AT 2021 - Sampler - White Mountains NH
Oct 23, 2021 6:47:28 GMT -8
GaliWalker, paula53, and 2 more like this
Post by Westy on Oct 23, 2021 6:47:28 GMT -8
Game plan for 2021 was to finish the CDT in early August. Depart East Glacier Park, MT by Amtrak for South Station, Boston, Massachusetts. Then hike the northern most 300+ miles of the AT to Katahdin. A highlight included hiking hut to hut in the Presidential Range, White Mountains, NH. Finished the CDT on Friday, August 13th.
The Mountain Pine Motel in East Glacier Park. Excellent post-hike accommodations.
My CDT completion date coincided with the annual Heart Butte Blackfeet event. The consequences were a four day ban on alcoholic beverages. The town of East Glacier Park, MT is within Blackfeet Nation. Thus my celebration dinner at Glacier Park Lodge featured a Huckleberry Mint Mocktail.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!
Amazing how the trail works! Met Lucy in East Glacier Park. Like me she was filling in the blanks and finishing the CDT. Flashback to CDT, New Mexico 2018. Joined Lucy and her friend Joyce for 3-4 trail days. Joyce slipped at a stream crossing and injured her arm. We encountered USFS rangers in a vehicle on a forest service road. Lucy and Joyce left the trail to seek medical attention. Lucy has been section hiking the CDT since then.
All Aboard! Switching trains in Chicago opened a window of opportunity to quench my thirst.
Travel by train to Boston, MA from East Glacier, MT was extraordinarily relaxing. Duration was two and a half-days.
Chicago
Where it all started, Hale Brook Trail to Mount Hale (4,055').
Transportation courtesy of my sister. Made a vow if I ever hiked the Appalachian Trail, my start and finish point would neither be Springer Mountain, GA nor Katahdin, ME. It would be at the Hale Brook Trail in the memory of my good friend, Mr. Kevin Leonard. It was here that Kevin took me on my first White Mountain 4,000 footer hike 50 years ago. I have been hiking ever since.
Summit Mount Hale (4,055’).
Note the remains of the former fire lookout. I remember the life changing view of fifty years ago sweeping across the breadth of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Though today blocked by new trees, I can recall the view vividly in my mind today and everyday.
Connecting with the AT at mile 1840.0.
Whitewall Slide and Zealand Mountain (4,260’).
Trailhead
This trail surprised me! A difficult 5.7 miles to Mizpah Hut. Sustained steepness, 100% humidity and several dozen short scrambling sections.
Schneider was here
White Mountain trails are meticulously updated and maintained.
Rock Steps
Present day hikers owe a debt of gratitude to those who constructed these trails.
Well marked trail junctions
Alpine Bog
Mizpah Hut
Mizpah Hut, the newest of the AMC huts completed in 1964 and my accommodations for the evening.
Ladder steps on trail for soil protection
Fir Wave
As older trees are pushed down by high winds, sunlight reaches the forest floor providing open areas for new trees to grow. Natures way of maintaining forest.
Planet Krummholz
Krummholz is the short, windblown fir trees found at the transition to the alpine zone. BTW: Terrific wind barriers.
Overnight moisture produced fast moving, early morning clouds
Pretty in Pink and Full Moon
A fun couple from Las Vegas, NV on their AT thru-hike. Enjoyed their company at dinner in the huts.
Alpine Zone
The fragile alpine zone includes plants native to the Arctic like this Reindeer Lichen and Mountain Cranberry.
Crawford Path
On the Crawford Path (AT) looking back at Mount Monroe (5,384’).
Summit buildings on Mount Washington (6,388’).
Total awesomeness hiking back home
The Great Gulf and Northern Presidentials. L-R Mount Jefferson (5,723’), Mount Adams (5,774’), Mount Monroe (5,367’). The Great Gulf is a complex glacial cirque believed to have been formed prior to the most recent Ice Age.
Cog Railway
Taking passengers to the Mount Washington summit since 1869.
An AT lesson learned
Totally awesome day with fine weather and clear skies. Dilly dallied my way to the Madison Hut. Almost missed dinner. Was way, way in the groove. It was one of the best hiking days I could imagine.
I wondered why all the AT hikers were in such a hurry to the hut. The Presidential Traverse is an AT highlight. Miles for the day are relatively short, 10-15. Weather was great. Why the hurry?
Sorted and sussed out this AT cultural peculiarity as it applies to all shelters, tent platforms and hostels. Welcome to the AT NOBO Bubble. The closest thing I can compare it to is the parking lot at Walmart, where customers are circling around to collect the closest parking spot to the entrance. It's the same on the AT, if you want the best spot in the hut, shelter, platform, or hostel better put your foot on the gas. Adds a tactical first come, first serve element. In my mind.....what's the fun in that?
Wildcat
Great Gulf in foreground, note the Mount Washington Auto Road and Wildcat ski trails. Will be hiking Wildcat and Carter-Moriah Ridge (left) next.
Thunderstorm Junction
Thunderstorm Junction, a five-way intersection of Lowe’s Path, Gulfside Trail and Great Gully Trail just below summit of Mount Adams.
