Mt. Cardigan: 1st Sled Descent

The drive to Mt Cardigan was an adventure of its own. Rain and snow made visibility poor. We saw three crashses; one left a minivan perched atop an 8-foot high pile of snow; another somehow deposited a car on the other side of a 3-foot guardrail. Watching the wrecks instead of the exits, we missed our exit... twice. The AMC's Cardigan Lodge is at the end of a dirt road that goes over a big hill. New snow and old tires made it impossible to drive over the hill. Michael and John put on their crampons and pushed with all their strength for about 100 yards to get us over the top. Only time this week my strained QL was a benefit; I got to drive instead of push.
There was no powder like last time, but there was still plenty of snow. The trail was well packed, making snowshoes unnecessary, but step off the trail and you would posthole to knee or crotch. The bridge gave evidence that the packed snow was at least two-feet deep. Blazes on the trees, normally at eye-level, were waist high.
It was a warm day, in the high-30's, so we had to strip down while climbing. Although it was cloudy, it didn't rain.
Just before the summit, there was a small downhill, so sleds came off the packs for a bit of fun.

The summit was windblown and icy. We used our snowshoes for traction, but could have easily booted it all the way.

A group of skiers skinned past us while we were eating lunch near the warden's cabin. They were still at the summit when we got there and took the group photo below. They saw our sleds and waited around to see us descend. They told us it would be the first sled descent from the summit of Mt. Cardigan, and I'm sure they would know.
Tandem sledding


Tree turns


Standing fall

getting back in shape

After a winter of not riding, my weight was up to about 175.  I want to get back down to about 155.
So I am cutting back on snacking and sweets and increasing my activity level again.

We just got back from our Jackson Hole trip and I'm going to start riding my bike a lot again.  Today (Sunday) I went our for an easy (13 mph average) two hours with John M.
My goal this year is to do the Boston Brevet Series.

I also joined the Boston Union Wrestling Club and will have a 2-hour practice every Monday and Friday.  I will drive to work those days and ride every other day.
I also bought trail running shoes and want to get in half an hour in the woods around Horn Pond on the days I don't ride my bike.

So there's the plan.

Today's weight: 170.

Fwd: the hidden cost of buying a car

I rode my bike to work today for only the 4th time since buying the Mini in December.
I rode real slow.  I look like the guy in the "bought a car" photo.
Guess I should buy another bike.

wrestling

Last night I joined the Boston Union Wrestling Club and participated in wrestling practice for the first time in 28 years.
After one-and-a-half hours of calisthenics, drills, and top/bottom wrestling I was beat and decided to sit out the wrestling challenge matches.
Today my legs and neck ache, but I had some fun and didn't get hurt, so I think I'll be going back to practice every Monday and Wednesday evening.