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Bethlehem, New Hampshire, United States
E-mail contact: randonneur8@yahoo.com | Facebook: facebook.com/1HappyHikerNH

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28 July 2014

Mt. Eisenhower: Taking Some Snapshots With My $97 Dollar Camera

As most readers of my blog already know, Mt. Eisenhower is one of the New Hampshire mountains that qualifies for inclusion on what I'll call the "NH48" list.  For anyone who might be unfamiliar with this list, it includes the 48 mountains in New Hampshire that rise at least 4,000 ft above sea level and meet the prominence criterion of rising 200 feet above any ridge connecting it to a higher neighbor. (Click HERE for more information about prominence).  Besides the mountains on the NH48 list, there are several other NH peaks (such as Mt. Hight in the Carter Range) that rise above 4,000 ft, but are excluded for failure to meet the prominence criterion.

It's now been over a decade since I moved to the beautiful White Mountain Region of NH, and had the good fortune of finding a home located within an hour's drive of nearly all of the major trailheads, including those for the NH48 peaks.

During my first few years of living in this magnificent part of the country, I frequently hiked to the NH48 peaks.   However, my nature is such that I easily become bored with doing the "same old, same old".  And so, I turned my attention to bushwhacking, and other hiking adventures that were new to me.  Nevertheless, I still enjoy occasional excursions to the high peaks, especially if it's to one that I haven't visited in a number of years.

When recently looking over my hiking log, I noticed that it had been over 5 years since I last hiked to Mt. Eisenhower (4,780 ft).  Although the weather looked a bit "iffy", I decided to go for it anyway.  My 7-mile (round-trip) route of travel would be a simple "out and back" hike using the Edmands Path, plus an additional little loop at the top of the mountain by using a combination of the Mt. Eisenhower Loop Trail and Crawford Path (see map below).
Map showing my route (click to enlarge)
Now, please allow me to explain why the title of my report contains a curious mention of the camera that I purchased several years ago for $97 dollars, brand new!

My only reasons for taking snapshots are to document my hiking adventures, and to share them with others via this blog and Facebook.  I have no lofty aspirations of becoming a bone fide photographer, or entering my pictures into contests, etc.  I have experimented with using several "high-end" cameras, and decided that I'm willing to forego the advantages of a larger and more technical camera.   I prefer the simplicity and convenience of a small "point and shoot" camera that easily slips in my pants pocket.  And so, that's the story of why I ended up using a $97 dollar Casio EX-H5 camera!  It has taken thousands of pictures, and it's still going strong after many years of use!

Here are a few simple snapshots taken with my little $97 dollar gadget during my recent trek to Mt. Eisenhower.
The Edmands Path lives up to its reputation of being the most moderate grade and best footing of any comparable trail in the Presidential Range.  This pathway is the result of the fine work done in 1909 by the master trail builder named J. Rayner Edmands.
Upon reaching this familiar sign, there was little need for concern on this particular day, even though the sky had darkened, and the wind was strong and gusty.
Although Mt. Eisenhower's summit was sunlit, the northern sky over Mt. Washington and beyond was dark and threatening.
The sky was less threatening, but very hazy, when looking southward toward Mt. Pierce and the Crawford Notch.
While descending the south side of the Mt. Eisenhower Loop Trail, I glanced over my shoulder to look northward.  Yup!  The sky still looked threatening in that direction!
While hiking along the Crawford Path, I continued to see the dark clouds wax and wane in the northern sky.
Just before beginning my descent back down the Edmands Path to the trailhead, I snapped a photo of Mt. Eisenhower's summit dome.  High above it, I could see several birds (think they were ravens) enjoying a ride on the thermals!
To sum it up, this was overall a very enjoyable hike.  Moreover, despite the gusty winds and threatening clouds, it never rained, and there was no thunder or lightening!

~ THE END ~

24 July 2014

Several Days of Hiking in Moosehead Lake Region near Greenville, ME

In mid-July 2014, I spent several hiking in the Moosehead Lake Region near Greenville, Maine.  It was my first visit to this extraordinarily beautiful area and I enjoyed it immensely.

