Sometimes Nature Decides for You
I look at my phone’s screen and the message on it from Doug reads, “Ideas for tomorrow?” I’m flummoxed—even the most optimistic version of myself believes the conditions in the backcountry will be icy and a couple of inches of snowfall from the night before will leave the crags too wet for climbing.
I reply sourly, “IDK.” Sure, I have plenty of ideas, but at the time I was having difficulty mustering enthusiasm for any of them. It feels wrong to hike when skiing is still an option, but I don’t feel like skinning at the resort and I’m terrified of the dust-on-crust lurking in the backcountry. On the other hand, I’m stoked to boulder but I would like to spend some time in the mountains. Doug and I trade texts back and forth, him with ambitious plans, and me shitting all over them; too icy, too far away, and I think it will suck represent only a few of my bitter responses that day.
We settle on (well, Doug concedes to) an old favorite: skin to the summit of Mount Tecumseh and ski down trails at Waterville Valley, then drive over to Rumney to boulder in the afternoon. It’s not the most adventurous trip, but it checks all the boxes—summit a 4,000-footer, check; ski, check; boulder, check. In spite of getting my way, I get wishy-washy on the idea in my driveway the next morning when Doug arrives. Ignoring my indecisiveness, Doug points the car toward Waterville.
The conditions at Waterville turn out to be fantastic—the skiing is great and there’s virtually no one there. Within moments of our descent toward the base of the mountain, our plan is once again in flux. “Should we try to get another run?” I ask. Doug is interested but non-committal. A little closer to the bottom, I chime in again, reminding Doug (as if he needs reminding) that ski days like this are fleeting. I don’t get an answer.
Arriving at the base, Doug looks at me and asks, “what do you think about taking another run?”
“It would be silly not to,” I say, nodding my head in agreement. After all my fretting about where to go and what to do, nature has decided for us.
Even though it was only a one-sport day, pairing summer and winter activities together during shoulder season is one my favorite things to do. If you’re looking for a few shoulder season ideas, check out my goEast article on them here.
By Tim Peck