Descending Madison
Osgood Ridge, a splendid route off Mount Monroe (5,367’).
Typical White Mountain brook.
Old Jackson Road
Old Jackson Road is now a designated ski trail the leads to Pinkham Notch and the Joe Dodge Lodge.
CONTINUED BELOW
The Mountain Pine Motel in East Glacier Park. Excellent post-hike accommodations.
My CDT completion date coincided with the annual Heart Butte Blackfeet event. The consequences were a four day ban on alcoholic beverages. The town of East Glacier Park, MT is within Blackfeet Nation. Thus my celebration dinner at Glacier Park Lodge featured a Huckleberry Mint Mocktail.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!
Amazing how the trail works! Met Lucy in East Glacier Park. Like me she was filling in the blanks and finishing the CDT. Flashback to CDT, New Mexico 2018. Joined Lucy and her friend Joyce for 3-4 trail days. Joyce slipped at a stream crossing and injured her arm. We encountered USFS rangers in a vehicle on a forest service road. Lucy and Joyce left the trail to seek medical attention. Lucy has been section hiking the CDT since then.
All Aboard! Switching trains in Chicago opened a window of opportunity to quench my thirst.
Travel by train to Boston, MA from East Glacier, MT was extraordinarily relaxing. Duration was two and a half-days.
Chicago
Where it all started, Hale Brook Trail to Mount Hale (4,055').
Transportation courtesy of my sister. Made a vow if I ever hiked the Appalachian Trail, my start and finish point would neither be Springer Mountain, GA nor Katahdin, ME. It would be at the Hale Brook Trail in the memory of my good friend, Mr. Kevin Leonard. It was here that Kevin took me on my first White Mountain 4,000 footer hike 50 years ago. I have been hiking ever since.
Summit Mount Hale (4,055’).
Note the remains of the former fire lookout. I remember the life changing view of fifty years ago sweeping across the breadth of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Though today blocked by new trees, I can recall the view vividly in my mind today and everyday.
Connecting with the AT at mile 1840.0.
Whitewall Slide and Zealand Mountain (4,260’).
Trailhead
This trail surprised me! A difficult 5.7 miles to Mizpah Hut. Sustained steepness, 100% humidity and several dozen short scrambling sections.
Schneider was here
White Mountain trails are meticulously updated and maintained.
Rock Steps
Present day hikers owe a debt of gratitude to those who constructed these trails.
Well marked trail junctions
Alpine Bog
Mizpah Hut
Mizpah Hut, the newest of the AMC huts completed in 1964 and my accommodations for the evening.
Ladder steps on trail for soil protection
Fir Wave
As older trees are pushed down by high winds, sunlight reaches the forest floor providing open areas for new trees to grow. Natures way of maintaining forest.
Planet Krummholz
Krummholz is the short, windblown fir trees found at the transition to the alpine zone. BTW: Terrific wind barriers.
Overnight moisture produced fast moving, early morning clouds
Pretty in Pink and Full Moon
A fun couple from Las Vegas, NV on their AT thru-hike. Enjoyed their company at dinner in the huts.
Alpine Zone
The fragile alpine zone includes plants native to the Arctic like this Reindeer Lichen and Mountain Cranberry.
Crawford Path
On the Crawford Path (AT) looking back at Mount Monroe (5,384’).
Summit buildings on Mount Washington (6,388’).
Total awesomeness hiking back home
The Great Gulf and Northern Presidentials. L-R Mount Jefferson (5,723’), Mount Adams (5,774’), Mount Monroe (5,367’). The Great Gulf is a complex glacial cirque believed to have been formed prior to the most recent Ice Age.
Cog Railway
Taking passengers to the Mount Washington summit since 1869.
An AT lesson learned
Totally awesome day with fine weather and clear skies. Dilly dallied my way to the Madison Hut. Almost missed dinner. Was way, way in the groove. It was one of the best hiking days I could imagine.
I wondered why all the AT hikers were in such a hurry to the hut. The Presidential Traverse is an AT highlight. Miles for the day are relatively short, 10-15. Weather was great. Why the hurry?
Sorted and sussed out this AT cultural peculiarity as it applies to all shelters, tent platforms and hostels. Welcome to the AT NOBO Bubble. The closest thing I can compare it to is the parking lot at Walmart, where customers are circling around to collect the closest parking spot to the entrance. It's the same on the AT, if you want the best spot in the hut, shelter, platform, or hostel better put your foot on the gas. Adds a tactical first come, first serve element. In my mind.....what's the fun in that?
Wildcat
Great Gulf in foreground, note the Mount Washington Auto Road and Wildcat ski trails. Will be hiking Wildcat and Carter-Moriah Ridge (left) next.
Thunderstorm Junction
Thunderstorm Junction, a five-way intersection of Lowe’s Path, Gulfside Trail and Great Gully Trail just below summit of Mount Adams.
Descending Madison
Osgood Ridge, a splendid route off Mount Monroe (5,367’).
Typical White Mountain brook.
Old Jackson Road
Old Jackson Road is now a designated ski trail the leads to Pinkham Notch and the Joe Dodge Lodge.
CONTINUED BELOW