For any reader who might be unfamiliar with the Moosehead Lake Region of Maine, it's really "out there" in terms of being in a rather remote location (see map below).
Map showing location of Moosehead Lake Region (click to enlarge)
By surface area, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in the State of Maine, and is the largest mountain lake east of the Mississippi contained within one State.  It is over 40 miles long, and is 20 miles wide in some places.  It's also worth noting that Henry David Thoreau explored the region with Indian guides in the mid-1800's. His famous novel, "The Maine Woods", is a collection of his hand-written accounts of the time that he spent in this area.

In terms of hiking, there are at least twenty fabulous treks that can be done using Greenville, ME as your home base (click HERE for a list).  I merely scratched the surface by doing only five hikes during my 3-day visit.

One of my more enjoyable adventures was to Mt. Kineo.  The most direct and most practical way to reach the trailhead is via a ferry from Rockwood, Maine.  It's a marvelous hike that I've been wanting to do it for years!

Other hikes included a trek to Big Moose Mountain which offers tremendous views of the Moosehead Lake Region.  I also hiked to two waterfalls, i.e. Little Wilson Falls, and Moxie Falls.  And in addition, a short trek was done to Elephant Mountain to visit the 1963 crash site of a USAF Boeing B-52C Stratofortress bomber.

I hope to return to the Moosehead Lake Region (possibly this year) to do some more hiking.  However for some of the adventures that I have in mind, extra time will need to be allocated just for getting to the trailhead.  For many of the hikes in certain parts of Maine, getting to the trailhead can be a challenge unto itself!  Here in the White Mountain Region of New Hampshire where I live, you can drive to nearly all of the major trailheads on paved roads.  It's sort of like pulling into a McDonald's drive thru!   Whereas in Maine, the journey to a trailhead can involve many, many miles of travel on unmarked gravel roads using "fly by the seat of your pants" navigation!

MT. KINEO:

This mountain is an impressive sight, with an almost sheer cliff that rises more than 700 feet above the surface of Moosehead Lake.  The hike to the 1,789 ft summit is just over 4 miles round-trip if you take the most common route of ascending via the Indian Trail and descending via the Bridle Trail.  It's a fabulous hike, and has the unique aspect of a trailhead that is reached via a ferry from Rockwood, Maine.  It's about a 10 minute ride, and costs $10 round-trip.  (Click HERE for more information about Mt. Kineo.)

Posted on an information kiosk at the ferry dock is an aerial photo of Mt. Kineo, as well as a trail map.
Aerial photo of Mt. Kineo that is posted at the ferry dock kiosk
Trail map for Mt. Kineo posted at the ferry dock. I ascended via the Indian Trail, and descended via the Bridal Trail.  (For any return visit, I'll likely ascend via the Indian Trail and then do a long loop by taking the North Trail to the Carriage Trail.)
Snapshot taken of Mt. Kineo during my ferry ride to the trailhead
Snapshot taken of Little Spencer and Big Spencer during my ferry ride to the trailhead (hope to hike to one or both of these mountains on some future trip to the Moosehead Lake Region)
Photo taken while hiking to the western end of Mt. Kineo to begin ascent via the Indian Trail.
The starting point for the Indian Trail at the western end of Mt. Kineo
One of many picturesque views available from Indian Trail during ascent to top of Mt. Kineo
One of many striking views from the top of Mt. Kineo

BIG MOOSE MOUNTAIN:

The hike to this 3,196 ft mountain is about 6 miles round-trip.  Big Moose offers tremendous views of the Moosehead Lake Region.  However, on the day of my hike, the views were somewhat diminished by a persistent haze.

Big Moose was formerly named Big Squaw Mountain, and from 1963 to 2011, it was home to an alpine ski center known as Squaw Mountain. (You can read more about this former ski area by clicking HERE.) 
This composite photo contains an old post card that promoted skiing at Squaw Mountain, plus a photo I took from a location on Big Moose that provided a view similar to the post card image. 
As previously indicated, conditions were hazy on the day of my visit to Big Moose.  This photo was my clearest shot.
As the crow flies, Mt. Kineo is about 15 miles north of Big Moose Mountain.  Despite the haze, I was able to see Mt. Kineo where I had hiked the day before.  This composite photo shows an un-zoomed view of Mt. Kineo (top) and a zoomed image (bottom). 
Besides the expansive vistas, there are a couple of other items of interest at the top of Big Moose, such as the footings of what is said to be the first fire tower in the U.S.  It was built in 1905.
Near the old fire tower footings is modern day communication equipment, along with a helipad used for bringing supplies to this facility.
About midway between the trailhead and the summit there is an abandoned Ranger's cabin.

