Chubi Award Winners--Part 1

Long overdue, I know. It was a very difficult deliberation. In fact, only half of the awards are posted here, to keep the length to a minimum. The next half to follow shortly:

So, at long last: winners of the first half of the 2010 Chubi Awards:


Best Non-Summit Hike

• Grand Canyon Corridor Loop +(Grand Canyon National Park, AZ)
• Okay, so this one wasn’t too hard. All of the others were great, but come one . . . Grand Canyon? And the best GC trip yet, to boot. Canyons are growing on me more and more every time I enter one.

• Artist's Point Snowshoe (Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF, WA)
• Dolly Sods Traverse (Dolly Sods Wilderness, WV)
• Lover's Key Loop Dayhike (Lover's Key State Park, FL)

Best New Gear

• Merino Wool Buff

• So useful—a hat one minute, a scarf the next. A balaclava one minute, a pillowcase the next. However, I’m sad to report this award is being delivered posthumously. My Buff disappeared a couple months ago.

• TSL Backcountry Snowshoes
• Soto Micro Regulator Stove

Best Summit - East

• Mount Moosilauke, White Mountain National Forest, NH
• This one was a difficult pick. But Moosilauke’s otherworldliness wins out over Mt. Washington’s majesty. Hiked in the same month, Washington may have been the winner. But the snow up on Moosilauke was like nothing I’ve ever seen.

• Camel's Hump, Camel's Hump State Forest, VT
• Gothics, Adirondack Park, NY nuseance
• Mount Lafayette, White Mountain National Forest, NH
• Mount Moosilauke, White Mountain National Forest, NH
• Mount Washington, White Mountain National Forest, NH

Best Wildlife Encounter

• White Mountains Safari Adventure, NH
• Goats? Are you kidding me? Okay, so this one wasn’t really in the wild, but the numbers speak for themselves: 3 deer, 2 porcupine, a fox and 2 moose. All on one drive.

• Bald Eagle on Tamiami Drive, FL
• Bighorn Sheep near Truchas Lake, NM
• Grey Fox at Bright Angel Campground, AZ
• Goats in Chicago Basin, CO

The Challenger Peak Award for Best "Teachable Moment"

• Lost Tunafish (Grizzly Peak, CO)
• Lesson Learned: When there are only 2 of your climbing, always keep your partner in view, or within earshot at least. I got ahead while climbing Grizzly, and then somehow missed Tuna on the way down. He couldn’t hear me, I couldn’t hear him. With a storm cloud approaching and thunder booming I feared the worst. Fortunately, Tuna was okay and we both made it to the top. And back.
• Whiteout on Kaaterskill High Peak (Catskill Park, NY)
• Goat Attack (Chicago Basin, CO)

Best Photo Award-Chubi's 2010

BEST PHOTO NOMINEES

Below are the nominees for Best Photo. I'm only including pictures I took, which unfortunately leaves out most of the best pictures (such as from Mount Moosilauke or Chicago Basin). But nonetheless, use the comments to vote for your favorite.



"The Call of the Sods" - Classic ytown. From Lion's Head Point, Dolly Sods Wilderness. It's a shame I didn't take the date stamp off.


"Ice Fingers" - One of the many strange ice formations witnessed on the hike down from North Dome & Mount Sherril, the last Catskill 35ers we climbed this year.


"Kaaterskill Falls" - A side trip before our epic Devil's Path hike in the Catskills. We took many pictures of the falls from lots of angels but the classic full frontal is still the best.


"Supai White" - The vibrant red of the Supai Group contrasted with the fresh snow--one of the many unexpected wonders from this year's Grand Canyon trip.


"The Mountain Man" - taken with an iPhone on Mount Eisenhower. The stark landscape on the peaks plus Ace's "bundled-upness" portrays how rough conditions were above treeline in the Whites


"Phantom Communication" - A pole from the Trans-Canyon telegraph line near Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon


"The Buck" - we spotted a doe near this ridge on the way up to Utah Flats in Grand Canyon. Right when I said "Why is she alone? Shouldn't there be a buck nearby?", this guy stepped over the ridge and right into a classic.

Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

-Mark

Chubi Award Nominations 2010!!!

Hello one and all.

Welcome to the 1st Annual Chubi awards--my contribution to the winter awards season. These awards celebrate the best in backcountry experiences from the year. There are 11 categories, mostly centered around different hikes or places. Next week I will announce the winners.

The purpose of the awards is twofold. 1) to help me remember and catalog my experiences for the year and b) possibly provide some insight for others on what great hikes are out there. So without further delay. . .THE NOMINEES ARE:

Best Non-Summit Hike

• Artist's Point Snowshoe (Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF, WA)
• Dolly Sods Traverse (Dolly Sods Wilderness, WV)
• Grand Canyon Corridor Loop +(Grand Canyon National Park, AZ)
• Lover's Key Loop Dayhike (Lover's Key State Park, FL)

Best New Gear

• Merino Wool Buff
• TSL Backcountry Snowshoes
• Soto Micro Regulator Stove

Best Summit - East

• Camel's Hump, Camel's Hump State Forest, VT
• Gothics, Adirondack Park, NY
• Mount Lafayette, White Mountain National Forest, NH
  
• Mount Moosilauke, White Mountain National Forest, NH
• Mount Washington, White Mountain National Forest, NH
  

Best Wildlife Encounter

• Bald Eagle on Tamiami Drive, FL
• Bighorn Sheep near Truchas Lake, NM
  
• Grey Fox at Bright Angel Campground, AZ
  
• Goats in Chicago Basin, CO
  
• White Mountains Safari Adventure, NH
  

The Challenger Peak Award for Best "Teachable Moment"

• Whiteout on Kaaterskill High Peak (Catskill Park, NY)
  
• Goat Attack (Chicago Basin, CO)
  
• Lost Tunafish (Grizzly Peak, CO)

Best Mountain - West

• Mount Elbert (San Isabel National Forest, CO)
• Mount Eolus (Weminuche Wilderness, CO)
• Jupiter Peak (Weminuche Wilderness, CO)
• Grizzly Peak (Weminuche Wilderness, CO)
• Truchas Peak (Pecos Wilderness, NM)

Best Brewery

• Backcountry Brewery (Frisco, CO)
  
• Beaver Street Brewing Company (Flagstaff, AZ)
• Keegan Ales (Kingston, NY)
• Steamworks Brewing Company (Durango, CO)
• Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery (North Woodstock, NH)

Best Long Trip (3+ days)

• Chicago Basin (San Juan National Forest, CO)
• Grand Canyon Corridor Loop+ (Grand Canyon National Park, AZ)
• Presidential Range Traverse (White Mountains National Forest, NH)
• Truchas Peaks (Pecos Wilderness, CO)

Best Hiking Partner*

• Ace (for multiple trips)
• Judar (for Chicago Basin)
• He of the Shallow Water (for Chicago Basin)
• Whit (for Chicago Basin)
• Y-Town (for Dolly Sods)

Best Summit Hike

• Camel's Hump (Camel's Hump State Forest, VT)
• Mount Eolus (Weminuche Wilderness, CO)
• Grizzly Peak (Weminuche Wilderness, CO)
• Mount Moosilauke (White Mountain National Forest, NH)
• Truchas Peak (Pecos Wilderness, NM)
• Mount Washington (White Mountain National Forest, NH)

Best Photo

• The nominees for this award will be posted in another. . .post, and the winner will be selected by a popular vote. Use the comments section to cast your vote!
  

*Tory is ineligible for this award because she already won my heart with her backcountry cooking and foot massages. And she let us borrow her car that one time, that was awesome.

So have fun speculating for the next week (feel free to use the comments to make your guesses) and congratulations to all the nominees!

-Unit

Current Song: Paper Planes by M.I.A.

Day 179

Wow, it's been a while. Here's a summary of the last 86 days:

Tory came to visit NYC.

Climbed NE#38 Black Dome and it's neighbor Blackhead

Attempted Kaaterskill High Peak but lost the trail.

Spent the night at Carter Notch Hut in New Hampshire

Celebrated 1 year with Tory in Florida

Had many long-distance dates, including this one--dinner out of surprise ingredients.

