Xplore n More Philly: Skiing, Snowboarding, Adventure Group

Want to try out backpacking on a relatively easy route while seeing the two most scenic spots on the Appalachian Trail in PA? Have you backpacked in the past but want to refresh your skills ahead of a longer trip? This trip is for you!

This is backpacking which means carrying your own gear all day, filtering water, and pooping in the woods. If that doesn't sound fun then this is NOT the trip for you!

Please don't sign up unless you are ready to commit. This trip will require a reasonable amount of physical fitness. Please don't sign up and drop out only a week before the trip. Doing so takes up a spot for someone else who may be able to go but it is tough to fill last minute cancellations.

Agenda:
Meet at Adam's house in Phoenixville at 9AM on Saturday to consolidate cars and do a final gear check.

Drive about an hour to Blue Rocks to park cars
Hike 1.5 miles up to Pulpit Rock and have a snack and enjoy the view
Hike 2.2 miles to Pinnacle and have lunch and enjoy the view
Hike 3.4 miles to our campsite. Set up camp, collect firewood, filter water, practice hanging bear bags, cook dinner, etc

Sunday morning:
Cook breakfast, break camp and hike 4.3 miles (mostly down hill)back to cars
Drive home with optional stop for burgers on the way

Here is some of the gear I use:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/CHO2WAI7CDMU?ref_=wl_share

PRACTICE WITH YOUR GEAR IN YOUR BACK YARD AND ON LOCAL TRAILS BEFORE THE TRIP!!!

Food: its only one night so keep it simple: Granola bars, tuna pouches and tortilla wraps, PB&J, beef jerkey, oatmeal, dehytraded fruit, backpackers pantry/peak refuel dehydrated meals (these brands are pretty good and usually a couple bucks cheaper at Sierra)

Shoes: Hiking boots or trail shoes. I use Hoka Speed Goats
Clothing: Wool or synthetic. NO COTTON. Bring layers!!!

I'll set up a zoom in early April for folks to ask questions. Looking forward to getting back out there!

Limiting signups more this week since we had a discussion with park rangers about group size this week, with multiple groups using the same parking lot. We need to iron out details with the park. We know that we often have no shows so we have let the signups be a little higher in the past. But the limit means we will not be happy if you drop at the last minute because you are taking someone else’s spot.

Sunset is at 7:52PM.... 4-5 miles this week still! Stacy will be hosting.

This is an intermediate hike (not for beginners), and we will move at a moderate pace of about 3.2mph, and unfortunately with the parking restrictions, we need to keep a faster pace since we need to finish before dark. There are large/steep/rocky hill climbs on this Mount Misery/Mount Joy hike, so you need to be in pretty decent shape, and the rocky terrain requires hiking shoes. We will start hiking at 6:15PM, and plan for this to take about 2 hours to finish.

The meeting spot will be the parking lot at the "Yellow Springs Trail Parking Lot" which is the trailhead. Google calls this address "1700 Wilson Rd, Malvern, PA 19355" although it is not exactly in Malvern.

This is a "dog friendly" hike, if your dog will keep up and is friendly with other dogs. Your dog is your responsibility and needs to be on a leash in order to join on our hikes (I hate this rule too but we need to comply with it).

FOOD AND DRINK AFTERWARDS:
Nan Xiang (King of Prussia) serves its legendary Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings as well as Crispy Pan-Fried Pork Buns, Shanghainese Dim Sum, Stir-Fried Noodles, Stir-Fried Rice Cakes, Scallion Pancakes and Steamed Ginseng Chicken Soup. Also highlighted on the menu are the Truffle Soup Dumplings, Crispy Turnip Puffs, Shanghai Siu Mai, “Lucky-Six” Soup Dumplings and other seasonal specials.

Mount Washington is the highest mountain in the Northeast United States with the summit at 6,288 ft. This is a VERY challenging and long trip. The hike is grueling with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, and if you choose to ski/snowboard, it is dangerous and potentially deadly. You are attending this at your own risk. We are not trained guides, but we did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

HIKING/SKIING/SNOWBOARDING OPTIONS:
Everyone will hike together from the parking lot at Pinkham Notch up to Hojo's/Hermit Lake Shelters where skiers congregate and speak to volunteers about the conditions. From there, there are 3 options:

• Hike only.... You may, or may not reach the summit. You can make a plan, but you need to be flexible with safety as the priority... Conditions change by the hour on Mount Washington. If you do not summit, you may hike up to the base of Tuckerman Ravine and watch the skiers attempt to take on the challenge.
• Hike up and ski the lower Sherborne trail... The Sherborne trail's difficulty roughly equates to an intermediate run at a ski resort, the biggest difference being that it is an ungroomed backcountry trail, with difficult and variable conditions, and it is only about 30-50 feet wide with trees on the sides, and some creek crossings. In late April you you probably only be able to ski on the top 1/2 mile of the trail as the snow will have melted at lower elevations.
• Hike up and ski Tuckerman Ravine... Avalanche conditions vary day to day, and weather may change hour to hour up on the slopes completely changing the conditions. You should have avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe) and know how to use it. You should have microspikes and/or crampons, and often people bring ice axes to help with the climb and sometimes to be used to help with "self arrest" if you get into an uncontrollable slide. You must be an absolute expert comfortable on the steepest/narrowest double black diamond runs out west, and you must be flexible with your plans. There are deep crevasses with fast running water underneath them, cliffs, ice boulders rolling down the ravine that are the size of large appliances, and often skiers from above falling/tumbling uncontrollably as you are attempting to climb up. Transitioning from climbing into ski/snowboard gear is extremely challenging on steep snowy or icy terrain, and once you climb up, you really can not climb back down the way you came up, so you are committed.

LODGING OPTIONS:
Book your own and we’ll help people find roommates by providing a roomie spreadsheet.

TRANSPORTATION:
Is your responsibility, but a Google Sheet will be used to organize carpooling.

Google Sheet: For carpooling & hotel
... Link coming soon....

LIABILITY:
By signing up for any XNM overnight trips, you agree to comply with these rules, and for all trips, especially this one, you are going at your own risk, and no one but yourself is liable for any injury for you for any part of attending this trip:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Ru11Patcv5zVsx4_1dW-YXVzvbWAhvfKh2SWqHcbco/edit?usp=sharing