An Autumn Hodgepodge!

Mary Anne Evans (1819-1880) is better known by her pen name of George Eliot.  She was an English novelist and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. According to her, she used a male pen name to ensure that her works be taken seriously.  Thankfully, times have changed!

Here is one of George Eliot's quotes which I very much like: "Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

And so, with that rather lengthy introduction, presented below is a hodgepodge of snapshots taken as I've scurried from one place to the next in an attempt to soak in as much of the "delicious autumn" season as possible.

The first set of snapshots were taken during a short bushwhack sojourn along the Saco River just a bit WSW of the Arethusa Falls trailhead.  (Please bear in mind that any of the photos can be ENLARGED by clicking on them.)

Looking northward toward Mt. Monroe in the Presidential Range

Looking northwesterly toward Frankenstein Cliffs

Looking southward down the Saco River

The next two snapshots were taken from the roadside just a few steps from my car.  I know, it's sort of like "cheating"!

View from Rt. 115 overlooking Pondicherry toward the Pilot Range and other high peaks in northern NH

View of northern Presidentials from Waumbek Golf Course in Jefferson, NH

Unlike the two photos above, the next snapshot was earned by doing a short bushwhack to a ledge on Bickford Mountain.  The Cannon Mountain Ski Area and I-93 highway are easily recognizable.

Late in the day, I hiked to Mt. Agassiz.  Although this mountain is on private land, the property owner graciously allows hikers on his land.

The snapshot shown below was taken from atop Mt. Agassiz looking in the direction of the Franconia Notch.

The next snapshot was taken at a beaver pond which is about  10 minute walk from my home.

This last photo was taken from a recent bushwhack adventure to Bald Cap Peak in the Shelburne, NH area.  It was taken from a very steep ledge (portion of it seen on left of photo) looking toward Mt. Ingalls, Bear Mountain and other peaks in the southern Mahoosucs.

(Click HERE for a blog report and more photos from the bushwhack to Bald Cap Peak.)

To sum it up, I very much admire and enjoy seeing the work of skilled photographers who capture truly beautiful images of autumn.  Those works of art far exceed my small attempts.  Nonetheless, I still  take pleasure in photographing my personal memories of this "delicious" season which seems to flash by in the wink of an eye. 

Hiking Adventure to the Cliffs on Bald Cap Peak (a "Cliffs Notes" version)

As indicated in the title of this Blog, this will just be a "Cliffs Notes" version of a trek to the huge cliffs on the south end of Bald Cap Peak which is located in the Shelburne, NH area.  Within a few days, a much more detailed version of this adventure will be presented in Steve Smith's blog (Click HERE to link to his blog.)

Before embarking on this bushwhack adventure, Steve and I took some snapshots of our target from the ledges atop Middle Mountain. (Please bear in mind that any of the photos can be ENLARGED by clicking on them.)

Shown below is a wide view of the ledges.

The next photo is a zoomed close-up view of the ledges.

Many decades ago, there was a conventional hiking trail to the cliffs on Bald Cap Peak.   Steve and I feel fairly certain that some segments of our route retraced the pathway of that old trail which was abandoned long ago.   There were remnants of a trail corridor here and there, and we spotted an occasional cairn, such as shown in the next photo.

Old Cairn

As would be expected, our climb to the top was sometimes steep.  And at times, it involved some crawling (next photo).

A few tricky maneuvers were involved just before reaching the top of the cliffs.   The next photo shows Steve making one of those maneuvers.

From these cliff tops there is a very "airy" feeling!  However, the top is spacious and flat-enough so that there is never a feeling that you might fall over the edge.  But obviously, caution must still be used when moving around.

I'll limit my snapshots to what I consider as the more dramatic views from the top of the cliffs.  One such view is the vista looking eastward over the Androscoggin River valley with Middle Mountain in the immediate foreground.  The next snapshot shows Steve taking a photo of this panorama.  Circled in red are the ledges on Middle Mountain where we stood earlier in the day to take snapshots of the cliffs.  It's fun to look back on where you've been!

The next photo is similar to the one shown above.  It's just a wider view.

The other view that I consider as rather dramatic is the view toward the high peaks in the northern Presidential Range.  The next snapshot shows the "Presidential view" from one of the lower cliffs on the way to the uppermost cliffs.

