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Zach McCarthy

@zmccart

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I find a lot of joy in outdoor recreation and creating opportunities for others to join, founder @inclusiveskitouring

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We went into this trip thinking we would have wet feet 98% of the time. Thankfully our feet were only wet about 70% of the time.

Every trail runner or hiker probably knows the battle: hopping around trying to avoid getting your feet wet and wasting ton of energy only to land in a boggy spot and completely soak your feet. Then you give up and just charge through the water until your socks dry enough that you decide to start hopping again. Then the cycle repeats. That's pretty much the story of the Arctic Circle Trail.

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Tag a pro who should come ski with us this winter - we’ll buy their plane ticket and host them. 🤔

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One of the unexpected challenges of the trip was finding usable tent sites. We went into it thinking a lot more of the ground would be bare and flat, but ankle high alpine vegetation was abundant. Between that and the soggy trails, it sometimes took a couple miles to find a solid campsite after deciding to stop for the evening.

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All good here

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It’s worth taking a moment to thank two super valuable partners for this trip. @hyperlite_mountain_gear supplied our packs, tents, sleeping bags, and other accessories. This whole 150km in 2.5 days experience would have been very different without their incredible lightweight gear. Amazingly, we were able to fit 4 days worth of food and gear into their aero 28 packs. @patagonia_trailrunning supplied our clothing. I’ve been working with them for years for a reason: aside from being the nicest collection of people I have met in this industry, their clothing performs at a top level, and this year specifically they have some amazing pieces that were a staple in our kit for moving 10+ hrs per day. This is all gear that simply works and we rarely gave it a second thought.

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The Arctic Circle Trail: 150km, unsupported, in remote Greenland wilderness: It had the possibility to be a miserable fastpacking trip, with trip reports warning of rain, midges, mosquitos, soaked and boggy trails, cold nights, and challenging navigation. We ended up getting a small taste of all of it, but months of preparation combined with a bit of luck led to an excellent 2.5 days on the trail, and as we ran down the mountains into Sisimiut to the howls of the town's sled dog population, it was hard not to feel like we'd just experienced something pretty special.

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I’ve been putting some time in on the trails lately. A slow process of checking off the *48* 4000 Footers of New Hampshire. I always daydream of making a singular push to complete this in a single season but fatherhood, adult life... always the equalizer. I’ll definitely squeeze my kids up while they let me right now as those mountains aren’t going anywhere. There’s magic in the miles though. Hours of nothing but my own thoughts. I find my gratitude out there and it gives me balance.
Last year @joshbogardus of @wardenco asked if I’d come on a little overnight adventure to follow the trail builders of the @appalachianmountainclub on Mount Lafayette as they restore our crown jewel trail of Franconia Ridge. I had never realized until then the absolute blood, sweat and tears these incredible humans pour into every literal inch of the trails we use. Every step of granite is hand cut, moved and leveled by hand. It’s one of the most beautiful labors of love I’ve ever seen. Thousands of miles.. all by hand.. one foot at a time. Not that the views didn’t take my heart in the first place, but witnessing this makes every step in our mountains that much more special.
Looking forward to more days out in the woods, I’ve got my eyes on you next Kinsmans.

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Great backpacking trip with the boys a few weeks back. Same time next year?

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A look back at our work with @appalachianmountainclub last summer on their Franconia Loop Trail restoration project.
#thewardenco

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February ❣️

Pardon the flurry of winter photos, I’m still coming up for air after a very busy season. And I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t yet put away my skis for summer. Theres’s a part of me still hoping for a few more turns up high.

But February! True deep cold snowy winter. I got a taste of some NH slide skiing and lots of days on Mount Washington. Most days were spent on skis and I felt so lucky. I got to visit the adks and those dear friends and make a few turns over there as well. With some especially memorable days at Otis and on Angel Slide with Coop!

February was about newness. I’m new over here in NH. New ski partners. New mountains. New ski pass. Old friends visiting new places. New loves. New friends. New risks. New skills. New fears. It’s dizzying! As someone who has spent the past 8 years living in the same place, it’s been a jolt to the system. And I don’t think I’ve given myself much grace through it all. I haven’t let myself be new. Constantly playing catch up, feeling behind. I haven’t even really let myself mourn all of those versions of myself I’ve left behind. But are we ever able to truly mourn that? More on that soon, perhaps.

But I do feel quite lucky to be welcomed in so graciously over here. I look up to so many of you! Folks shown here and folks who aren’t. Spending a day with someone in the mountains is one of the greatest gifts, truly.

And although I missed those beloved Adirondacks, there is something powerful about these mountains, and especially Agiocochook. I’m so drawn to this place, feel such deep awe for the ridgelines and gullies and rock piles.

Maybe someday I’ll be all caught up, but probably not. I don’t mind if you don’t either.

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Skiing above six thousand feet ❤️

#skitheeast #springcorn #sunnydays #mtwashington

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More winter but never enough winter

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