Jeanne and I drove south on Rte 93 back toward Massachusetts and Jeanne's home. She sat in the back with her left leg suspended on the seat beside her wrapped in an uncomfortable, Velcro laden, knee brace. Her knee throbbed with pain despite the ice and the ibuprofen.
We had started this trip meeting at the first rest area in New Hampshire. Three cars loaded with nine people and gear bound for an overnight cross country ski trip into Zealand Hut. For several of us, this was our 26th or 27th (we always forget) event since 1981 when we skied in and out in a single day for our first trip. For several others, it was their first trip and their first time on cross country skis.
Though the website said there was 70 inches at Zealand, I was disappointed at the lack of snow in southern New Hampshire. Brown ground streaked the countryside as we zipped by at 70mph. Turning onto route 302 always brings a different weather pattern. The gaps in the snow vanished becoming fields of white dotted with trees and brush.
We parked at Zealand Parking lot across from Zealand Road. A flurry of activity attempting to get the right gear on to keep warm but not too much gear to get sweaty. Mittens were put on but then that was too warm so gloves were put on. The food was distributed, packs were thrown on backs and we were off. We skidded and slid to the bridge where we took our skis off and looked dejectedly on the plowed and icy, paved road headed up the hill. Normally, this is ski-able.
We posed for a picture and someone made a crack that the camera only took a picture of our feet ... and the trip was on! :-). Kenny looked around at the beards on ALL of the males and quipped "How'd I miss the memo?"
Most of us hiked the 3 or so miles up the road. Some attempted to ski. It didn't matter. We were together and enjoying each others' company.
Kenny almost got it. A shaka pose.
Matt and Krista skiing along parts of the road that was passable.
At the trail head, we broke for lunch as is our tradition. Food always seems to taste better on one of these trips. I think we get it in our heads that it might be our last meal and our taste buds want to savor every bite.
Below, Krista looks sharp in a down vest her father wore for the first time for the 1982 trip. Yes, I must have been tiny to fit into that thing way back when!
Below, the wizened ones prepare for heading up the trail. The snow was deep and it looked challenging with all the ups and downs. A few of us teased Dave and Dave about their age on this trip. Whether by agreement or by coincidence, they scooted out rather rapidly showing all of us that skiing skill is faster than youth and energy! I'll stick with the "youth and energy" crowd.
With equipment adjusted and backpacks back on, we headed up the hills. Some ran up these hills stomping their skis into the snow. Others used a herringbone technique while still other sidestepped. I did some of each and eventually my knee got the better of me and I took the skis off for some of the steeper uphill climbs. Without the experience of skiing up the road, a lot of folks struggled up these difficult hills.
The ascent decreased and we found ourselves enjoying the skiing more and more ... at least those that I met along the trail said they did. Dave and Dave were well ahead of everyone still proving the point that skill and age beats youth and energy. :-)
The views were fantastic. I took a lot of pictures proving that I prefer the role of photographer over achieving the fastest time up to Zealand Hut. Dave and Dave must have some pictures someplace. Did they even stop to smell the roses?
The third Dave demonstrates the depth of snow. The signpost below him was almost buried. It was pretty warm and there was little wind. Most could ski without hats, gloves or coats.
Matt and Kenny continued in their youthful exuberance in attempting to catch Dave and Dave. They skied right by the turn to Zealand Hut and got to Whitewall Mountain before realizing their mistake and turning back around. So, Dave and Dave were the fastest up to Zealand Hut but Matt and Kenny skied the most distance. This would be akin to running a 4 hour marathon and saying you beat the 2 hour marathon winner because you ran another 50 yards at the end of the race ... ok, that's a cheap shot on my part but hey ... it's my blog. Let them take pictures and write a blog!
Below, Dave Horton, Tucker Cleary and I caught up with Kenny Cleary and Matt Cleary at the turn for Zealand Hut.
Kenny and Matt got volunteered for water duty which involved taking several pots out to Zealand Falls and scooping up water for drinking, dinner, washing dishes etc. These guys were great as they got water several times.
I must say that our group of folks are the most sharing and caring people around. 'nuff said.
Dinner was great. Tortellinis with cheese, green and red bell peppers, garlic, in a pesto sauce. For those non-vegitarians, we added garlic and butter saute'd shrimp. Somebody cracked open the wine (4 bottles) and several of us imbibed.
As usual, the rest of the hut was envious. But we didn't stop there. We had Jeanne's phenomenal carrot cake complete with candles for me (3/5), Jeanne (3/7), and Kenny (3/8). We played cribbage and I'm sure Dave and Dave must have won. It was my birthday and I truly enjoyed it. We shared our food with others to lighten the load for the next day.
The sky was crystal clear and bright. the sun burned our retinas during the above picture. We basked in the 35+ temperatures. I reminded myself that the week before I was complaining that it was cold in Hawaii because of the 68 degree temperatures.
In the picture above, we chose to cross Zealand Pond. When I got halfway across, a brief wind whipped up reminding me why I don't like crossing Zealand Pond.
Skiing out was fantastic. It was fast and those hills we struggled up and hated on the previous day were now pushing us and helping us rapidly becoming our best friends. I'm sure each of us had our moments of thrill and adventure.
