Well I went. but not exactly like I originally planned.
First I ran outta gas very late Friday nite, got a quick ride into Chester, but all the gas stations were closed, so instead of the Inn at LT I "got" to spend the nite at Meadow somethin or other Motel in Chester. Finally got refueled & on the way late the Sat morning. Decided to head up to Camel's hump and hike south from Duxbury Rd for just a couple days.
Hit the trail Sat nite ~6pm in pitch black, 20 degrees, 4-6" snow, and hiked up to Bamforth Ridge shelter for the nite. In the teens overnite. Slept in, and hit the trail ~0745am, again 20 degrees but no wind, crisp snow. Beautiful day for winter hiking.
Very slow goin, post holing in 8-10" untracked snow the rest of the way up the north side of the hump, took me almost 4 hours! Lost the trail multiple times.
No wind up top, but a little hazy.
WHAT a different hike down the other side, with a few folks up top having paved the way on multiple trails on the south side. No effort searching for or following the trail, easy walking, etc. Just ran down the hill.
Stayed out second nite at Montclair Glenn Lodge in similar conditions. Froze a 1 Liter water bottle & a 3 Liter Platypus solid! Had to melt snow in the am to parboil my 1 Liter bottle to melt the block of ice for water for the hike out.
Hiked out Aliss to Dean to Monroe Trail to the Ranger cabin and roadwalked out and back to the Duxbury Pkg lot. Again no wind, crisp snow, and a MUCH easier hike out over packed snow.
Not the distance hike I had planned, but still a fun experience.
Spent the rest of my time hittin gear shops in Mid Vt for snowshoe/crampon info; Stayed at the Hide Away in Waitsville. Good time.
Hopefully will have lightweight aggressive snowshoes for my next winter hike up a similar place. And possible lightweight crampons too.
Here's a couple pics...
FINALLY reached Bamforth Shelter Sat nite...
Bamforth Ridge Shelter Sun morning
Some trail pics and summit views on the way up and
Montclair Glenn Lodge