BIGEarl
Well-known member
February 11, 2012: Isolation
Trails: Rock Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur
Summits: Isolation
Hikers: Larry Donoghue, Dave Langley (and Kody), Fitz, Brian Tausendfreund, John ?, Ankush Sachdeva, Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Our Plan A for the day was a hike in The Presidentials but the weather forecast made that a bad idea. Plan B was a hike to Isolation and that became our target for the day. We had a quick run to Isolation. It was the fastest I’ve ever done.
We all met at the Rocky Branch trailhead for a 7:30am start. While we were taking care of final hike prep Madriver pulled in, and then Brian and Greg. They were planning to start out roughly thirty minutes behind us. After a brief visit we took off.
Right from the trailhead we were on light traction. The trail is such that we probably could have bare booted the whole hike but we used the traction, just in case. I don’t see how the trail could get any better than its current condition. The surface is hard with great traction and very little ice. Even the Engine Hill Bushwhack is clear sailing as it cruises through the birch glade and heads for Isolation Trail.
The group had people with varying ideal hike speeds. Consequently, those up front stopped occasionally to wait for us slow pokes in the back. It’s good to generally keep the group together and the re-group stops worked well for refreshment breaks as well. As we made our way to the height of land on Engine Hill a couple others that we saw at the trailhead (John and Ankush) caught us and agreed to hike along with the group. Soon, we were on the ridge and headed to the west side and the Engine Hill Bushwhack.
The bushwhack route was broken out by Larry Donoghue, Jason Berard and Bruce Richards (aka Brewster). Recently (January 28), the three set off for Isolation but found the trail and bushwhack unbroken. After spending a lot of time breaking out the route along Rocky Branch Ridge they landed on Isolation Trail a short distance below the fourth crossing. At that point, with roughly 2.2 miles more of trail breaking ahead of them, it was too late in the day to continue to Isolation. They u-turned and headed back. The route they broke out is a good one; It leaves Rocky Branch Trail high on Engine Hill (unlike the lower route that seems preferred by some folks), it quickly leads into the large birch glade on Rocky Branch Ridge, generally follows the glade toward Isolation trail holding roughly 3300 feet in elevation for much of the distance, and lands on Isolation Trail roughly a quarter mile or less below the fourth crossing. I’d guess this route saves roughly 1.3 miles each way and a total of better than 500 feet in elevation compared to the trails route. Well done – you guys nailed it!
After the bushwhack we had an easy walk to Davis Path. The “winter” approach to Davis Path is broken out and we followed it. We stopped briefly to re-group and were soon headed south to Isolation less than a mile ahead. As we made our way to the Isolation Spur there are a couple places where views are usually available to Monroe, Pierce, and Jackson. They were pretty limited on this hike due to clouds and snow. We were able to see across to Mizpah Hut and South to Jackson; Pierce and the terrain to the north were socked in.
The Isolation Spur can get a little icy in the course of winter and become crampon territory. That’s not the case right now. We made the turn and just walked to the summit; it’s a steep walk, but we needed nothing beyond the light traction to make the trip.
The views from Isolation can be outstanding but the conditions didn’t allow it on this hike. We had refreshment, got a few summit pictures, and headed back out the way we hiked in. A short distance after leaving the summit area we met Brian and Greg on their climb to Isolation. A while later we met MadRiver and Pam.
Our hike out was a quick one. When we got back into the bushwhack the clouds broke up a little and we enjoyed sunny conditions while passing through the glade. That’s a beautiful place. Soon we were back on Rocky Branch Trail and making the downhill run to the trailhead. Between a couple of the re-group stops we had on our final descent to the trailhead, I was walking along and suddenly heard singing. At first it didn’t register. Then, I thought – Dave is behind me and Dave doesn’t sing when he hikes. Then I realized Brian sings when he hikes. I knew they were there and just stepped to the side. Sure enough, Brian and Greg were right on my heels. They zipped past on their exit run. Funny!
Every prior time Sue and I hiked Isolation when there was snow on the ground the hike ended in the dark. This time through we all hit the trailhead lot mid afternoon with at least a couple hours of daylight left. A trail that’s like a sidewalk sure makes for fast travel.
Thanks to everybody for a great hike to Isolation; that was a nice Plan B. And, thanks to Larry, Jason, and Bruce for doing a terrific job breaking out the Engine Hill Bushwhack.
