ($75pp) (phone +354 8673770). We opted to stick with human powered adventure and skinned up the peak basically following the obvious cat track.
Cool Ortovox Beacon CheckSkinning up the cat trackView to the east as we near the summitSize-able cornices near summitSummit of Kaldbakur- photo by Erik HowesBrent Doscher gets a great shot on the descent!
For our final tour day we stayed close to our lodging in Akureyri and set our sights on Sulur Peak, the first prominent peak just south of town. The trailhead is only a few minutes from town. A long mellow skin leads to the scenic upper mountain and we reached the summit register box in just under 3 hours.
Cait & Corey all smiles on our last ascent of the tripGetting close to the summitErik sends it off Sulur high above Akureyri- photo by Brent DoscherSulur Peak- photo by Erik Howes
Northern Iceland obviously has a lifetime worth of touring to explore. I hope sharing these tours with you will motivate you to plan your own trip to this beautiful country. Be sure to check out my updated Travel Guide to Ski Touring in Iceland for advice on everything from flying to Iceland to eating & drinking when in country! Also if I left out one of your favorite tours let me know in the comments below! Are you interested in downloading the GPS tracks from these trips for future use? What else would you like to see in a trip report?
There are already lots of reviews out there claiming which iPhone cases, out of literally hundreds, are the most protective. You will find models on some of those lists whose biggest “plus” are that it comes in 8 different colors with popping eye-catching patterns. I don’t need that. I need a case that can protect my investment in the most extreme weather conditions on the planet. I also don’t want a case that makes carrying my phone outside of my profession of mountain guiding awkward.
To that end I reached out to argue-ably the four biggest companies in iPhone case construction and asked for their most rugged model case to be submitted for review. Some manufacturers provided more than one model as they had models that would appeal to different end-users. After a full winter of back-country skiing, ice climbing, and mountaineering on one of the most inhospitable mountains in the world, I’m ready to share my opinions of these models, starting with my personal “Best in Class”. Full reviews for each model will post over the next few weeks and be linked here.
ROKFORM-iX-FuzionPRo-GunMetal- photo from Rokform.com
One of my favorite of the cases I tested was the ROKFORM Fuzion Pro Case. It is the only case in the line-up made with carbon fiber but the design of this case far exceeds the material used in its construction. Despite being a very modular case installation was really easy. After pushing the phone into the rubberized housing an aircraft aluminum exo-skeleton backed with carbon fiber easily snaps over the housing to secure the phone.
Rokform blends high quality materials with innovative design to create “Fuzion Pro”- photo from Rokform.com
Before assembly you must select which insert you want to use.
The TwistLock is designed to secure your phone with a bombproof connection to various bike, motorcycle, and car mounts. This is the best way to secure your phone if you will be bombing down single track mountain bike trails, racing Motocross, or even doing a bit of 4×4 off roading in that beat up Jeep Wrangler of yours!
What really sets this model, and company for that matter apart, is the other type of mount they use. The magnetic lock has been a bit of a game changer for me. At first I just liked using the Super Grip Vent Mount in our vehicle. I have gone through quite a few “universal” window mounted phone holders over the years and have had issues with almost all of them. They typically break after a year or two and they create blind spots in your field of view. This little vent mount works flawlessly and keeps my phone where I want it without any blind spots in the front window. It also packs well so is perfect for those who often drive rental cars!
What I didn’t realize was how many other places having a magnetic phone case added convenience. When I head into the kitchen to start breakfast I just stick my phone right onto the refrigerator. I listen to the latest Podcast while getting the kiddos packed for school and when it’s time to grab the car keys and rush out the door there’s no searching for my phone.
Even while I’m typing this my phone is secured to the edge of my computer desk and not lost in the slightly chaotic mess of things I know I will organize and read soon!
As far as true protection, the ROKFORM Fuzion Pro exceeds Military Drop Test Standard MIL-STD 801G-516.6 (basically can survive multiple falls from 2 meters (6.6 feet). Only two other models in the test had higher ratings. The case works with Rokforms’ own high-end screen protector or any other third party protector.
The case is not waterproof, but the iPhone X features native IP67 Water Resistance. What that means is it can withstand a quick dunk in up to three feet of water. This level of water-resistance is enough for non-water sports and allows this case to have virtually zero impact on sound quality both from the iPhone speakers and to a greater extent while talking to someone on speakerphone. Most fully encased waterproof cases make the caller sound like they are in a tin-can when using their speaker phone (it drives my wife nuts!). If you do need 100% waterproof-ness check out the CATALYST Waterproof iPhone X Case and the Pelican Marine Cases, both of which I will submit detailed reviews on soon!
