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Thread: Cabin Fever

  1. #1
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    Default Cabin Fever

    It's 51 days till spring. Today it's sunny and 54° but tomorrow we're supposed to wake up to an inch or so of snow and falling temperatures.

    To be sure, there are plenty of things on my to-do list that can and should be accomplished during these short winter days and long winter nights. But I sit here and dream about my hiking plans for the year...

    Short of getting out there in the cold, what's everybody doing to pass the time?

  2. #2
    Wanna-be hiker trash
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    I’m keep busy by scanning the internet for things that offend me.
    Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarcasm the elf View Post
    I’m keep busy by scanning the internet for things that offend me.
    Now that's funny!! Kinda why I started this thread, to distract from the OTHER discussion and give an outlet for our winter blues.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarcasm the elf View Post
    I’m keep busy by scanning the internet for things that offend me.
    Im offended!!!!

    I am passing the time with whiskey and reading. Time with family and busy working. I have some trips planned, March 15th down to springer. Easter weekend is going to be spent connecting map 2 from tanyard to davenport. I wouldn't mind another completion of the northern smokies 1 weekend. The big shebang for me this year is Hanover nobo thru NH for 2 weeks.
    Trail Miles: 4,927.6
    AT Map 1: Complete 2013-2021
    Sheltowee Trace: Complete 2020-2023
    Pinhoti Trail: Complete 2023-2024
    Foothills Trail: 0.0
    AT Map 2: 279.4
    BMT: 52.7
    CDT: 85.4

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gambit McCrae View Post
    Im offended!!!!

    I am passing the time with whiskey and reading. Time with family and busy working. I have some trips planned, March 15th down to springer. Easter weekend is going to be spent connecting map 2 from tanyard to davenport. I wouldn't mind another completion of the northern smokies 1 weekend. The big shebang for me this year is Hanover nobo thru NH for 2 weeks.
    Reading is a forgotten pleasure! I used to read all the time, but life got too busy. Trying to change that, this month I've read two books, and put together four jigsaw puzzles. And I'm almost finished with a quilt that I started two years ago.

  6. #6
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    Reading is a forgotten pleasure! I used to read all the time, but life got too busy


    my life is in shambles right now but my solace has been through reading.....

    it also doesnt help that my town has a very good used bookstore...

    last year---i knocked off 74 books...........and this month it's been 5 already.....

    just dont ask me how many miles ive hiked last year.....

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by TNhiker View Post
    my life is in shambles right now but my solace has been through reading.....

    it also doesnt help that my town has a very good used bookstore...

    last year---i knocked off 74 books...........and this month it's been 5 already.....

    just dont ask me how many miles ive hiked last year.....
    Wow! that's impressive. If I read 10-12 this year, I'd feel that I'd accomplished something. You are an over-achiever!
    And if it's what I'm thinking of, that used bookstore is only a 2-minute drive from my work. Very convenient.

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    And if it's what I'm thinking of, that used bookstore is only a 2-minute drive from my work.


    it probably is....

    i believe we have talked about said place before.............

    since i turned in my moms books to them----i have a ton of credit..........and thats not helping the cause...

  9. #9
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    I don't have television, so most of my down time is spent reading or writing.
    In Georgia, winter is usually the best time of the year for hiking. But this winter has been gnarly, with alot of rain and cold, windy days. But I managed a memorable day hike two weeks ago, mostly bushwhacking up, along, and back down a ridge in northwestern Georgia. I tried to put it into words, as best I could, which led to this:

    Rime Ice

    The rough, sunset side of Johns Mountain rears,
    its worn, jutting rock forms strong battle lines,
    o’er which frozen clouds sweep like tears
    brushed by naked limbs and needled pines.

    Each tear that touches branch or bristle
    flash freezes as if transfixed by surprise,
    delighted at dawn’s fog and windy whistle,
    gently backlit by pearl, midwinter skies.

    This misty world of softer sound and hue
    shadows the thrush that flashes in sunlight,
    shading its wing, to navy from sky blue,
    and dims frosted pine, to silver from white.

    When noon sun warms the lingering hoarfrost,
    flakes tumble like teardrops, melt and are lost.
    Last edited by Dan Roper; 01-28-2019 at 15:55.

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    Quote Originally Posted by illabelle View Post
    Short of getting out there in the cold, what's everybody doing to pass the time?
    Extending thread drift in the women’s issue forum.

    Figuring out out how to get thru the Whites this year.

    Organizing mail drops.

    Wash and dishes.
    76 HawkMtn w/Rangers
    14 LHHT
    15 Girard/Quebec/LostTurkey/Saylor/Tuscarora/BlackForest
    16 Kennerdell/Cranberry-Otter/DollyS/WRim-NCT
    17 BearR
    18-19,22 AT NOBO 1562.2
    22 Hadrian's Wall
    23 Cotswold Way

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Roper View Post
    Rime Ice

    The rough, sunset side of Johns Mountain rears,
    its worn, jutting rock forms strong battle lines,
    o’er which frozen clouds sweep like tears
    brushed by naked limbs and needled pines.

