A Moose Shares Lonesome Lake With Us 11/9/11

[grouseking]

I had a day off on Wednesday, and so did my girlfriend. So why not take a hike in one of the white mtns most beautiful places....Lonesome Lake. This hike was perfect in many ways: the weather (50s and 60s), views, wildlife (we saw a moose!) and so on and so forth. I am a fan of hikes near water, so I chose the Basin Cascades trail up, then to Cascade Brook, to the hut, then around the lake, down the Lonesome Lake trail, and then south on a path I have yet to hike, The Pemi trail. Allright, off to the pictures...

The perfect example of a temperature inversion...it was 37 degrees in Plymouth, and...60 degrees in Franconia Notch..this is not a fake.

The Basin

Now up along the Basin Cascades trail...

Kinsman Falls

Rocky Glen Falls

Due to the bridge being out, we had to cross a bit further upstream at a narrower section.

As soon as we headed up the Cascade Brook trail, I noticed a few patches of leftover snow. Towards the hut, there were some small ice patches on the trail, but nothing overly awful. Its probably gone now, with the 50-60 degree weather they have been getting. Before long, we reached the lake, and headed over to the hut. While on the bridge, I noticed something huge ambling along across the lake along the opposite shore....a big bull moose!! The following are two of the worst moose pics you will ever see.

Crappy quality, but still...it was a sight to see. Something told me to bring my binoculars, and I was glad I did!

After the moose sighting, it was off the the main viewpoint, then after that, the hut.

Cont in a min

 

[grouseking]

paaat 2

Now at the hut, nice day for a lunch at the hut outdoors! Temp was 58, next to no wind.

Now, time to head around the lake. We were hoping to see bullwinkle, but no such luck.

Drools...

The trail is a lot easier than when I did it a few yrs back. Trail maintenance perhaps? I know this much, I didn't get my feet wet this time.

Loving the blue

Already late afternoon light...

Time to head down. I never really liked the Lonesome Lake trail to the notch, but when there aren't leaves on the trees, views over to Franconia Ridge are quite nice. Still, its a badly eroded trail, with used toilet paper everywhere! And then there was the lady who was smoking in front of us while hiking down..yeah that was fun. She complained about not being able to hike during the winter because she couldn't breathe! Hmm, I wonder why???

Back to the report....we traversed part of a new trail I have yet to hike: the Pemi trail. This led us back to the Basin parking lot, and saved an awful 2 mile slog along the paved bike trail (screw that). This was a nice section, even though we could hear the highway most of the time. There were areas where there was some flood damage, but the section of trail we hiked was all passable.

Someone is fattening up for the winter!

Attack of the killer Great Pyrenees.

I always marvel at the color of the water near the basin...its turquoise. I remember this back when I first visited the area when I was 8. I still love it to this day. Are we in the tropics? No sir, the white mtns of NH, my kind of paradise.

that's all folks!

I think I am onto something....hiking during the middle of the week. I've now seen a moose, bear, fisher cat, bald eagle, and at least 30 grouse (those don't count cause I see them so much you'd think I was related to them) since early October. Awesome, I think I finally figured it out.

Now, to all you peak baggers: Keep up the good work on weekends!

here are the rest
http://grouseking.smugmug.com/New-H...esome-Lake/20011217_sQwBWk#1577156225_VST5kPG

 

[1HappyHiker]

The following are two of the worst moose pics you will ever see.

Phil, your moose photos are NOT the worst ones that I've ever seen! Nearly all of the moose photos in my collection are much worse!!

You got an absolutely awesome photo of the Franconia Range as viewed over Lonesome Lake (your next to last photo in your "paaat" 1 series).

 

[TrishandAlex]

Nice report! Love the chipmonk photo. Looks like he's posing for the camera.

 

[forestgnome]

Nice...jealous!!!!! nice looking bull, and in such a wonderful place....thanks for posting....cute dog pic, btw

 

[Original Woody]

Love the moose shots!

 

[grouseking]

Phil, your moose photos are NOT the worst ones that I've ever seen! Nearly all of the moose photos in my collection are much worse!!

You got an absolutely awesome photo of the Franconia Range as viewed over Lonesome Lake (your next to last photo in your "paaat" 1 series).

Thanks John! That area is one of the most photogenic spots in NH, hands down. Glad you liked them.

Nice report! Love the chipmonk photo. Looks like he's posing for the camera.

Haha I wouldn't have seen it if it hadn't been for my girlfriend. He was somewhat...friendly, or maybe just bold, I don't know.

Nice...jealous!!!!! nice looking bull, and in such a wonderful place....thanks for posting....cute dog pic, btw

Thanks Patrick. I was hoping to do my best "forestgnome" impersonation but there was....a family that happened to have a 6 month old baby with them, right along the same shore as the moose. We could hear it screaming across the lake easily. So it was not a surprise that the bull made a hasty retreat. I don't want to get into how I feel about bringing basically newborn babies on hikes ...but let's just say I was surprised he was there, and thankfully the bull wanted nothing to do with them.

Love the moose shots!

Thanks! Hopefully clearer next time!