The only thing I could think to improve was the lack of a lanyard. However after a quick call to the company to confirm this feature was missing I was guided to the fact that there is a lanyard attachment point on the aluminum housing that works with most third party lanyards, and of course Rokform’s own lanyard! So not much I can suggest changing here… this is an awesome case!
Summary
The ROKFORM Fuzion Pro is a standout in the category of rugged outdoor iPhone X cases. While it doesn’t come in sparkly glitter colors it really is a well engineered blend of materials and design. With the TwistLock option for “must not disconnect” extreme sports and the MagneticLock for everyday convenience this is definitely one of the best all-around cases I tested.
The final days of October 2017 brought over 6 inches of rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Philippe to Mount Washington which resulted in major flooding all over the Saco River Valley (which had risen to 14 feet above flood stage!). It also apparently ripped a nice new slide path near Burt Ravine on the west side of Mount Washington, only 10 minutes from the Cog Railway.
The 10 minute bushwhack to a 500 foot new slide path
I came across this path a couple days ago while exiting Burt Ravine and noticed it looked quite fresh but didn’t really put it together that it was only 5 months old until I got home and did a little research. While I’m sure a local or two has likely quietly grabbed the first descent I needed to get back and put a run in on this new path pronto, and this morning I made it happen.
Here’s the skinny…
I skinned up the Cog reaching Waumbek Tank in about 30 minutes. At 3,920 feet I picked up our skin track from a couple days prior and contoured/bushwacked back to the slide path (ten minute bushwhack). This skin track enters the slide at mid-path, so I set in some kick-turns and climbed up to about 4,200 feet, the high point on the path.
Skinning up the young slide path with the Jewell Trail ridge across the way
From here the run drops 500 feet to the south most tributary of Clay Brook, the main brook fed from Burt Ravine. The average slope angle was 30 degrees with a max pitch of 34 degrees and is an almost true NW aspect.
Details from the top of the slide pathThe run, courtesy of CalTopoLooking back up the path from about mid-pathThe lower half of the path. There is a split that goes left out of frame that had a set of tracks in it that continued down Clay Brook
I skinned back up to the established bushwhack and exited back to the Cog, reaching the car in amount 2 hours and 20 minutes from departure.
Given I waited about 20 or more minutes for some friends to arrive before dropping I would say this would be pretty easy to hit car-to-car in 2 hours. It’s a really nice little run that is super accessible (though it costs $10 to park at Marshfield Station). New slides like this are so exciting. While extreme weather can have devastating effects on life & property the power of Mother Nature can also open up new ski terrain from time to time, and this little shot in the woods is well worth the effort.
Next time I head there I will try the bushwhack from the Switch House along the 4,200 contour so I can come in from the top, though the lower traverse would still be the easiest way out. I also want to go ahead and ski out Clay Brook to the Jewell Trail but I’ll be doing that on a day where I don’t have an early turn around time set.
Yesterday I got to ski a new-to-me ravine on Mount Washington, Burt Ravine, the one just to the left of the Cog Railway when viewed from the west. We skinned up the Cog and reached the top of Airplane Gully in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The view from Jacob’s Ladder, elevation 4,760 feet, into Ammonoosuc Ravine with the southern Presidential’s beyond
The top of Airplane Gully, elevation 5,470 feet, with The Great Gulf below and the Northern Presidential’s beyond
Jordan, who had climbed up from the east side of Washington via Pinnacle Gully and was meeting us on the ridge, dropped into nearby Turkey Shoot while Benny and Nick sent Airplane Gully. Conditions were stiff but edge-able wind-board. Brit and I made our way over to the top of Burt Ravine and dropped in.
Two skiers on the skyline skinning up alongside The Cog
I would find out later through Facebook that this was likely Marty of Alpine Endeavors, who sent me a pic of us from his vantage…
You can see our tracks and if you look closely find us!
Burt skied pretty well with a variety of snow conditions as you can see in the video below. Once we got to 3,800 feet I found a skin track leaving the drainage that appeared to be heading back to the Cog. Consulting the topo made it look like it might contour back to the Cog around Waumbek Tank, and be quite a fair bit easier than the 1.2 mile low-angle thrash to pick up the Jewell Trail and exit. We decided to commit to it. It climbed about 150 feet with a few switch backs then crossed a really enticing new slide path.
Looking up the new slide
Looking down the new slide path
The upended trees and dirt made this new path look quite fresh and the rumor is it formed during the Fall 2017 weather system that brought massive flooding to the Mount Washington Valley.
