We mentioned winter training was going to be coming after the winter started. Our goal to helping get some eager students from the Hiking Buddies group headed in the right direction as it concerns winter hiking. This would be our third time having already had a Group One and Group Two. Together, we are making an effort to educate. Group Three, and the next one to come, will be doing our standard two-day winter Mt Washington — complete with our Winter Skills and Mountaineering Skills courses. On day two, however, instead of the Lion Head Winter Route, the group was to attempt the mountain from the west using the Ammo.
Day One: Training Day
Day one was tricky due to a lack of snow making for some challenges. The lack of snow doesn’t halt instruction, but it does make it harder. The team got trained, however. On lead for this Redline Guide Pat Ferland. Co-leading with Pat was our newest guide/instructor, Glenn VanNeil.
Day Two: Summit Day
Day two was the opposite of day one in terms of snow as we woke to snow on the ground and it grew throughout the day (finally). On lead for day two was Glenn again, this team sharing the lead with Redline Guide Chase Hall. The group encountered blowing snow, winds near 40, and tough conditions up there. Conditions too tough for the RockPile, but five of the seven did summit Mt Monroe.
