New Year, New Lesson, Old Trip
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve skinned and skied Mount Tecumseh but if I had to guess I would say over 20 and under 50. Despite my numerous adventures on Mount Tecumseh, I still find myself being educated by the journey to the mountain’s summit and the trip down the ski resort’s slopes, and my most recent trip was no different.
Before packing the night before, I checked the weather for my home in central New Hampshire and the weather for Waterville Valley. It wasn’t a stellar forecast, as rain and unseasonably warm temperatures were predicted. Oh well, I thought, at least the rain might keep other skiers away. Of course, I never thought to consider what the conditions would be like on the mountain and at elevation—a reality I would soon be reminded of.
The beginning of the trip was beautiful, the temperature was warm, the sun was shining, and though the wind was whipping above, we were well-protected low in the valley. However, about a mile in when we turned the corner at the Tecumseh Trail’s juncture with the ski slopes, the conditions began to change. It was noticeably colder, the predicted rain was actually something resembling a blend of snow and sleet, and we were now in the wind.
Just below the summit, at the juncture of the Tecumseh Trail and the Sosman Trail, it was full-on winter. I layered up, pulling on a puffy, mittens, and balaclava—wishing I had brought warmer versions of all three. On the summit, I pulled out my snack, individual mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and immediately regretted my decision. Despite being delicious, these required taking my hands out of my mittens to unwrap them (exposing them to the bitter cold), forcing me to answer the tough question: what do I value more, warm hands or a chocolaty treat?
It’s not just weather and snack that I miscalculated. I had a strong suspicion that the strong winds would have Waterville Valley’s upper lifts on wind hold. In fact, I was even excited by the prospect of having the mountain’s upper slopes to myself. However, I failed to consider, that without the lifts running there would be no need to groom the trails. The great skiing I was imagining turned out to be a healthy combination of snow plowing and side slipping, before giving way to some of the iciest turns I made in recent memory.
If it sounds like a miserable day, you would be wrong. Sure, I would have preferred to ski pow or at a minimum had good weather, but it’s trips like this that reinforce the hard lessons the mountains teach us. There is a lot of value in repeating favorite tours or revisiting the same climbs, just remember to pay attention, listen to what the mountains are telling you, and try to remember it for the next time.
By Tim Peck
