H
HikerBob
Guest
Karen had been having a few knee problems since the epic Isolation hike last summer and finally did a real number on it on the 'nearly Moriah' hike on the last day of winter. The continued balling up of snow under the snowshoe crampon adding extra stress being the feather that broke the camels back. Doctors advice was to rest it and give it time to heal. This she did, but it meant missing out on a lot of trips and she was keen to get back into the mountains.
The plan was to make a few short after work hikes on the Holyoke Range to test out the knee. Well, we did get one in before this weekend. None of my remaining 4ks seemed on the cards so I suggested we do something different and get her back in the mountains. Nothing too strenuous and with the provisos we turn around at the first sign of any problems. What would fit the bill?
Well, I'd raved about the falls on the Falling Waters trail so we decided on that. The falls could be had for not too much effort and if things were going well we could push on for Little Haystack and grand views. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
With the long hours of daylight, a perfect weather forecast and no grand plans we left late (4am) and arrived at the trail head a little after 7am. Had a great chat with some folks off to do the Kinsmans and doing a car spot, hope your trip went well, then hit the trail at 7:45am.
Plenty of dandelion but not much of anything else until after the crossing of Dry Brook. The crossing was an easy hop but there was plenty of water running so the falls promised to be good. Started seeing a few Painted Trillium but not nearly as many as on previous hikes.
I noticed that the Hobblebush was starting to shed the petals of the large outer flowers, dropping them as a complete flower. very odd. They were so profuse in one spot I could not resist the temptation so gathered up a bunch and left a small VFTT trail side message
Stairs Falls was as beautiful as I remember, especially with the sun streaming down through the trees to back light the spray. Next came Swiftwater falls and they were being very swift! My attempts at capturing the surging water gave Karen plenty of time to rest the knee. The knee was doing well so we pushed on.
As one can imagine we were being caught up to and overtaken by a steady stream of other hikers. Most all of whom were as happy as us to be out on such a beautiful day in such wonderful surroundings. However, there was also a couple of guys who had apparently had humourectomies and just seemed annoyed that other people were out there getting in the way. Their loss.
Pressing on we next arrived at Cloudland Falls, just wonderful. The day was really heating up but the rushing water created a natural air conditioning and the cool rush of air from the water was much appreciated.
Cloudland falls is the last of the major cascades but there was still plenty of water to keep us amused for a while longer. Karen said her knee was doing fine and she was game to press on to Little Haystack. Leaving the water behind we noticed how much hotter the air felt as we tramped up through the woods and the many switchbacks. At one hairpin turn the trail once again neared the rushing water and with a cooling breeze and the sound of the water we decided this would be a good spot for a snack.
We pushed on, up and up and up. At the Shining Rock spur trail we once again had a short break. I decided we'd pass on the slight detour to save a little energy and time. The spur is also a sign that treeline and the summit are not much further.
We saw our first remnants of ice and snow at about 4,000ft and there was a solitary stretch of trailpack of a few yards in one spot. Snowshoes and crampons are no longer required for this trek. The diminishing stature of the trees and then the 'Welcome to the Alpine Zone' sign told us we were nearing our goal. Time to apply the sun block! Partial views back to Cannon and the Kinsmans were a little hazy but cloud free.
After popping out of the trees to glorious uninterrupted views it is a short hop to the summit of Little Haystack itself. A 4,000 footer that isn't, not having the requisite 200ft col between itself and Lincoln. Them's are the rules.
Liberty and Flume presented their usual somber silhouetted appearance to the south while one could almost feel the heat bouncing back off the cliffs on Cannon. Owl's head sweltered in the Pemi while the Bonds and Twins sat as a backdrop. And then there was Lincoln and the ridge line. I asked Karen how her knee was doing and did she want to extend the trip to maybe hit a true 4k for her efforts. She said her knee was in great shape and she was game.
We headed out along the ridge, stopping part way along for another snack. As we headed on again there was a terrific roar from an airplane and I looked up to see it dropping what appeared to be anti-missile flares. very strange. I can only assume it was some kind of training thing, but why over the White Mountains?
