Couch Sitting is Risky Business

For the second time in less than a week  I find myself on top of good old Mt. Crawford in 50 mph winds with gusts up to 80.  Today's temperature with wind chill is probably twenty below.  This time Rock & I are accompanied by my daughter Sarah.  Apparently she felt like she was missing out on something so we went to Ragged Mountain and got her some winter gear.  As we begin to approach the summit of Mt. Crawford  I am thinking of the weather report I had read in the comfort of my wood stove  warmed living room only hours before...

RECREATION FORECAST FOR ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 2500 AND 4000 FEET IN
NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE WESTERN MAINE MOUNTAINS...
.TODAY...SUMMITS OBSCURED. A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. HIGHS 6 TO
16 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS 50 TO 60 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH.
CHANCE OF SNOW 50 PERCENT. WIND CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS 35 BELOW.

   The summit lies 200 feet ahead.  I have already discussed turning around with Sarah twice, once when we both saw a tree move at its roots, the other when we hit a blasting wind on the first ledges.  My baby girl looks soft from the outside but man she is tough where it counts, and both times she convinces me to continue.  Now we are literally a stones throw from the top and the Big One comes, a wind so strong it sends her off her feet and has my dog looking at me, waiting for me to come to my senses.  That time is now.  " Um, think we can turn around now " I say with a frozen smile, and nods all around means a consensus is reached.  The trip down the mountain would be quick, the lure of the truck's heater and lunch seemed to pull us down the trail.  We had stopped before we had gotten into any trouble, even if that meant a summit lay out of reach.  This decision making process , and the experience one requires to make good decisions in the woods when it counts, was my main reason for hiking today.

  Last night and this morning it was fun to recall this trip on social media with pictures and with family, friends and some regular customers who 'follow' my new hobby.  People are amazed that I would want to hike in these conditions.  Many have expressed concern for my safety, while others think I am being too risky.  To those concerned friends and loved ones I sincerely say Thank You.  I assure you I am going slow, being cautious, and staying within my comfort zone.  I never underestimate the danger that lies in these mountains.   Those that know me well understand I am far from a daredevil type of risk taker, and way way too old.  In my mind I was taking a much higher risk being inactive and overweight.  I cannot sit here and guarantee I will never have an accident hiking.  I can state with some degree of certainty that if I had continued my old ways that the end of the trail would have been far worse than any winds or chilling temperatures that any hike has for me.  The warmth of feeling alive again and spending time  in our beautiful forest melts anything Mother Nature has in store for me this winter.