LITTLE WILSON FALLS:

This waterfall is located along the Appalachian Trail in Elliotsville Township, Maine.   Reportedly, it has about a 40 ft drop.  However, I could SAFELY only photograph the upper portion.  The remaining portion was hidden from my vantage point as it dropped into a deep and narrow gorge.
Little Wilson Falls

MOXIE FALLS:

This 90 ft drop waterfall is very impressive!  It's a bit touristy, despite being located in a rather remote spot of Maine called The Forks Plantation.  I found it interesting that in Maine, a "plantation" is a type of minor civil division falling between township and town.   There are 34 locations in Maine that are legally organized as plantations, and nearly all are in sparsely populated areas.
Moxie Falls

B-52 BOMBER CRASH SITE ON ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN:

On 24-January-1963, a USAF Boeing B-52C Stratofortress lost its vertical stabilizer due to buffeting stresses caused by turbulence during low altitude training maneuvers.  It crashed on Elephant Mountain about 6 miles from Greenville, ME.   The pilot and the navigator were the only survivors of the nine-member crew. (Click HERE for more information about this crash.)
Composite photo showing one of several informational placards, as well as a photo I took of one of the many pieces of wreckage scattered over a wide area of the mountain.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Before ending this report, here is just one other tidbit of information that I found interesting about this region.  Moosehead Lake is the source of the Kennebec River which is the most formidable un-bridged crossing along the entire 2,185-mile Appalachian Trail.  Under the best of circumstances, the Kennebec River crossing is approximately 70 yards wide with a powerful current.  At no cost to hikers, there is a ferry service at the point where the Appalachian Trail crosses the Kennebec.

~ THE END ~

03 July 2014

My First Hike to Mt. Mansfield: Vermont's Tallest Mountain

INTRODUCTION:

Recently, I spent a few days hiking to various locations near Stowe, VT.  One of my many adventures included a hike to Mt. Mansfield.  It is one of the numerous peaks in the Green Mountains which form the spine of Vermont by running south to north through much of the State.  Standing at 4,393 ft above sea level, Mt. Mansfield is the highest mountain in VT.

Especially when viewed from the east, Mt. Mansfield's summit ridgeline resembles the profile of an elongated human face.  The facial features have been named as follows (from south to north): Forehead (3,940'); Nose (4,062'); Chin (4,393', highest point); Adams Apple (4,060').  These features are labeled on the following photo which was taken from Stowe Pinnacle on the day following my trek to Mt. Mansfield.
Labeled "facial features" of Mt. Mansfield's ridgeline
For about 2.3 miles (from the Forehead to the Adams Apple) the ridgeline is almost entirely above treeline.  It's the longest stretch of alpine zone in Vermont.  And actually, Mt. Mansfield is one of only three spots in the State where true alpine tundra survives from the Ice Ages.  Camel's Hump and Mount Abraham are the other two.

Mt. Mansfield is used for various recreational and commercial purposes.  Located on "The Nose" are transmitter towers for a number of regional radio and TV stations. There are several hiking trails on this mountain, including the Long Trail, which traverses the main ridgeline. The east flank of the mountain is used by the Stowe Mountain Resort for alpine skiing.  And, there is a toll road which enables you to drive from the Stowe Base Lodge to "The Nose".  The road is steep, mostly unpaved, and has several hairpin turns.

MY HIKE:

As indicated in the title of this report, this was the first time I'd ever hiked to Mt. Mansfield.  My route of travel consisted of a loop of about 6.5 miles which included a traverse of Mt. Mansfield's ridge from "The Nose" to "The Chin", plus a short side trip to Adams Apple.  The loop involved the Haselton Trail and the Long Trail (northbound) to Rt. 108, then a 0.5 mile road walk back to my starting point.
The route of my loop hike is highlighted in yellow (click to enlarge)
The Haselton Trail provides a lot of diversity.  It ascends steadily through an attractive forest with numerous crossings of small streams.  At the upper end of the trail, it joins the Nose Dive ski trail for a short distance before eventually intersecting the Auto Road which is used to hike the remaining 0.5 mile to "The Nose".