Pictures will follow.
Trails: Rock Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur
Summits: Isolation
Hikers: Larry Donoghue, Dave Langley (and Kody), Fitz, Brian Tausendfreund, John ?, Ankush Sachdeva, Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
Our Plan A for the day was a hike in The Presidentials but the weather forecast made that a bad idea. Plan B was a hike to Isolation and that became our target for the day. We had a quick run to Isolation. It was the fastest I’ve ever done.
We all met at the Rocky Branch trailhead for a 7:30am start. While we were taking care of final hike prep Madriver pulled in, and then Brian and Greg. They were planning to start out roughly thirty minutes behind us. After a brief visit we took off.
Right from the trailhead we were on light traction. The trail is such that we probably could have bare booted the whole hike but we used the traction, just in case. I don’t see how the trail could get any better than its current condition. The surface is hard with great traction and very little ice. Even the Engine Hill Bushwhack is clear sailing as it cruises through the birch glade and heads for Isolation Trail.
The group had people with varying ideal hike speeds. Consequently, those up front stopped occasionally to wait for us slow pokes in the back. It’s good to generally keep the group together and the re-group stops worked well for refreshment breaks as well. As we made our way to the height of land on Engine Hill a couple others that we saw at the trailhead (John and Ankush) caught us and agreed to hike along with the group. Soon, we were on the ridge and headed to the west side and the Engine Hill Bushwhack.
The bushwhack route was broken out by Larry Donoghue, Jason Berard and Bruce Richards (aka Brewster). Recently (January 28), the three set off for Isolation but found the trail and bushwhack unbroken. After spending a lot of time breaking out the route along Rocky Branch Ridge they landed on Isolation Trail a short distance below the fourth crossing. At that point, with roughly 2.2 miles more of trail breaking ahead of them, it was too late in the day to continue to Isolation. They u-turned and headed back. The route they broke out is a good one; It leaves Rocky Branch Trail high on Engine Hill (unlike the lower route that seems preferred by some folks), it quickly leads into the large birch glade on Rocky Branch Ridge, generally follows the glade toward Isolation trail holding roughly 3300 feet in elevation for much of the distance, and lands on Isolation Trail roughly a quarter mile or less below the fourth crossing. I’d guess this route saves roughly 1.3 miles each way and a total of better than 500 feet in elevation compared to the trails route. Well done – you guys nailed it!
After the bushwhack we had an easy walk to Davis Path. The “winter” approach to Davis Path is broken out and we followed it. We stopped briefly to re-group and were soon headed south to Isolation less than a mile ahead. As we made our way to the Isolation Spur there are a couple places where views are usually available to Monroe, Pierce, and Jackson. They were pretty limited on this hike due to clouds and snow. We were able to see across to Mizpah Hut and South to Jackson; Pierce and the terrain to the north were socked in.
The Isolation Spur can get a little icy in the course of winter and become crampon territory. That’s not the case right now. We made the turn and just walked to the summit; it’s a steep walk, but we needed nothing beyond the light traction to make the trip.
The views from Isolation can be outstanding but the conditions didn’t allow it on this hike. We had refreshment, got a few summit pictures, and headed back out the way we hiked in. A short distance after leaving the summit area we met Brian and Greg on their climb to Isolation. A while later we met MadRiver and Pam.
Our hike out was a quick one. When we got back into the bushwhack the clouds broke up a little and we enjoyed sunny conditions while passing through the glade. That’s a beautiful place. Soon we were back on Rocky Branch Trail and making the downhill run to the trailhead. Between a couple of the re-group stops we had on our final descent to the trailhead, I was walking along and suddenly heard singing. At first it didn’t register. Then, I thought – Dave is behind me and Dave doesn’t sing when he hikes. Then I realized Brian sings when he hikes. I knew they were there and just stepped to the side. Sure enough, Brian and Greg were right on my heels. They zipped past on their exit run. Funny!
Every prior time Sue and I hiked Isolation when there was snow on the ground the hike ended in the dark. This time through we all hit the trailhead lot mid afternoon with at least a couple hours of daylight left. A trail that’s like a sidewalk sure makes for fast travel.
Thanks to everybody for a great hike to Isolation; that was a nice Plan B. And, thanks to Larry, Jason, and Bruce for doing a terrific job breaking out the Engine Hill Bushwhack.
Pictures will follow.
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