For our descent, we opted to take a different route.  In large part, this was done just to do something different rather than merely retrace the same route used for the ascent.  We headed off the cliffs in a westerly direction to intersect the Peabody Brook Trail.   We had hopes of possibly coming across another set of ledges on the southwesterly corner of Bald Cap Peak.  However, we ended up being slightly off-course to access those particular ledges.  But, we still managed to get a few views here and there as we descended.  Shown below is one such view which is looking toward the Presidential Range, and is similar to the view we had earlier in the day from the main cliffs on Bald Cap Peak.

To sum it up, it was a beautiful sunny day for a simply terrific bushwhack adventure.   It was one of those times when the expression "Life is good!" leaps immediately to mind.

A Panorama from Potash Mountain, Plus a Peek from a Precipice!

Many readers will likely recall the opening lines to a song from a children's TV show called Sesame Street: "Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away . . ."!  That same theme was very much in evidence on 19-Sep-2011.  It was such a beautiful sunny day!  To take full advantage of these marvelous conditions, I did two hikes.  First, I did an on-trail trek to Potash Mountain.  Then on my way home, I bushwhacked to a precipice on the north side of Table Mountain.

To reach the trailhead for the Mt. Potash Trail on Rt. 112 (Kancamagus Highway), I drove down Rt. 302 to link up with Bear Notch Rd.  This was made possible by the excellent and expeditious job done by the NH DOT in repairing the severe damage to Rt. 302 that was caused by Hurricane Irene.

Following the hurricane, there has been only occasional light rain, and therefore the brooks are now running at normal levels for this time of year.  I mention this because crossing Downes Brook on the Mt. Potash Trail can be problematic at times of high water.  On the day of my hike, there were no issues.  Shown below is a snapshot of scenic Downes Brook, and as can be seen, the water level was quite low.

Potash Mountain only rises to an elevation of 2,700 feet, and the one-way hiking distance is only 2.2 miles.  However, this little mountain provides some remarkable panoramic views.  This hike was done too early in the season to experience the peak of autumn colors.  However, there were definite signs that the full blast of autumn coloration is fast approaching.  The next photo shows a few autumn colors scattered here and there.

The beginning stages of autumn can also be seen in the next two photos.  The first snapshot features some autumn colors in the vicinity of Mt. Passaconaway.  The second photo shows hints of coloration on the slopes leading up to the Tripyramids seen on the horizon.

I love the views of Mt. Chocorua that are present at many points en route to the top of the mountain.  The next photo shows a distant vista, plus a closer view of the bare rock summit of this iconic New Hampshire peak.

At the top of Potash Mountain there are so many impressive views that it makes it difficult to chose a single favorite.   However, one of my favorites is definitely the view of the mountains comprising the Carrigain Notch, as seen in the next photo.  Green's Cliff (prominent in the foreground of this photo) is situated such that the notch itself cannot be seen in its entirety.  But that's okay.  The rocky cliffs of Green's Cliff are also a pretty spectacular view!

Another view that ranks high among my favorites is the vista of Church Pond near the base of Mt. Tremont and Owls Cliff with the Presidential Range on the horizon (photo below).

I spent well over an hour atop Potash Mountain.  The temperature and the breeze were very mild, and the sun was brightly shining.  What else can one ask for?! 

The hike back down the mountain was leisurely and pleasant.  There was still plenty of time left in the day to do my planned bushwhack along a tributary to Louisville Brook in order to reach a rocky precipice located at about 2,200 ft.  elevation on to the north side of Table Mountain.  I had actually been there once before in early June of this year.  (Click HERE for the details of that adventure.)

My reason for wanting to do a repeat trek to this spot is that my view of some of the higher peaks was somewhat obstructed during my visit in June.  With the viewing conditions being nearly ideal on this particular day, it seemed like a great opportunity for a return visit.   Besides, it's a quick and easy journey that can be done in about 1.5 hours round-trip.

The next photo shows the view that was partially obstructed on my previous visit, but not this time!   I am happy that I went back for a second look!  This vista includes the Crawford Notch on the left side of the picture, and culminates with the Presidential Range on the right side.

The next photo shows the ledge/cliff from which the previous photo was taken.  Quite a steep drop!

