Raw Notes From The Field - Mountain Snow
weather is big news in the az. here are our friends from tv channel three strategically positioned in payson at the intersection of highways 260 and 87...right between mcdonalds and pizza hut. lol.
like the sign says, happy jack, arizona. you can also fill up with gas and get a good meal at the cafe. nice folks.
this won't mean anything to anyone except my family but it is always nice to see that distinctive green isn't it? I can spot it a mile away. this one was behind the post office and supplying enough juice to run the whole place. hi grampa! I miss you.
the weather knocked out the electricity in happy jack but who needs the power company when you have an onan generator. it is an old set but they said it runs like a top. of course it does, it's an ONAN!
northern arizona got as much as 30 inches of new snow from this storm and there is more to come later in the week. whoo hoo!
nothing lasts forever. four of the eight heavy duty rubber straps on my msr snowshoes broke about a mile in. upon close inspection they were all brittle and cracked. the moral of this story is; inspect your gear closely and regularly then repair slash replace as necessary. rookie mistake but i paid for it by post holing another five miles without them.
its that time of year when the winter storms line up and roll in like airliners. it's been a great couple of days in the rain and snow. here are some general observations and comments from my sessions;
- the knotty pine cafe (i always think of it as the naughty pine cafe) in payson was closed but i found a new restaurant called mackeys (sp), great food, good service
- stopped in to say hello to the folks at "chasing a dream outfitters", if you are an archer and in the payson area you should check 'em out
- i keep thinking i need to switch to bfg all terrains like i always do but these michilin ltx a/t2 tires continue to amaze me. they are quiet and smooth but have shown exceptional traction in the rain, snow, ice and even mud
- i would like to find some suspenders for the built in loops on the arborwear stretch tech pants
- arborwear stretch tech pants dry quickly
- again, controlling your physical exertion, the lightest base layer you can stand and a properly featured shell combined with active ventilation techniques is the best way to manage moisture, stay dry and keep warm while you are working hard on the mountain
- active ventilation examples are (when you can't take your shell off); remove hat and gloves, expose wrists, unzip t-neck to expose neck, open pitzips, loosen waist and hem cords, open main zipper as much as practical, stop occasionally and let the shell fall back off of your shoulders so your back is exposed and has a chance to cool off
- snow shoes rock. post holing in thigh deep snow burns a lot of cals, makes you sweat and generally sucks
- wilderness athlete altitude advantage pills are a great alternative to diamox or other prescription remedies for the effects of going up high
- do full dress rehearsals with your gear before you head out then do some practice runs in a "safe" place. it will save you time and frustration when it's show time
- does anybody else remember obermeyer zip t-neck base layers? the neck was double thickness when worn normally but when unfolded it was long enough to cover your mouth, nose and most of your face like a turtle neck is supposed to. the zipper was for ventilation. genius
- helly hansen odin baselayer high neck top is mostly mesh or fishnet, has thumb holes, nose wipe wrist overs, half zip t-neck and wicks better than any other base i have ever used. it is also soft, stretchy and very comfortable
- fishnet base layers are super great until someone, like the kid working the register at the gas station, sees you wearing them. it is hard to explain. i highly recommend them for woman though!
- hh fishnet base, rei activestretch half zip t-neck top, patagonia micro puff jacket and arcteryx theta ar shell jacket make up the best cold slash foul weather system i have come up with yet. light, effective, flexible. absolutely fantastic
- all shell jackets should have SPOT pockets on the shoulder
- make sure you are not standing directly under tree branches during or right after a heavy snow or you will get sloughed on
- trees sloughing snow sounds cool, like distant explosives
- godaddy needs an app that allows me to send short messages out through my site using my smartphone. sort of like twitter
- stop, look around, enjoy where you are and what you are doing
- take notes, make improvements, be a better slash stronger outdoorsman
hasta broheims
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