Posted February 14th, 2024 @ The Newport Daily Express, VT
Mount Mansfield, at 4,395 feet, is Vermont’s highest peak. The apex of the Green Mountain chain. A seemingly small peak, when set aside from the grandeur of mountains found throughout the world’s many mountain ranges, Mansfield though, with its endless complex terrain and an unrelenting climate of its own, never fails to disappoint when it comes to adventure. A perfect training ground for those bigger mountains to come, and it just so happens to be one of the best places in Vermont to see the sunrise.
4:45 at the trailhead – 6:45 just shy of the summit, sheltered by the ridge from bitterly cold winds, Caleb Kessler and I layered up as we waited for first light. The two of us had just ascended the 2,800 feet from base to summit. A race to drop in on our skis the moment that light rose above the horizon.
Clear, cold winter mornings are known for their “alpenglow”, or a flood of warm pink light that lasts just minutes. As a backcountry skier, making turns in that light is second to few other activities. With a glow already in the air, and still 15 minutes to go, the morning was shaping up to be a memorable one.
Caleb, of Fayston, VT, is no stranger to adventure. We have been on countless missions together, including our 2022 Alaska ski expedition, where we spent 14 days living on a glacier. Over the last five years, he’s become one of my closest friends and go-to partners for any adventure.
Back on top of Mansfield, all was going as planned until – during our transition to descend, a part of Caleb’s ski binding had fallen off his ski! Something the two of us had seen before. Luckily, after a quick assessment and with the aid of a screwdriver, it ended up being a simple but time-consuming fix. Thankfully, we each had one as part of our repair kits.
The repair served as a gentle reminder as to why we come prepared in the mountains. As a group, we’re always equipped with emergency gear and the knowledge required to use it effectively. Most notably, this includes avalanche rescue gear, first aid/trauma kit, repair kit, rescue sled/tarp, emergency bivy sack, extra layers, food/water, and satellite communication. In any case, help is often many hours or more away. Self-sufficiency is critical.
We may have missed our window to ski under that true alpenglow light, but it wasn’t long after we were dropping in making turns.
While, as a skier, the recent lack of snowfall has been far from ideal, it has afforded me the time to plan what’s next. A shift in objectives for the spring and a big ski mountaineering mission in the Pacific Northwest is in the works. More on that to come in the next one.
Caleb Kessler dropping in off the summit of Mansfield
Adam and Caleb near the top of Mansfield