From "The Nose", the Long Trail can be followed either north or south.  For my loop, I used the northbound segment of the trail to hike along Mt. Mansfield's ridgeline.  The portion of the Long Trail between "The Nose" and "Adams Apple" is simply stunning!  For readers who are familiar with New Hampshire hiking, it is comparable to trekking along the Franconia Ridge.

Although the Long Trail itself doesn't go over "Adams Apple", it's definitely worthwhile to take the 0.1 mile spur trail that will lead you there.

Before showing some photos taken during my hike, here are some brief thoughts about the loop that I did.  Without going into excruciating detail, I feel that a strong case could be made for doing this loop either clockwise or counterclockwise.  Personally, I'm very content with having done it clockwise.  If for no other reason, I enjoyed the more pristine view while hiking northbound along the ridge.  If hiking southbound,  the transmitter towers on "The Nose" would be visible for much of the time and would mar the view (at least for me it would).

Shown below are some snapshots taken during my Mt. Mansfield loop hike.  If you're interested in seeing photos from 5 other hikes that I did while in the Stowe area, they are contained in a separate report (click HERE). 
Most of the Haselton Trail is a wooded corridor.  This photo shows a segment known as the Knife's Edge.
A portion of Mt. Mansfield ridgeline as viewed from upper end of Haselton Trail. Seen in the distance are the Cliff House and "The Chin".
Smuggler's Notch as viewed from upper end of Haselton Trail
Looking west from the portion of the Long Trail that runs along Mt. Mansfield's ridgeline. Through the haze on distant horizon, can just barely make out Lake Champlain.  There are very faint outlines of Adirondack peaks beyond the lake.
Looking southward down the Mt. Mansfield ridgeline toward "The Nose" which has been pierced with antennae jewelry!
Nearing final climb to "The Chin"
"The Chin" is a favorite hang-out spot for hikers!
Peering over edge of "The Chin" before starting steep descent toward "Adams Apple". VT also has a body of water named Lake of the Clouds. It's seen just left of center.  At far right is "Adams Apple" with its large patches of exposed rock on top.
Photo was taken early into the steep descent from "The Chin", before the real action began!
A particularly challenging spot along the Long Trail between "The Chin" and "Adams Apple". It's probably about an 8 ft vertical drop, but there are enough hand/foot holds to negotiate it with care. (Photo taken from base of this 'chimney-like' formation after having slithered down it!)
Looking back at "The Chin" from "Adams Apple" before beginning the long and wooded descent to Rt. 108
And to sum it up, it's worthy to mention that Steve Smith has posted a terrific narrative and photos about a trek that he and his wife Carol did from "The Nose" to "The Chin" about 2-weeks prior to my trek.  I would encourage you to check out his report by clicking HERE.

~ THE END ~

01 July 2014

Five Hikes in the area of Stowe, VT

Recently, I spent a few delightful days of hiking in the area of Stowe, VT.  My longest trek was a 6.5 mile loop hike over Mt. Mansfield, which is the tallest mountain in Vermont.  That adventure will be the topic of a future blog posting.  This particular report provides a few snapshots and brief descriptions of five other hikes that were done in this very picturesque region of Vermont.

1) Spruce Peak

Spruce Peak is located on the east side of Smugglers Notch, almost directly across from Mt. Mansfield.  There is a terrific ledge just a few hundred feet off the summit of Spruce Peak.  If you were to look at a trail map for the area, you would see that Spruce Peak can be accessed via a somewhat roundabout route off the Long Trail, or off the Sterling Pond Trail.  However, there is another route that is more direct, and perhaps lesser known, as described below.

You can walk up the top of the mountain via the service road (a.k.a. Sterling Trail) at the Spruce Peak Ski area.  As you're headed north on Rt. 108, make a right at the main entrance to Stowe Mountain Resort.  Continue onward and after a short distance, turn right onto Big Spruce Road.  Where this paved road turns to gravel, there is a large parking lot on the right.  Park here and then walk up the gravel roadway to the left of the Mt. Mansfield Ski and Snowboard Clubhouse.  After about 10 minutes of walking, you will pass under the Sensation ski lift.  Follow signage for the Sterling Trail all the way to the Spruce Summit Hut, which is located near the top of the mountain.  Continue walking uphill beyond the hut.  You'll soon see a connector trail off to the right which leads to the Long Trail.  Continue walking uphill and soon you will see two other pathways leading off to the right.  I don't know where they go, but you want the third pathway on the right.  On the day I was there, a cairn was located near the entrance to this path.  After walking this path for a very short distance, you will arrive at a large flat ledge with extraordinary views.