And lastly, shown below is a map which provides a general idea as to the location of my bushwhack destination.

To sum it up, it is good to remember that big things can oftentimes come in small packages.   From my perspective, I had a BIG payoff, even though it was only a small hike up to Potash Mountain, and just a short bushwhack to the precipice on Table Mountain.

Oh! And if you are interested in knowing how it might be to hike to Potash Mountain in winter conditions, then click HERE to access a report contained on Steve Smith's excellent Blog.

Trekking to the East Side of Bald Cap Peak (Just Another Curiosity Thing)

Have you ever had one of those "curiosity things" that won't leave you alone?  You know, one of those things that nags at you to the point where you simply must do something about it!  Well, the trek that I did on 17-Sep-2011 was to satisfy a curiosity that I developed as a result of a trek that I did in April of this year (click HERE for a link to that Blog report.)

One component of my April trek was to visit an unnamed ledge on the eastern end of Bald Cap Peak in the Mahoosucs.   To visit this ledge, I launched a bushwhack from the Dryad Fall Trail.  It's a bit of an exaggeration, but when standing on that ledge, it seemed like I could almost reach out and touch Middle Mountain.  Therefore, it seemed to me that it simply must be a short and easy bushwhack to reach this ledge from Middle Mountain!

After having been abandoned for many years, the Shelburne Trails Club has masterfully restored the trail to Middle Mountain.  Thanks to this trail restoration, within an hour of leaving the trailhead on my September trek, I was in position to launch a bushwhack from the col between Middle Mountain and Bald Cap Peak.  And, in less than another hour, I was standing atop the unnamed ledge on the eastern end of Bald Cap Peak.   My curiosity was satisfied!  It was indeed a short and easy bushwhack to reach this unnamed ledge from Middle Mountain.

As an aftermath to my earlier trek in April, I did have one other curiosity that had been nagging at me, but to a much lesser degree.  In the short distance between the unnamed ledge and the Dryad Fall Trail, I had noticed what appeared to be a trail corridor.  However, I didn't have time to explore it.  A subsequent check of an older map (as seen below) showed a trail running nearly parallel to the Dryad Fall Trail.  Why there would have been two parallel trails in such close proximity, I have no idea!  Perhaps someone reading this Blog will offer an explanation.
(Clicking on the map will enlarge it.)

During my September trip, I decided to check out this old trail since I had the time and was already in the "neighborhood".  The old corridor is heavily overgrown in spots.  Nonetheless, it was still easy to follow.  After about a half-hour, I opted to abort my journey along this abandoned trail since it was becoming very boggy.  It was great fun, but there was no payoff in terms of views, etc.  However, now that I know the trail can be easily followed, it might provide a gateway to other adventures.  The wheels are turning! :-)

Regarding photos from this September "curiosity" trek, there is not a lot to show.  I can say that the unnamed ledge on the eastern end of Bald Cap Peak does provide a nice view toward the Presidential Range (see photo below).

The only other view of possible interest is shown below in the photo collage of the upper and lower portions of Dryad Fall.

In regard to my overall route, the map below gives a rough idea.  I did not run a GPS track.
(Clicking on the map will enlarge it.)

To sum it up, for me this was a fun and interesting adventure.  However, I can fully appreciate that something such as this would have limited appeal to many folks.   Also, it can be said that like so many things in life, one thing builds on another.  To my mind, this bushwhack opens up some possibilities for other adventures and loop-hike combinations.

A Legal Loop Hike into the Dry River Wilderness

Legal, you might ask? The use of that word in the title refers to the U.S. Forest Service recent closure of the Dry River Trail due to major washouts and bridge damage caused by Hurricane Irene in August 2011. Hikers can still legally hike in the Dry River Wilderness via several trails that remain open for folks to enjoy the beauties of this remote region. Two of these trails are the Mt. Eisenhower Trail, and the Dry River Cutoff.

On 13-Sep-2011, I did a trek of about 10.5 miles. It involved the two aforementioned trails plus a number of other trails. My route is shown on the map below. (The map, and other images in this report, can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The first leg of my journey was on the well-maintained Edmands Path. This is such a picturesque and pleasant pathway to the southern Presidential Range.

