Chip
Well-known member
Drewski, MEB, Giggy and me decided to start the long weekend with a loop up to Adams via King Ravine, over to Jefferson and down to Bowman by Castle Trail. The plan was 8:45 at Bowman, leave a car or 2 and then head over to Appalachia to start. I left CT at 3am and was at Bowman at 8:30. Giggy, MEB and Drewski were there soon after. We were on the trail by 10 or so. We lucked out on the weather.
This area is a maze of trails. Airline to Shortline to King Ravine Trail below Mossy Fall and up was our route. We did not explore the Subway, I would on another trip but it would have been wet and icey and time consuming.
The next mile involves about 1600' of gain. This is a combination of hiking, steps and scrambles. The views above, to our sides and below were fantastic. Every time I remembered to look up and around I was amazed at the views and how quickly they were changing and improving. After a final push, King Ravine climbs through the Gateway where the trail pops you out below the summit of Adams with a great view of Madison. We took a quick break here, headed over Adams and stopped again in Thunderstorm Junction to pump some water out of a small pool.
Jefferson, Clay, Washington and The Great Gulf were all laid out ahead of us. The sun was bright, weather warm and conversation: eclectic. I think that's the correct word. I'd never hiked with MEB and Drewski before, so you know how that goes; everyone's polite, inquisitive, friendly...then the guard is dropped and the real humor begins.
I hope they enjoyed my company half as much as I enjoyed their's.
The slide field to Jefferson was breath-taking. We met Neil's son and a friend on the summit and then headed down Castle Trail over The Castles. This was tricky and icy, with downhill scrambles, slides, jumps and bumps. Awesome ridge though; like hiking down the exposed, boney spine of a huge, petrified dinosaur.
Below tree-line was icier, steeper and longer than I expected. After several slips, slides and minor crashes I finally put my crampons on and was happy I did. I "swept" the group, but we were all back at Bowman by 5:30, or so.
Beer and chips in Gorham and we met up with a welcoming VFTT group at Barnes Field to eat, drink, sit by a fire and camp for the night. This was a great day and a great evening. I had the pleasure of meeting Darren and Carmel as well as a host of other VFTT'rs. This crew planned Saturday and Sunday adventures, but I bugged out early on Saturday and was back in CT in time to open the deck, chill some beer and welcome my family for Easter Dinner.
This photo link is inclusive, but all jumbled as to order. Shutterbook is slow today. Thanks for looking !
http://www.parazz.com/albums/chipdiane
This area is a maze of trails. Airline to Shortline to King Ravine Trail below Mossy Fall and up was our route. We did not explore the Subway, I would on another trip but it would have been wet and icey and time consuming.
The next mile involves about 1600' of gain. This is a combination of hiking, steps and scrambles. The views above, to our sides and below were fantastic. Every time I remembered to look up and around I was amazed at the views and how quickly they were changing and improving. After a final push, King Ravine climbs through the Gateway where the trail pops you out below the summit of Adams with a great view of Madison. We took a quick break here, headed over Adams and stopped again in Thunderstorm Junction to pump some water out of a small pool.
Jefferson, Clay, Washington and The Great Gulf were all laid out ahead of us. The sun was bright, weather warm and conversation: eclectic. I think that's the correct word. I'd never hiked with MEB and Drewski before, so you know how that goes; everyone's polite, inquisitive, friendly...then the guard is dropped and the real humor begins.
I hope they enjoyed my company half as much as I enjoyed their's.The slide field to Jefferson was breath-taking. We met Neil's son and a friend on the summit and then headed down Castle Trail over The Castles. This was tricky and icy, with downhill scrambles, slides, jumps and bumps. Awesome ridge though; like hiking down the exposed, boney spine of a huge, petrified dinosaur.
Below tree-line was icier, steeper and longer than I expected. After several slips, slides and minor crashes I finally put my crampons on
and was happy I did. I "swept" the group, but we were all back at Bowman by 5:30, or so. Beer and chips in Gorham and we met up with a welcoming VFTT group at Barnes Field to eat, drink, sit by a fire and camp for the night. This was a great day and a great evening. I had the pleasure of meeting Darren and Carmel as well as a host of other VFTT'rs. This crew planned Saturday and Sunday adventures, but I bugged out early on Saturday and was back in CT in time to open the deck, chill some beer and welcome my family for Easter Dinner.
This photo link is inclusive, but all jumbled as to order. Shutterbook is slow today. Thanks for looking !
http://www.parazz.com/albums/chipdiane
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