A new reason to climb Waumbek

[peakbagger]

For those who havent climbed Waumbek in the last few years, the new viewpoint just east of the summit seems to be getting better every year. We went up today (5/16) and the entire Presidential ridgeline from Madison to Crawford Notch was in full view with no obstructions. The fairly steep south slope of Waumbek in this area also contributes to the view. Although the old lodge location near the Starr King Summit is still nice, its worth going all the way to the new view for lunch.

The viewpoint is less than 2 minutes eastof the Waumbek summit with little elevation loss so it would be hard to justify skipping it.

 

[TDawg]

Thanks for the update, I'll look forward to it for my second trip up the mighty Waumbek!!

 

[Lefty E]

Starr King/Waumbek

Thanks peakbagger for pointing that out..so many people just tag the summit and forget (or don't know) about that nice viewpoint..wonder what kind of view that slide in the ravine between Starr King and Waumbek would have, and has anyone ever done a bushwack up that ravine, or maybe took a right off the trail and hit it up?? looks like that slide would be between crawford brook and priscilla brook..the slide is very visible from Rt. 115 coming from Twin Mt. Regards lefty e

 

[forestgnome]

Thanks! I don't think I've ever hiked up this mountain, but I hear a lot about it...maybe this summer...

happy trails

 

[TCD]

I haven't been there but I'm curious - why is the view getting better?

 

[TDawg]

I haven't been there but I'm curious - why is the view getting better?

Maybe a fir wave?

 

[peakbagger]

The viewpoint originally started out as small blowdown patch with an obscured view and over the last few years the patch has gotten larger as more trees fall down. I dont think it part of a well defined fir wave, but the process is the same where one patch of deadtrees tend to propogate the adjacent trees to start falling (slow motion dominos)

Except for the need to run the gamut of Federal red tape, a person with a saw and an ax could have opened it up in a couple of hours. As of now the Forest Service hasnt implemented permits for natural events, so nature has elected to do it for us . A simiiar process is occuring for a north view along the ridge between Starr King and Waumbek. I wish a similiar natural event would occur at the Starr King summit westerly view and at the old cabin location, as both have lost what used to be great views.

 

[grouseking]

I think this might be the beginning of the view people are talking about? I was up there in late 2006. If the firs are getting knocked down a bit, this view will definitely be a nice one. The ground is super soft here too. Very inviting. This even looks nice a super hazy temperature inversion day.

Edit...this view is just north of the summit, down the hill just a bit, perhaps this isnt the same view people are talking about.

 

[peakbagger]

Looks like the same one, just photo shop the trees out of the way and expand the view to the right and thats what is there now . I think the folks with me took a few pictues, so I will to post when I get them.

 

[RoySwkr]

A simiiar process is occuring for a north view along the ridge between Starr King and Waumbek.

The E summit with same highest contour is maybe 15 minutes and has a good but narrow view of the Kilkennies, I go there every hike now.

 

[Elizabeth]

Didn't know about the new views from the east of Waumbek; but I can confirm that views from the saddle between Starr King and Waumbek are opening up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32876400@N08/4338495860/in/set-72157622844122398/

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Thanks for posting this. I did Waumbek last year and thought it was a great hike. It sounds like I need to do it again. And that old lodge location near the Starr King Summit is VERY cool for those who haven't seen it.