Two Scenes along Edmands Path

My route took me within a few tenths of a mile from the top of Mt. Eisenhower, however I bypassed the summit side-trip. I've been there on several occasions, both summer and winter. I opted to stay focused on the main purpose of this venture which was to hike on two trails that were totally new to me, i.e. Mt. Eisenhower Trail, and Dry River Cutoff.

While travelling the ridgeline to access the Mt. Eisenhower Trail, there was a nice view southward.  Of course, the dominate feature in this scene is Mt. Eisenhower.

Southward View Toward Mt. Eisenhower

When looking northward up the ridgeline, the vista was not quite as clear as it was to the south.

Northward View Toward Mt. Washington

After my short trek along the treeless ridgeline, I soon arrived at the junction for the Mt. Eisenhower Trail. The signposts on the ridge take some punishment from the harsh weather conditions that often exit here!

Weathered Signs

At this trail junction I took a snapshot looking southward over the Dry River Wilderness. This would be the area where I'd be hiking for the better part of the day.

Southward View over the Dry River Wilderness

After taking the photo shown above, I began my first-time hike on the Mt. Eisenhower Trail. In less than 5 minutes, I went from an above tree-line experience to a total immersion into the wooded environment of the Dry River Wilderness. Photographs generally seem to be an inadequate means of capturing the beauty and splendor of places such as this.  It's something that you need to personally experience to gain a true appreciation.  And to have this appreciation, you must be able to take delight in even the smallest works of nature, such as a lowly mushroom sprouting from the forest floor!

I hiked the Mt. Eisenhower Trail down to point where it crosses the Dry River. The water level was low enough such that I could have easily crossed the river and linked up with the Dry River Trail. As tempting as it was, I opted to stay "legal" by obeying the Forest Service mandate about closure of the Dry River Trail.

Dry River at Crossing Point for Mt. Eisenhower Trail

The next leg of my trek took me along the entire length of the Dry River Cutoff Trail, as well as a short segment of the Mt. Clinton Trail.  Once again, this was just a pleasant walk in the woods where one can take delight in the simple beauties of the forest. There are no sweeping vistas from ledges or mountaintops.

There are a two of items of possible interest relative to my travels along the Dry River Cutoff and Mt. Clinton Trail (as well as the Mt. Eisenhower Trail).  For one thing, I was somewhat surprised at the amount of recent hiker traffic on these remote trails.  Although I didn't actually meet any other hikers, there were plenty of fresh boot prints seen in muddy areas along these trails.

The other item of possible interest is that none of these trails suffered any significant hurricane damage. Overall, the trails were actually in good shape. There were a few minor blowdowns scattered here and there, many of which were likely there even before the storm. Also, there was some trail erosion detected at a brook crossing on the Dry River Cutoff, and also at a brook crossing on the Mt. Clinton Trail (see photo below).

Trail Erosion on Dry River Cutoff, and on the Mt. Clinton Trail

On the Mt. Clinton Trail, not far from the Mitzpah Hut, I took a photo which shows some magnificent axe-work performed on a huge blowdown.

Nice Job of Blowdown Removal!

Once I reached the Mitzpah Hut, my adventure was basically over and done! All I had left was a downhill trek of a little over two and half miles to the Highland Center. This is where my wife had agreed to pick me up after having left me off earlier in the day at the Edmands Path trailhead. I'm most appreciative of her willingness to do this. It was only shortly out of her way to incorporate this into her work day, and it saved me a lengthy road walk between trailheads.

On my way down to the Highland Center, I did make a brief stopover at Gibbs Falls.

Gibbs Falls

To sum it up, for me this was a totally awesome adventure which was made even more special by hiking on two trails that were totally new to me! The majority of this trek was spent tramping through the woods. It's perfectly understandable that some would find this less than satisfying. Regardless, for anyone who has yet to experience the Mt. Eisenhower Trail and/or the Dry River Cutoff, please be assured that both trails provide pleasant pathways through the wilderness that are very easy to hike.

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ADDENDUM (Added 15-Sep-2011)

This addendum is being added in response to the comment posted by Ellen Snyder.

The route shown in the map below is another variation to the route that I followed.  This alternative plan has several advantages over my route.  It begins and ends at the same trailhead, PLUS it takes you over the summits of Eisenhower and Pierce.  The only minor disadvantage is that it's slightly over 2 miles longer than the route I followed.