The skin track seemed to stop on the other side of the path so I continued following our contour and intersected with the Cog about 300 feet above Waumbek Tank. It only took us about 30 minutes of bushwhacking to get back out of Burt and from what I hear that is much better than trying to negotiate the lower drainage.
Burt Ravine GPS Track (accidentally paused tracking where the line is straight on the descent)
We exited down a still pretty firm Cog run and called it a day. Mileage was just over 5 miles in 4.5 hours with 3,264 elevation gain/loss. It looks like the Higher Summits Forecast isn’t to appealing for the next few days. Let’s hope the weekend brings some decent Spring skiing weather for the last avalanche course of the season!
Yesterday we wrapped up our AIARE 1 Avalanche Course with a field trip into the Gulf of Slides on the east side of Mount Washington. The weather was fantastic and looks to staying that way for the next 48 hours. I’m catching up on some home chores today but will be heading back into the alpine tomorrow! Here’s a quick run-down of our tour yesterday.
AM Trip Planning Session at Pinkham Notch Visitor CenterSkinning past the Avalanche Brook Ski Trail while heading up the Gulf of Slides Ski TrailThe main gully. Instead of booting up our intended run we skinned over to the South Snowfields and then traversed back to the main gully at 4620 feet.
The skinning was good until about 4400 feet where holding an edge on the traverse got a bit tricky. I was happy to have my Dynafit Ski Crampons along and will be posting a thorough review of those very soon!
Heading up the South Snowfields- photo by Erik HowesSmall old cornice at the ridge topMaking some snow-pack observation. We mostly found pencil-hard slab with low propagation potential (CTH, Q2, ECTX) See field book pic for more info.CTH or CTN resultsOur pit location, UTM, altitude, angle, and aspect courtesy of Theodolite app!Gulf of Slides Ski TourLittle bit of fun on the way down! – photo by Erik HowesMy field notes…
It wasn’t too crowded, we saw perhaps 20-30 people up there. The 48 hour forecast is for more low wind bluebird conditions so I’m heading back out tomorrow with a plan to ski from the summit. Hope you can get out and enjoy! I think our Spring ski season is going to be quite good this year!
New to Back-country Skiing? I do teach the following courses
Former AIARE students of mine get a 10% discount on these courses! Just message me directly through Instagram or Facebook for the discount code and let me know what date you want to go!
Upcoming Reviews
I’ve recently upgraded and added to my ski mountaineering gear and upcoming reviews will be focused on ultra-light gear designed specifically with back-country skiing and mountaineering in mind. Look for these reviews to come out soon!
It’s New Hampshire Maple Weekend which is a perfect time for me to share a company I discovered during Ice Fest that makes all natural athletic fuel in a few different varieties. UnTapped started in late 2013 with a desire to share only of natures best energy boosters… pure maple syrup. I’ll be honest and state I thought maple syrup was just basically sugar and didn’t understand how it could offer more than just a quick sugar boost. On Untapped’s website the benefits are made clear:
• Maple syrup is low glycemic. Containing all natural sugars, maple syrup provides prolonged, sustained energy rather than offering a quick burst and subsequent crash like many adulterated sports sweeteners.
• Maple syrup contains Calcium, Riboflavin, Manganese, Zinc, and Potassium. These inherent components of maple syrup promote energy production, muscle recovery, and help prevent cramping.
• Maple syrup features more than fifty antioxidants. This cocktail of polyphenols have powerful free radical fighting properties. Foods with similar qualities include berries, green tea, red wine, and flaxseeds.
• Maple syrup contains amino acids, which help prevent muscle deterioration.
• Maple syrup is water soluble making it easy to digest, quick to absorb, and no more gut-rot from downing chemical-laden energy gels! Plus it’s a cinch to clean up; just rinse with water. Alternative sports gels are like tar to clean up.
All this means that UnTapped maple is an organic, single ingredient, one-stop-shop for your on-the-go needs.
UnTapped offers 5 varieties of energy boosting products, 3 different flavored “waffles” and 2 styles of syrup pouches. I received a box with a full assortment and have been testing them while ice climbing and back-country skiing for the last two months. I also enlisted my skeptical (and incredibly loving) wife, cultured and sushi aficionado 6-year old son, and “all I want to eat is Cheerios” two year old daughter. We are ready to share our experience…
Let’s start with the simplest of the products…
Maple UnTapped
Slopeside Syrup- Maple UnTapped
Maple UnTapped is a .96 fl oz (28.4ml) pouch of 100% pure organic Vermont maple syrup, Grade “A” which is “amber/rich”. Essentially 100 calories in the one ounce pouch, 80 mg of Potassium, and 26 g of carbohydrates (all sugar). For daily vitamin allotments it provides 4% Calcium, 30% Riboflavin, 4% Zinc, 2% Thiamin, 2% Magnesium, and 60% Manganese.
