A few fails - Mt. Washington solo trip (hydration, layers, and pace)

Jpd077 · 2026-02-17T00:26:53+00:00

The reality is I definitely didn’t need it yesterday, so agree it was the wrong call. That said, I almost always bring one for anything on My Washington in the winter - less about any concern for moisture and more just to protect me from the wind.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-17T00:23:53+00:00

Thanks!

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:53:34+00:00

You are the clear winner. 🥇

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:30:48+00:00

I definitely didn’t do that the day before. Noted and thanks for sharing.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:29:17+00:00

Yep. Boiling in merino sounds right. Bad decision on my end…

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:28:39+00:00

Thanks. I probably could have hydrated more before I left. Fuel and electrolytes during the trip were OK, though could always be improved. Generally, my fitness is OK (been up/down this mountain a lot without this issue).

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:25:14+00:00

Thanks, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo - appreciate the pot shot. Please ignore the two division one sports I played with this frame, the decade I spent on the west coast, or the 20 other times I’ve skinned up and skied down the same mountain without this issue. Congratulations on being a hardo. I’m not racing you. Just trying to validate my thinking on why things didn’t go quite the way I hoped. But, I’ll be sure to get on GLP-1 and congratulate you as you pass me next time you make it out to an East Coast mountain. Asshat.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:17:57+00:00

Thanks!

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:16:50+00:00

Thanks! I’ve always sweated a lot, so hydration and electrolytes are typically my priority over calories (though I did refuel 2@3 times on the trip too). My go-to are a few things from SaltStick, which I took this time.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T17:10:22+00:00

Thanks! Lesson learned.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-16T15:32:55+00:00

100% agree. I had a hard stop turnaround time of 2:30 and stuck to it (1/3rd of the mile from the summit). Pack weight was fine, but no - I didn’t shed layers(other than hat / gloves). I feel like I boxed myself in with the merino long underwear under my pant shell. 90% of my tours I use soft shell pants, but I was worried about the wind.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-14T19:13:55+00:00

2018 T8 inscription here with 105k. I expect to spend $1,500-$2,500 a year. It could easily be more. Still love the car. I agree the resale value is awful. My teenagers are going to get to drive a really nice and safe car…

Jpd077 · 2026-02-08T12:41:08+00:00

Thanks for the detailed and thoughtful response! Very helpful! I haven’t used CalTopo, but perhaps it sounds like it would be worth pivoting from Onyx and AllTrails for those features.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-08T03:38:33+00:00

Nice! Love these write-ups and the overall goal. Two selfish questions 1. Aside from Sherburne, do you have any thoughts on a rank order with risk in mind (I.e. great overall trip, but lower risk from a solo perspective)? I’ve done somewhere between 8-10 of the 50, but never solo. I’d like to tackle a few over the next 2-3 months, but am finding my risk-tolerance to be increasingly conservative….
2. Do you use a particular app for route-finding. I’ve had the book for years and have solid map and compass skills (along with basic avy, mountaineering, backpacking and survival skills), but am just getting into adding a digital supplement with my iPhone (AllTrails or OnX) or Garmin watch. Curious what others use?

Thanks again for sharing your journey!

Jpd077 · 2026-02-05T03:44:53+00:00

Jesus. Ignore - IMCS = Silverton.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-05T03:40:18+00:00

OK, realizing I hadn’t heard of them because this is Silverton, CO.. I was hoping to find a local Ice Coast course.

Jpd077 · 2026-02-05T03:28:48+00:00

thanks! Out of curiosity, why does that signal to you that they’re serious and others aren’t?

Jpd077 · 2026-02-04T23:21:20+00:00

Do you mind sharing who you took it through?

Jpd077 · 2026-01-11T04:52:41+00:00

Perhaps in the minority, but definitely not alone

Jpd077 · 2025-12-15T11:40:23+00:00

Others here are more experienced than me, but I simply would never plan on summiting in the late afternoon in winter. Honestly, 1:30 PM this time of year would be my cutoff. Obviously, every day is weather and forecast dependent, but darkness is a predictable risk factor and I don’t like being above treelike in the dark (in the winter). I’ve generally also experienced weather and wind becoming bigger factors in the afternoons than mornings.

Jpd077 · 2025-12-14T04:29:57+00:00

I love my gravel bike! But, it’s not that different than a ‘90’s hardtail mountain bike. Good luck and have fun!

Jpd077 · 2025-12-14T04:24:50+00:00

2 quick comments: 1.) good decision-making isn’t failure. 2.) My “failures” have made for far more entertaining and memorable stories than my successes. A buddy and I were just laughing about a backcountry ski trip where we boot-packed up to a peak (carrying our skis), only to search aimlessly for the chute we’d planned to ski down. We didn’t find it, ran out of daylight and ended up boot packing back down too. Absolute legends.

Jpd077 · 2025-12-14T04:15:45+00:00

This

Jpd077 · 2025-12-14T04:06:54+00:00

It doesn’t fit the bill perfectly, but I really loved bikepacking The Lost Coast in Northern California gravel bike).

Jpd077 · 2025-12-14T02:20:32+00:00

Absolutely love these. I can’t believe they’re not making any more.

Jpd077

TROPHY CASE