Another option for you to consider in the current conditions... From the summit head down Upper Fox's Folly. Follow the mellow groomed trail (some narrow sections) until you get to the top of Warren's Way (it's closed to the public so there's going to be a rope there.) Here you have two options. Go right onto Deer Run, or left will bring you to Upper Bear Den. This left option brings you over to Upper Willoughby just above Lower Bear Den. The trails from here down tend to be well groomed and are wide.

You'll find the most forgiving conditions in the first couple hours after opening.

Near the end of Deer Run you can do the last moderately steep pitch of Big Dipper, it transitions from slightly steep to wide and mellow, then dumps you out at the Bear Den/Mid-Burke lodge area.

As mentioned above, Deer Run is best after grooming, which has not been possible yet this year.

They don't do the "any retailer" anymore, you need to go to them directly. But still, Darn Tough is a great brand and certainly worthy of support.

Get yourself a mattress heater. They don't use a lot of electricity. IMO, it's the best bang for the buck when it comes to staying warm when it's cold. Far better than an old school electric blanket.

I use 5 gallon buckets with screw on lids. That keeps the odor and bugs at bay.. We generate 1 to 1.5 of these buckets every week and take them to the dump every 2-3 weeks. They are pretty gross to clean out after dumping, but it's not unbearable

The law is a state law, so that's consistent regardless of where you are, but with little enforcement how people do it it's going to vary a lot. The law went into effect July 2020.

If you are a backyard composter, you are allowed to throw meat and bones into the garbage. But otherwise everything else should be going to the compost.

Edit: typos

Morrisville has good breweries and a great donut shop.

Walking the notch road can be fun. It's windy af the though. Dress warm.

What's the problem? I think it's like you said earlier, they probably haven't ever cut their own wood and they are just trying to find cracks in your logic because it doesn't fit their beliefs.

I do it all myself, like you. I enjoy the process and take value from it, like a rewarding hobby. But yes, the equipment costs are real and need to be included. I think they're often underestimated. I buy two saw chains each year, a bar every couple, and a new saw about every ten. E0 saw fuel, 2 stroke oil, bar and chain oil add up. Splitter fuel, hydraulic oil, etc. It all adds up.

And yes, things do wear out and break even when the operator does everything right. The person who only breaks stuff when they do something wrong is probably doing lots of stuff wrongly.

But if the OP was simply asking about the cost/btu of cordwood vs propane, I think buying wood is cheaper.