Lincoln looks a lot closer, and a lot easier to reach than it is in reality but despite the sweltering heat we soon found ourselves on the summit, Karen's #12 4k. Decision time. Push on or head back? Lincoln is pretty much the half way point on the loop. It's still quite an effort to summit Lafayette but from there on pretty much all downhill, and the hut would make a good rest stop and provide more civilized bathroom facilities and allow us to supplement our water supply.
Once again I left the decision to Karen. She said her knee was doing really good and let's go for it! We had grand, if a little hot, weather. Plenty of daylight and sufficient fluids and food. Off we went.
We took our time and any time Karen was out in front I reminded her to keep the pace slow. A little over an hour later we were on the summit of Lafayette in the company of many hikers and a far greater number of bugs! 4k #13 for Karen!
After a short rest we started down the twisting, rocky descent to the hut. I would not like to have to navigate this in winter in bad weather. A few of the fluffy white clouds started to darken up and we even felt one or two drops of rain, but not thunder and no downpours.
The hut was doing a roaring trade. My joking request for the chicken tika masala was lost on the croo who had all arrived after last weekends Gourmet feast. We did run into one of the croo as we descended the agonies who was bringing up supplies and had been at the hut last weekend and she said 'The VFTT crowd was awesome!'
I stocked up with a little more water and Karen used the facilities and then we headed down. The OBP was a lot rockier and steeper than I remembered and the descent was slow and deliberate. once again I reminded Karen to make full use of her poles and to take it easy, we had plenty of time.
We finally ran out into the more leisurely woods walk back to the junction with the Falling Waters trail and out to the trail head. At almost 11 hours for the loop I don't think we broke any records, but it is a grand day out and we took our time and enjoyed the scenery. More importantly Karen's knee held out over the whole trip and I pronounced it mended! She had been worried that she would not be fit for my final 4k on Garfield. After this trip, she has nothing to worry about!
Pics are up starting HERE
Bob
The plan was to make a few short after work hikes on the Holyoke Range to test out the knee. Well, we did get one in before this weekend. None of my remaining 4ks seemed on the cards so I suggested we do something different and get her back in the mountains. Nothing too strenuous and with the provisos we turn around at the first sign of any problems. What would fit the bill?
Well, I'd raved about the falls on the Falling Waters trail so we decided on that. The falls could be had for not too much effort and if things were going well we could push on for Little Haystack and grand views. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
With the long hours of daylight, a perfect weather forecast and no grand plans we left late (4am) and arrived at the trail head a little after 7am. Had a great chat with some folks off to do the Kinsmans and doing a car spot, hope your trip went well, then hit the trail at 7:45am.
Plenty of dandelion but not much of anything else until after the crossing of Dry Brook. The crossing was an easy hop but there was plenty of water running so the falls promised to be good. Started seeing a few Painted Trillium but not nearly as many as on previous hikes.
I noticed that the Hobblebush was starting to shed the petals of the large outer flowers, dropping them as a complete flower. very odd. They were so profuse in one spot I could not resist the temptation so gathered up a bunch and left a small VFTT trail side message
Stairs Falls was as beautiful as I remember, especially with the sun streaming down through the trees to back light the spray. Next came Swiftwater falls and they were being very swift! My attempts at capturing the surging water gave Karen plenty of time to rest the knee. The knee was doing well so we pushed on.
As one can imagine we were being caught up to and overtaken by a steady stream of other hikers. Most all of whom were as happy as us to be out on such a beautiful day in such wonderful surroundings. However, there was also a couple of guys who had apparently had humourectomies and just seemed annoyed that other people were out there getting in the way. Their loss.
Pressing on we next arrived at Cloudland Falls, just wonderful. The day was really heating up but the rushing water created a natural air conditioning and the cool rush of air from the water was much appreciated.