    Each tear that touches branch or bristle
    flash freezes as if transfixed by surprise,
    delighted at dawn’s fog and windy whistle,
    gently backlit by pearl, midwinter skies.

    This misty world of softer sound and hue
    shadows the thrush that flashes in sunlight,
    shading its wing, to navy from sky blue,
    and dims frosted pine, to silver from white.

    When noon sun warms the lingering hoarfrost,
    flakes tumble like teardrops, melt and are lost.
    Outstanding! Words are funny things, some of them delicate, others robust. And when you connect them thoughtfully, purposefully, or in uncommon ways, you can make people cry, make them think, make them fight, make them sigh with pleasure.

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by illabelle View Post
    It's 51 days till spring. Today it's sunny and 54° but tomorrow we're supposed to wake up to an inch or so of snow and falling temperatures.

    To be sure, there are plenty of things on my to-do list that can and should be accomplished during these short winter days and long winter nights. But I sit here and dream about my hiking plans for the year...

    Short of getting out there in the cold, what's everybody doing to pass the time?
    Early spring cleanup.
    "Sleepy alligator in the noonday sun
    Sleepin by the river just like he usually done
    Call for his whisky
    He can call for his tea
    Call all he wanta but he can't call me..."
    Robert Hunter & Ron McKernan

    Whiteblaze.net User Agreement.

  13. #13

    Default

    Added new "used" shelving to basement storage. Way better than stacking/restacking totes of gear. I can just pull out a tote from a shelf now, so much quicker!

    Built a sleeping bag rack to hang bags from. Looks like a ladder laid flat from the top of one shelf to the other. I just hung the bags in half on each rung. Mostly scrap wood but I did have to buy one inch diameter by 6 ft wood dowel. I had another one from somewhere, not sure why I bought it originally. Hangs 7 bags.
    "Sleepy alligator in the noonday sun
    Sleepin by the river just like he usually done
    Call for his whisky
    He can call for his tea
    Call all he wanta but he can't call me..."
    Robert Hunter & Ron McKernan

    Whiteblaze.net User Agreement.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alligator View Post
    Added new "used" shelving to basement storage. Way better than stacking/restacking totes of gear. I can just pull out a tote from a shelf now, so much quicker!

    Built a sleeping bag rack to hang bags from. Looks like a ladder laid flat from the top of one shelf to the other. I just hung the bags in half on each rung. Mostly scrap wood but I did have to buy one inch diameter by 6 ft wood dowel. I had another one from somewhere, not sure why I bought it originally. Hangs 7 bags.
    Gear organization, storage, and maintenance. That's what winter is for. Reminds me of several things I should do before the 2019 hiking season gets underway. Take trekking poles apart and clean out the grit. Replace a pair of socks. Restock 10 essentials/first aid/etc.

  15. #15

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    I go out snowshoeing when the temps are warm and walk around the block on sunny days with microspikes. My woodlot in Randolph NH looks right over at Madison and Adams and is facing south so with the leaves are down I can check out the views into King Ravine and its lot easier to roam around the woods on a snowpack (if the crust sets up). Even if I have to break trail which is lot of work even if it snows I can usually follow the trail the next time with a lot less work. I also am thinning my woods and winter is good time to check how healthy the trees are. I pick the best one and then girdle the undesirable species and specimens around it for about a 25 foot radius. The area has a lot of sugarbushes for maple syrup production and many folks are out getting their tubing run for when the sap starts running. The biggest hurdle is January as the days are so short. I think we just got over 10 hours of daylight.

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gambit McCrae View Post
    Im offended!!!!

    I am passing the time with whiskey and reading. Time with family and busy working. I have some trips planned, March 15th down to springer. Easter weekend is going to be spent connecting map 2 from tanyard to davenport. I wouldn't mind another completion of the northern smokies 1 weekend. The big shebang for me this year is Hanover nobo thru NH for 2 weeks.
    how do you drink whiskey and read?

  17. #17

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    Sadly, I moved all my gear from my clothes closet to the basement. While it’s now very organized and tidy, I really miss seeing it every day.

    I’ve been testing my sleeping bag outside on cold nights, planning trips, and researching fleece in order to make some Malanzana-inspired pullovers. (I’ve been lusting over a Melanzana hoody but they are only available on the secondary market and are way over-priced.)

    I’ve also been testing out layering systems and have been pleasantly surprised by several discoveries.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sarcasm the elf View Post
    I’m keep busy by scanning the internet for things that offend me.
    Sounds like a full-time job!

    duty_calls.png

    Credit: https://xkcd.com/386/

  19. #19
    Registered User soilman's Avatar
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    Building a cabin.
    More walking, less talking.

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by swisscross View Post
    how do you drink whiskey and read?

    1 sip at a time
    Trail Miles: 4,927.6
    AT Map 1: Complete 2013-2021
    Sheltowee Trace: Complete 2020-2023
    Pinhoti Trail: Complete 2023-2024
    Foothills Trail: 0.0
    AT Map 2: 279.4
    BMT: 52.7
    CDT: 85.4

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