This route is about 3 miles (round-trip) with an elevation gain of about 1,600 ft.  It took me just slightly over 2 hours to do the entire hike.

View from ledge on Spruce Peak looking SW.  Some of more notable peaks visible include (left to right): Camels Hump; Bolton Mtn; the 'Nose' on Mt. Mansfield
This view from ledge on Spruce Peak is looking westward at Mt. Mansfield's ridgeline with the Forehead, Nose, Chin and Adams Apple visible
Seen nearly dead center in this zoomed photo is the ledge atop Spruce Peak.  It was taken from the Haselton Trail when doing my loop hike over Mt. Mansfield

2) Stowe Pinnacle

There are two trailheads for the hike to Stowe Pinnacle.  Rather than using the somewhat more traditional trailhead on Upper Hollow Road, I used the Pinnacle Meadows Trailhead on Upper Pinnacle Road.  This allows you to more easily incorporate the Pinnacle Meadows viewpoint into your trek up to Stowe Pinnacle.

Apparently this is a very popular hike.  At the top, nearly every square inch of real estate was occupied by fellow hikers!  And just as a side-note, this is my second foray into the Worcester Range.  A few years ago I hiked to Mt. Hunger, and it too was a terrific adventure!

The route I used for the trek to Stowe Pinnacle was about 3.0 miles round-trip, and took about 1.5 hours.
Shown here is the vista from Pinnacle Meadow.  Just left of center is the long ridgeline of Mt. Mansfield, and to its right are peaks in the Sterling Range (Spruce Peak; Madonna Peak; Sterling/Whiteface Mountain).
Lighting conditions on this particular day were less than ideal for taking photos.  Nonetheless, there are nice views of notable mountain peaks such as Camels Hump and Mt. Ethan Allen, as seen in this snapshot.
As mentioned above, lighting conditions were less than ideal.  However, Stowe Pinnacle is an ideal spot for viewing the anatomy of the 'face' on Mt. Mansfield.  (Facial features are labeled on this photo).
Map showing two routes to Stowe Pinnacle

3) Moss Glen Falls

This is a very short, but scenic, hike to a spectacular waterfall.  Although the trail isn't well marked, it is well-traveled and easy to follow.

To get to Moss Glen Falls head north from the center of Stowe on Rt. 100.  After about 3.0 miles, turn right onto Randolph Road.  Almost immediately, turn right again onto Moss Glen Falls Road and drive about 0.5 mile to the trailhead on the left.   Round trip, the hike is less than a mile, and it can easily be done within 30 to 40 minutes.
Moss Glen Falls
4) Bingham Falls

Bingham Falls isn't as dramatic as Moss Glen Falls.  However, it's a worthy destination, especially if you're staying in the Stowe area and/or if you plan to travel through Smugglers Notch.  The trailhead on Rt. 108 is located just a few tenths of a mile south of the Smugglers Notch State Park Campground.  There are obvious pull-offs for parking on both sides of the road.  However, the trailhead sign isn't visible from the highway.  The trail begins on the west side of the road.  It runs downhill to the top of a gorge where you can see potholes in the brook bed that were carved out by glaciers.  The trail then descends steeply to the base of the falls via a flight of stone stairs.

Round trip, this hike is about 0.6 mile, and it can easily be done within a half hour.
Bingham Falls
 
Potholes in the brook bed that were carved out by glaciers
5) Sunset Rock

The most direct way to access Sunset Rock is to find legal parking somewhere in the village of Stowe, and then walk to the end of Sunset Street and make a short, but steep ascent to Sunset Rock.  However, I opted to drive to the trailhead parking lot on Taber Hill Road and then do an out and back hike that included the Upper Overlook, as well as the vista from Sunset Rock.   Be advised that to access Sunset Rock via this route, the trail descends a few hundred feet, and you then need to climb back up to return to the trailhead parking lot.

The route that I followed is about a mile (round trip), and can be done within about 30 minutes.
View from Sunset Rock showing church steeple in Stowe, VT.  At upper right is Mt. Mansfield's "Forehead" and "Nose" looming on the horizon.
Map showing routes to Sunset Rock



~ THE END ~