Sure on the Sherb

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For years, at least two, my buddies Kenz and Dan have been encouraging me to come with them on the Sherb trail in the Whites.

After my experience with Friday Night Lights, I was all aflutter about back country and eager to finally jump on the bandwagon. I rented gear through the same shop I was able to use for Friday Night Lights, Kenz being kind enough to pick it up for me Saturday AM.

It ended up just bein’ me and Kenz as Nick was sick and Dan was traveling at a conference for work. We hit Moat on Saturday night, which was packed (we lurked around tables until we got one, making friends with another couple who was also lurking, and we all shared a 4-seat high-top) and we had a leisurely AM with a 9am move-out to the Sherb.

“ There’s no place for pride or ego in the backcountry.”
— Steph F, ultimate badlass

It was a bluebird day, and warm, unlike the previous day, and for that, I was so grateful. The parking lot was jammed. I realized quickly I forgot my water bottle, a rookie move, but Kenz offered to share, that gem. She explained on any other trail, she’d make us go get some but she wasn’t concerned for this one. We double and triple checked our other gear and got a move on. It was nice gearing up in the light this time as opposed to the dark, as FNL had been.

The trail was fairly busy. We adopted a mellow pace going up and chatted the whole way, talking about how the sport had gotten more popular.

I’d spent a couple weeks running Mount A, the most elevation nearby to me, to try to prepare for this day and though I’d taken a couple weeks off because of a tweaked knee, I still think it helped. I could see why Kenz and Dan’s fitness level is through the roof doing their Sherb laps, and why they in the past historically trained for the winter season by doing the Harvard stadium stairs. It’s 2.5 miles of ass kick, though I spent most of my time in first tier riser rather than the max.

We got up to the top, tried to do a quick transition and we were off. Kenz explained there’d be mogul-type parts, which is a challenge for me. The plus side? The snow was amazing. Fresh and perfect texture. I just kept shouting as we went down.

I’m a huge fan of human-powered activity rather than motorized. And knowing we’d gotten our asses up the hill ourselves for the run just felt like such a victory.

I was so grateful to Kenz for bringing me that day, and for being patient with me. I also had the words of my bud Steph F in mind as I went down, a Sherb veteran: Just take it slow and use all your tools and be honest with your group about how you’re feeling-don’t be ashamed or afraid to the be conservative one and ask folks to slow down. There’s no place for pride or ego in the backcountry.

Going out with a friend who knew my level, and having had a pep talk with Steph F and friends, gave me the confidence I needed to go into the day, take it slow and have fun. I was wooping and hollering and so so happy.

First Time on BackCountry Gear, and Flailing around on a Shortie

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This was a sendy weekend. First up:

Friday Night Lights
Maddie and I, along with some of her UNH buds, headed to Black Mountain to hit Friday Night Lights. At FNL, they set up lights up and down the trail, and you skin up and take a run down the mountain. In the dark. With a head lamp. Under the stars.

It was magic.

It was my first time trying back-country gear and honestly prior to even getting into Maddie’s car to head up, watching this video that Andrew Drummond, accomplished athlete and gear extraordinaire for FNL, had gotten me really stoked. When I got there, they walked me through the gear and bindings. I was completely overwhelmed but once I got out there, and understood more of the purpose behind them, I got it. One example is the pins — I didn’t realize that there were slots in my boots for the pins, so at first I had no idea why/which way I should be turning them. Once I realized the pins slotted into my boots the way down, it made a lot of sense.

Maddie’s friend Salme helped me get a feel for the skins outside and helped me into the bindings. Once everyone was ready, we started the ascent. My legs were burning pretty quickly. It was such an ass-kicker but SO MUCH FUN. Walking up a mountain in skis, defying gravity with a little bit of felt, was such a victory. It took us about 30 minutes to make the climb, after which we were greeted by a super cozy pub, Lostbo, and lots of stoked people who’d just made the ascent as well drinking beers. We stopped for a breather before getting ready to take our run.

I’ve been on skis I bought for $100 from my best friend Kat more than a decade ago, and trying out some Hagans on Friday, I realized what a different world is out there in terms of feel in a ski. I literally felt like I was floating down the mountain on the way down. The whole experience was cosmic—it was dark, cold and the light of the headlamp was much fainter than I’d hoped. It was super exciting and fun.

I bumped into some of my best buds, Kenz and Dan, in the other pub at the bottom of the mountain—hadn’t texted them since I was going to be in and out and not staying for the weekend and we were so stoked to see each other. Also bumped into a buddy from 603 run club, Sean B, when I was returning my gear. So great to see new, newer and old friends all sending it on a cold Friday.

For Next Time
-Bring cash or pay for reservation ahead of time
-Text Kenz and Dan next time I’m heading up!
-Bring my own poles
-If possible, stay the wkd up there. Lots of driving to and fro for one night.
-A fleece is too much layers! As, potentially, are ski pants. Kenz had a pair of shell pants that had a zipper on the side for venting. That might be the way to go.

The Seshie Before the Freshie Seshie
But before we hit FNL, Maddie and I jumped in at Long Sands and it was SO FUN. We were out for two hours before we got too cold.

It was honestly my favorite type of day. 2-3, fairly clean, not too crowded. Sun was shining in a blue blue sky and there was no wind.

We were both talking about the fact that the wind is just a non-starter for us at this point. If we’re in the 30s and the wind’s 15-20mph, I’m just going to stay at home and send some shakas out to the amazing humans freezing their asses out there and still sending it.

Got a couple awesome waves. I’m just still so in love with my Ray King board I got from Cinnies a couple years ago. It’s 8 feet and turns so nicely.

Getting out, I was really worried that I wouldn’t have enough juice for FNL but I made it and so glad I did.

Remember:
-Sometimes, you just gotta say “YES” to taking the day off. When we’d first talked about waves/FNL earlier in the week, my mind immediately started going down the rabbit hole of this, that and the other excuse for work but once I just said “You know what? I’m going to figure it out.” I did.
-It’s all about logging your hours.

Today’s Seshie
Met up with Josh at Long Sands by the bath house. It was pumping. Way heavier than I’d originally thought it’d be, as it was supposed to have dropped from earlier in the day. He lent me his short board and very quickly I remembered how out of shape I am for paddling when I’m not on my boat of a longboard.

This session kicked my ass. The paddle out, the waves were relentless—I finally got a break and paddled as fast I could to the outside where I essentially floated like a duck for the rest of the session. I went for a couple waves but they were heavy AF and by the time I’d gotten a little nerve up, I was too cold to be coordinated in any way. Josh snagged a few sick rides on his fish and he was stoked. I headed in an hour or so after we got out and just got pummeled by a monster set that rolled through.

It was a humbling session but as always, it was a learning session. I got to practice my duck dive, paddle and hang on a less stable board and scare the bejesus out of myself a little while the rolling mountains came through. Always good to try a different board.

For next time:
-Get my ass paddling for a wave way sooner, before I get cold.
-BUMP UP the paddling exercises: I’ve been way lax about strength. I gotta pull out my old surfing strength exercises Amber printed for me and get going.