Cloudland falls is the last of the major cascades but there was still plenty of water to keep us amused for a while longer. Karen said her knee was doing fine and she was game to press on to Little Haystack. Leaving the water behind we noticed how much hotter the air felt as we tramped up through the woods and the many switchbacks. At one hairpin turn the trail once again neared the rushing water and with a cooling breeze and the sound of the water we decided this would be a good spot for a snack.
We pushed on, up and up and up. At the Shining Rock spur trail we once again had a short break. I decided we'd pass on the slight detour to save a little energy and time. The spur is also a sign that treeline and the summit are not much further.
We saw our first remnants of ice and snow at about 4,000ft and there was a solitary stretch of trailpack of a few yards in one spot. Snowshoes and crampons are no longer required for this trek. The diminishing stature of the trees and then the 'Welcome to the Alpine Zone' sign told us we were nearing our goal. Time to apply the sun block! Partial views back to Cannon and the Kinsmans were a little hazy but cloud free.
After popping out of the trees to glorious uninterrupted views it is a short hop to the summit of Little Haystack itself. A 4,000 footer that isn't, not having the requisite 200ft col between itself and Lincoln. Them's are the rules.
Liberty and Flume presented their usual somber silhouetted appearance to the south while one could almost feel the heat bouncing back off the cliffs on Cannon. Owl's head sweltered in the Pemi while the Bonds and Twins sat as a backdrop. And then there was Lincoln and the ridge line. I asked Karen how her knee was doing and did she want to extend the trip to maybe hit a true 4k for her efforts. She said her knee was in great shape and she was game.
We headed out along the ridge, stopping part way along for another snack. As we headed on again there was a terrific roar from an airplane and I looked up to see it dropping what appeared to be anti-missile flares. very strange. I can only assume it was some kind of training thing, but why over the White Mountains?
Lincoln looks a lot closer, and a lot easier to reach than it is in reality but despite the sweltering heat we soon found ourselves on the summit, Karen's #12 4k. Decision time. Push on or head back? Lincoln is pretty much the half way point on the loop. It's still quite an effort to summit Lafayette but from there on pretty much all downhill, and the hut would make a good rest stop and provide more civilized bathroom facilities and allow us to supplement our water supply.
Once again I left the decision to Karen. She said her knee was doing really good and let's go for it! We had grand, if a little hot, weather. Plenty of daylight and sufficient fluids and food. Off we went.
We took our time and any time Karen was out in front I reminded her to keep the pace slow. A little over an hour later we were on the summit of Lafayette in the company of many hikers and a far greater number of bugs! 4k #13 for Karen!
After a short rest we started down the twisting, rocky descent to the hut. I would not like to have to navigate this in winter in bad weather. A few of the fluffy white clouds started to darken up and we even felt one or two drops of rain, but not thunder and no downpours.
The hut was doing a roaring trade. My joking request for the chicken tika masala was lost on the croo who had all arrived after last weekends Gourmet feast. We did run into one of the croo as we descended the agonies who was bringing up supplies and had been at the hut last weekend and she said 'The VFTT crowd was awesome!'
I stocked up with a little more water and Karen used the facilities and then we headed down. The OBP was a lot rockier and steeper than I remembered and the descent was slow and deliberate. once again I reminded Karen to make full use of her poles and to take it easy, we had plenty of time.
We finally ran out into the more leisurely woods walk back to the junction with the Falling Waters trail and out to the trail head. At almost 11 hours for the loop I don't think we broke any records, but it is a grand day out and we took our time and enjoyed the scenery. More importantly Karen's knee held out over the whole trip and I pronounced it mended! She had been worried that she would not be fit for my final 4k on Garfield. After this trip, she has nothing to worry about!
Pics are up starting HERE
Bob
Last edited:
![Grand Teton Day Hikes and National Park Map [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DB0jvRnbL._SL500_.jpg)
![Grand Canyon, North and South Rims [Grand Canyon National Park] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/419Y-ycyVUL._SL500_.jpg)
![Yellowstone National Park [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kGuJ72qjL._SL500_.jpg)
