This tale began with the purchase of a gift certificate, from husband to wife. She was very experienced, but he felt this could open the door to new things, new training, new experiences. Particularly in the realm of mountaineering. Day one of this two-day outing would begin with some mountaineering skills training. Day two, instead of a more normal plan to climb Mt Washington, featured the Tripyramids. Specifically the so-called North and South Slides. Going up the North Slide on the Mt Tripyramid Trail was tough but fun and exciting. A mini mountaineering adventure. The second part, the South Slide — due a lack of winter use — was murder. Avalanches weren’t a concern, nor was sliding, but post-holing to one’s waist was brutal. That said, they made it. Here’s Redline Guide Debra McCown‘s take on it.
She came to gain some skills in use of an ice axe and crampons and also go on an adventure on tougher terrain that she wouldn’t attempt to do on her own. It was a long and very physical day, and she accomplished her goals of climbing the North Slide in the snow and checking the Tripyramids off her list for winter. She is a bada** hiker to succeed in such sloggy, slow snow conditions! —Debra