I had seriously considered hiking the alternative route shown below.  However, since I was unable to find any recent reports for trail conditions on the Mt. Eisenhower and Dry River Cutoff, I was uncertain if I might encounter conditions that would eat into my time.  So, to give myself every advantage of completing the hike within a reasonable time frame, I opted to go with the route having the shortest distance.  It seemed to make sense at the time, but knowing what I now know, I'd go with a route such as that shown below.  

(Clicking on the map will enlarge it.) 

Hooray! It's Okay! (Mt. Tremont Trail after the Storm)

Aaahh! What a sigh of relief!  I feel so fortunate!   Just like my other adopted trails, the Mt. Tremont Trail suffered no significant damages resulting from Hurricane Irene.

Although my adopted trails came though the storm okay, many trails, roads and bridges here in New England suffered extensive damage.  One of the casualties was the bridge over the Sawyer River on U.S. Route 302.  It is currently closed for several weeks to make repairs.  That particular bridge closure had an impact on the drive to the Mt. Tremont trailhead from my home in Bethlehem.  My usual round-trip highway journey of 60-miles was transformed into a 130-mile expedition!

Normally, I can hop onto Rt. 302 in Bethlehem and drive that road directly to the trailhead. However, due to the bridge closure,  I needed to travel a rather circuitous route employing Rt. 302 eastbound, then Rts. 3, 115, 2, 16, and then Rt 302 westbound to the trailhead.

When I arrived at the trailhead, I was somewhat surprised to see other cars parked there, especially since there are numerous signs along westbound Rt. 302 indicating that the road is closed beyond Bartlett.  Regardless, during the course of my trek along the trail I met up with these other hikers.  One group was from New Hampshire, and the other from Connecticut.  They were all having a wonderful day of hiking in the Whites!

As indicated earlier in this report, the Mt. Tremont Trail suffered no significant damage from the storm.  However, a few segments of the trail did experience some erosion due to the heavy amount of water running down the trail.  In terms of fallen trees, I removed three from the trail corridor during this visit.  There are still a few downed trees that I'll need to address on a future maintenance trip.  But, please be assured that with only a slight break in your stride, each of those remaining blowdowns can easily be stepped over or ducked under.  (That is a true statement as of the day of my visit on 09-Sep-2011.  Things can happen quickly in the forest.  Who knows when another tree might fall onto the trail corridor!)

Okay, it's time for some pictures!  I'll start with a photo of my favorite waterfall along Stony Brook on the lower end of the Mt. Tremont Trail.

Higher up on the trail, there is a nice northward vista toward the Presidential Range on the horizon, along with some other notable mountains such as Stairs Mountain, Mt. Resolution.

There were some pleasant trailside views as well.  I don't know the names of mushrooms, but whatever it's called, this particular variety is so colorful and it's one of my favorites.

Growing on the side of a tree was the rather peculiar mushroom shown in the photo below.   It's sort of unsettling when a mushroom stares back at you!

Upon reaching the top of Mt. Tremont, there were all the usual views, especially since it was such a beautifully clear day.  The series of snapshots below shows a few of these vistas.

Mt. Carrigain and Carrigain Notch

Sawyer Ponds and nearby Green's Cliff

Southerly view toward high peaks in the Sandwich Mountain Range

Highly zoomed photo of the rocky top of Mt. Chocorua

Some Extra Time:

The time spent on maintenance of the Mt. Tremont Trail was less than I had anticipated.  And so, on my way home I had time to make a brief stop at the Hall's Ledge trailhead to do a cursory check for storm-related damage.  Since the first 250 ft (or so) of this trail runs along the Ellis River, I thought there might be some trail damage due to the river having overflowed its banks.  However, it was terrific to find that this portion of the trail was totally intact!

Shown below are two photos.  The first one was obviously taken at the trailhead for Hall's Ledge.  The second snapshot shows a view from the trailhead looking toward Mt. Washington.

To sum it up, I think most Trail Adopters would agree that your adopted trails become almost like "family", and it's painful when one of them suffers some damage. Fortunately, my "family" survived the storm with only a few minor "cuts and bruises". For that, I'm very thankful.  My sympathy goes out to those adopters who were less fortunate with their trails.