Survived my first Hoboken flood.

Hiked the oldest section of the AT to Bear Mtn and West Mtn

Climbed 2 more Catskill 35ers--Balsam Lake and Graham Mountains

Spent some quality time in Central Park

Climbed Doubletop Mountain, highest trailless peak in the Catskills

Started climbing again, including bouldering in Central Park with Ace.

Whoa, okay. So what else. We've pretty much bagged going to the Grand, and will likely go to Colorado instead. Speaking of Colorado, I'll be there next weekend to see my baby and attempt the highest peak in the state, Mount Elbert. Oh, and some kind of training for work too. Then seeing her again when she comes to Maryland. Shaping up to be a good May.

Song: "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

-U

Day 93--Catskills

Took my first trip up to the Catskill Mountains with Ace this weekend. Really much more exciting than I expected. We hiked up Panther Mountain, at 3,720' it is the 14th most significant peak in the range. It is also one of the required winter peaks of the Catskills 3,500 Club, although I'm not too concerned with that. It would be a good goal if I planned on staying here a long time, but I have a feeling this summer I'll be spending lots of weekends in the Greens, Whites, Longfellows, Adirondacks and Taconics and fewer in the Catskills. Anyway. . .

The hike was good. We brought snowshoes and could have used them but they weren't really necessary. Most of the snow on the trail was well packed, although stepping off trail often caused postholing up to my knees or thighs. The peak wasn't easy by any means, but it really wasn't too difficult either. Steep uphill sections followed by long, flat sections. I must say the best part wasn't the summit as much as the hike over Giant Ledge which offered incredible views of the Burroughs Range and the mountains along the Devil's Path.

Ace at the saddle intersection after a very icy climb from the trailhead.

One of the overlooks on Giant Ledge. Pretty outstanding. There were a half dozen more like this.

Looking down. The snow will break your fall, I promise.

Me lookin' handsome on the summit. Is this a new facebook profile shot?

The Burroughs Range from Giant Ledge. The mountain on the right is Slide Mountain, #12 in the Northeast and highest point in the Catskills.

My little attempt at being artsy with my photos. That's Ace walking across the saddle on the way back to the car.

I was really happy with this hike, and I can't wait to get up to the Catskills again for some more action. I also want to do one more BIG peak out here before winter is over. . .I'm thinking Whiteface, Equinox, Mansfield, Killington, Carter, Jay or Algonquin. Any thoughts?

More importantly, however, is that Tory will be in town in less than 2 days. I'd tell you about our plans for the weekend, but I haven't told her yet so I don't think it'd be too fair. Suffice it to say that our plans will not be hampered by the white death currently approaching the metro area. And no, I'm not talking about Whit. I'm talking about the "blizzard".

Well I'd better get ready for bed. Concentrating this week has been hard enough without a lack or sleep.

Song: "More than a Feeling" by Boston

-U

Day 85

In the midst of so many big changes in my life recently and big changes coming up, I think it would be healthy to point out 3 little things today that made me pretty happy.

1. I generally try to avoid the big chain restaurant genre--you know the one I'm talking about, where the menu is bigger than it needs to be, the food is generally only mediocre, the prices are too high and as mac from super troopers put it "that restaurant. . .with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzerella sticks". Places like Applebees, Fridays, Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, or Ruby Tuesday's. Today though, for lunch, some folks from the office went to Friday's to celebrate a new employee starting. I had their Jack Daniels Burger and let me say--that is one tasty burger. I was amazed. Delicious. And on top of that I ordered the sweet potato fries and they were cooked perfectly. Just an excellent lunch. I've been thinking about it all day.

2. My new running shoes are great. They are Nike Moto 7's. I've never bought Nike shoes but after these I can't imagine buying anything else. They're so comfortable! The first few runs in them I was a little worried--I was still getting shin splints after 10 or so minutes of running. But now that I'm used to them I feel like I'm running on air. My old shoes were addidas trail runners and they were always uncomfortable. . .foot pain, shin splints even back pain. None with the new shoes. Add that to my Sony MP3 player that is also fantastic, and running is now a joy instead of a burden.