Amber Rich in Color
As far as syrup goes I don’t have to much to add here. The taste is on par with the best local syrups we usually pick up this time of year. At about $1.85/pouch* it’s a bit more expensive than well known GU Energy Gel (at about a $1.25/pouch). That per pouch cost equates to $29.60/pint, against an average Vermont maple syrup pint price of $14.50.
The author gets a quick boost before climbing Pegasus, WI 4, Frankenstein Cliffs, New Hampshire
While the convenience of the pouch may be nice, I have to say this is the one product from UnTapped I would probably avoid in lieu of just buying a pint, or quart, or gallon, of maple syrup and filling up a 5-ounce soft flask for a more affordable multi-shot option. While the first product in the line failed to win me over the rest of the offerings had much more to offer so read on to check them out!
Coffee UnTapped
Slopeside Syrup- Coffee Untapped
Essentially the exact same thing as the previously mentioned “Maple UnTapped” but now organic coffee has been added bringing an average amount of 27 mg of sports enhancing caffeine. 27 mg, in case you are wondering, is about 1/3 the amount of caffeine in the average cup of coffee. I think this is a good amount for reaping the benefits of caffeine while exercising without experiencing the negative effects (dehydration, nervousness, shakes, etc).
Coffee UnTapped
While the addition of coffee obviously darkens the syrup beyond the typical spectrum the flavor is quite smooth. I was expecting a bitterness from organic black coffee but the two flavors are balanced and while I typically cut my coffee with a little cream or milk I found these to be quite tasty. What I am most surprised about here is how the pricing is the same as the un-altered Maple UnTapped. $1.85/pouch* is quite competitive when you compare it to other caffeine supplemented energy gels on the market (they average $2.08/pouch.
So Coffee UnTapped was a winner for me. A 100% pure and organic caffeine induced energy boosting product that tasted great at a cheaper price than the competitors. This one is worth trying!
Next up we look at some of the more “solid fuel” type offerings UnTapped has. Basically these pressed “waffles” based off the Dutch “Stroopwaffle“. As before I’ll start with the one that didn’t get a lot of rave reviews.
UnTapped Maple Waffle
UnTapped Maple WaffleAdding some calories somewhere cold
First, what’s in it?
Maple-Waffle-Nutrition
That’s a decent amount of calories from a 1.1 oz snack, and I especially like the amount of healthy fats derived from the Palm Fruit Oil, healthy fats are my friend in the cold months, but this one came up a bit flat in the taste department. My six-year old made that classic wrinkled face during his taste-test then asked if he had to finish it, the wife claimed it had a lack of flavor, and the two-year old decided it would be better to smush it into a paste and treat it like Play-Doh rather than food. Luckily, the other two flavors fared a bit better!
Family taste testing…Slopeside Syrup- UnTapped Waffles
The Coffee Waffle, while not a winner with the wife, past my taste test for “need calories now” while schlepping up a few steep snow & ice slopes this winter. UnTapped does not disclose how much caffeine is in this product and I’m assuming it’s hard to get an accurate measurement somewhere along the processing part.
Top of Pinnacle Ice Climb, Mount Washington
The Raspberry Waffle however won Best-In-Class from the whole family. Organic Red Raspberries added the sweetness and character that the regular Maple Waffle seemed to lack. It also boasts an extra 20 calories of fat (I knew Black Bears liked Raspberries for a reason). At about $2/waffle** this is a solid contender in the field of energy bars.
I think I ate one of these a day for about two weeks!
Summary
This is a cool local company with a great idea and some solid offerings. All natural athletic fuel is pretty dope. While the more “simple” offerings like the straight up syrup and maple waffle left us a little uninspired the caffeinated syrup and Raspberry Waffles became daily favorites. I have just enough left of my sample packets to hopefully get me through my upcoming ski trip to Iceland where we will be putting in some serious vertical mileage. If you are in the market for some locally sourced healthy energy “gels” and snacks you should check this company out!
See you in the mountains,
Northeast Alpine Start
* based on 20 packets / 1 carton pricing
** based on 16 waffles / 1 carton pricing
Disclaimer: UnTapped provided a sample for review. Some affiliate links above help support this blog at no cost to you! All opinions expressed our those of the author (and his immediate family).