Personally, I'd taken a number of dives. Even so, I finally felt good and in control cruising down a long stretch right before the left turn at the river. Overconfident, I pushed extra hard with my poles loosing one to a burried stump and putting me on one ski. I overcompensated onto the other ski and headed for a faceplant. Then, I buried my ski into a snowbank which flipped me through the air and landed (thankfully) on my backpack. I then spun around and skidded like an upside-down turtle spinning and slamming my legs and skies into the snow. Bam! (For a moment, I thought that maybe I was a green turtle in MarioKart)
Dave Horton was behind me and given that he was a rookie and probably lacked control (who was I to talk??), I was seriously concerned about getting run over! I tried in vain to get up. I tried also to get my skis off. They wouldn't unbuckle. I yelled out to let Dave know that I was down and smack dab in the center of the trail. Next thing I know, Dave skis up behind me under complete control. "Hi John," he said with that Dave Horton smile. Mr. Horton, that is the last time I underestimate YOU!
I still couldn't get my skis off and still couldn't get upright. Suddenly, we hear Jeanne proclaim something about a "sweet ride!" followed by a thud and "Oh! Johnny! I broke my f&$%ing knee!"
David Horton has never moved so fast. I've checked the archives, he has never moved so fast. Out of his skis and up the trail he went. I got out of my backpack and was then able to get out of my skis and followed him up the hill.
There she was gripping her bent left leg. My lovely sister was somehow holding it together. She was angry and hurt but holding it together. Dave headed up hill to put up crossed ski poles so no one would ski down and run her over. Tucker skied down behind her. We assessed her condition, got her some ibuprofen and considered our options. She was in too much pain to carry her out by ourselves. I sent Tucker forward to catch the others and to call 911. He flew off down the hill. If he skied that fast on the previous day, Dave and Dave would have been far behind him!
Several snowshoers stopped by to offer help in one way or another and most were very kind as we waited. One special couple gave us their emergency "space blanket" which we put under Jeanne. Another gave her a scarf (I can't remember why). Matthew skied up to help and let us know that 911 had been called. We put my sleeping bag and Krista's sleeping bag around Jeanne to keep her warm.
The skiing was so tough that Matt had bent one of his poles. We broke it and using some duct tape created a splint to try to get some of the pressure off her knee. (See picture below). We all made jokes about Grampa Cleary and his "ditty bag" and why the hell was he in Florida when he was needed here??
Only Jeanne can say how she was feeling but from outward appearances, she was managing the pain extremely well. As we waited for help, we tried to keep her amused and the jokes and humor bounced around from Matt to David to me. An EMT named Jeremy arrived. He had run the mile from the road to our location. A genuinely great guy, he examined Jeanne carefully and decided that getting her out would require a sled. After a while we were all getting cold and we sent Matt and David on their way. If there had been a way of us carrying Jeanne out then it would have been useful to have Matt and Dave around but they were just standing there getting cold. Besides, their jokes were getting stale. I stayed behind because my jokes were still fresh! (ahh the joy of being the one to write the blog!)
The crew of volunteer firefighters from two different towns lumbered up the hill to Jeanne. For a while folks seemed to just mill about trying to figure out the best way to get her into the sled. "It's going to be a tough ride as there are some difficult bumps in the trail down there," one guy said as I remembered the trouble we had had coming up the previous day. "Bumps," of course was a classic New England understatement.
Jeanne thanked them profusely and expressed extreme embarrassment over and over again.
Loaded up in the sled, they tethered Jeanne to the backs of two strong young guys in front and another in the back and they dragged her down the hill. When they got to the "bumps," all twelve of them took turns and lifted her gently and carried her through thigh-deep snow sometimes falling in creeks and catching their shins on rocks and tree stumps.
Jeanne got to the hospital where she was treated very well. They X-rayed her there and found no broken bones. Examination revealed a best guess that she had ripped, torn or broken her MCL and perhaps her ACL. In addition, she might have also torn her meniscus. Jeanne and I both missed Truant's Tavern and hoped that the rest of the crew enjoyed their dinner there. We ended up eating a drive through Burger King meal that would never come close to Truant's Tavern.
I've thought about how to end this blog for the last 7 days. Jeanne is now walking around with a new brace on her leg that allows her to use only one crutch. She is adjusting her work schedule and making her way up and down the 3 flights of stairs at her office (no elevator). In addition, Nathan is helping about the house and her friends have gathered around her to help her day-to-day. She's met with a sports medicine orthoblahblahblah doctor and is scheduled for an MRI in a week or so.
Of all the pictures taken of the trip, the one below is my favorite. We all sit, bright and cheery, awaiting our future and attempting to keep our eyes open (despite the brilliant sunshine) for the possibilities of the day's adventures and we certainly had a grand adventure!
The crew from 2010 ... top row: Jeanne Cleary, David Richburg, Matt Cleary, Krista Cleary, David Cleary, and David Horton
Bottom row: Kenneth John Cleary, Tucker Cleary, and John Cleary
This crew was also known as "3 Daves and a bunch of Clearys."
Ok, actually, the picture below is my favorite picture ...
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