3. If you've never heard the band Good Old War, I suggest you check them out. I saw them live a few months ago and they were excellent. In particular, though, I just can't get enough of the song "Coney Island". It such a wonderful song. When I was out running this evening, thinking about my delicious burger from Fridays and this song came on, I gotta say it was a little slice of heaven. In all seriousness though, if you haven't heard "Coney Island" yet, check it out because I know you'll love it. And see the band live, in a smaller, more intimate venue (i'm not sure they play anything else). It'll be worth the expense.

So that's it. And I know you're going to look it up, so I'll just tell you right now: I don't want to hear about how nike shoes are made in china, or about the 1500+ calories in the burger, or how you think folk rock is a dead genre. I already know, and I'm over it.

Song: "Coney Island" by Good Old War

-U

Day 79 - Mount Mohican, Hangovers

Went to Mount Mohican this weekend. It's the 4th highest peak in New Jersey and 4th most significant in the state. It's also our last peak in the Kittatinies, and was the only peak in Jersey 1,600' or more that we hadn't gotten.

The weather was great. . .a little too great to try out my new Buff though (I tried it anyway. Pretty fun). We started at the Delaware Water Gap and hiked up the AT to Sunfish Pond, which I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of. I was too busy messing with my new video camera. More on that in another entry.

The pond was cool though not so much for it's looks--it looked like a regular ol' pond--but it's sounds. The pond was frozen over, and being that it was a relatively warm day, the ice was thawing and shifting and it caused the pond to groan quite loudly. Very interesting.

Next we hiked over to the Upper Yards Creek Reservoir, pictured, which was also at the top of the ridge, though this one was man-made. It was surrounded by barbed-wire so no playing in the pond this time. The first* highpoint, Mount Mohican South (a name I gave it--it's actually unnamed) was just off the access road. . .hardly distinguishable from the surrounding terrain though, so we decided this big rock would suffice. I wedged the camera between a few tree branches to get the shot of both of us. *the topo map actually showed two places of equal elevation, so we decided to get to both just to be safe.
























The second highpoint was a little harder. We fought our way through some very thick brush in an attempt to find a point where the GPS reached 1,600', the elevation on the topo. Alas, the closest we got was 1,597, even with stretching as high as we could. I'm going to chalk it up to the accuracy of the GPS. . .the place was pretty flat and there was certainly no point 10' higher than the ground we were standing on
























The rest of the hike was fun but uneventful. We did see some wildlife. A family of white-tailed deer scurried through the woods as we passed, raising their bushy tails to signal one another of danger. That was pretty neat. We also passed this bizarre steal plate on the top of the ridge. A helicopter landing point, perhaps?



















The views from Mount Tammany of the Delaware Water Gap were excellent. It's about a 1200' drop to the river from the top, and very steep. The giant Delaware River was partially frozen as it went behind the shadow of the gap. In the first picture you can see the view across the gap, and the second is looking downstream through the gap at Arrow Island.











































The hike was fun because most of the second half was right along the ridge with great views. The bad part about that is that when we were within a half-mile of the car, we were still 1,200' or so above it. So the last bit was very steep. Made for great views though. Overall a great hike. I'd like to hike more of the AT in the Kittatinnies, it's very enjoyable hiking on the ridge.

The first of the 'Hangovers" mentioned in the title of this entry is the 'hangover' I got after the hike. Ace and I went back to Hoboken we celebrated the hike by ordering some pizza from Benny Tudino's (very good by the way), getting a case of beer and watching a good ol' fashioned zombie flick. And by good ol' fashioned i mean Australian, very bizarre and quite ridiculous. After about 3 beers though i started feeling sick and had to kick ace out. I went to bed feeling like I had a fever, but felt fine in the morning.

The other Hangover was the movie, The Hangover, which I watched today. Very funny, lived up to the hype. Clever making a bachelor-party movie about the day after instead of the day of.

Okay got to wrap this up--I'm talking to Tory and I think she's starting to get impatient. Especially since I told her I'm going to bed soon.

16 days till she comes to Hoboken:-)!

Song: "Gentleman's Pact" by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band