I had basically finished my Accident Reports on Wednesday evening, and was not going to Boston (first stage of trip!!) until Friday. Add a dry (if warm) weather forecast, so I decided to have one last NH hike before my trip.
A few days ago I had hiked up to Madison Hut with the intention of doing Mt. Adams by the Star Lake Trail. I met Grouseking on the trail (on the way up Valley Way) and in the hut, and both times told him that was my plan. Going out of the hut I had an attack of laziness, and went down Valley Way rather than up Star Lake
So today I decided that it was Adams by Star Lake or bust
I started at 8 AM, and it still was a hot and humid hike. Valley Way to the hut was uneventful, done at what (for me) is a reasonable pace. I spent some time resting in the hut, knowing what awaited me
The first part of Star Lake Trail, to the lake and slightly beyond, is deceptively easy. Then the angle changes (guess which way). The trail is a mix of "real trail" and talus, with the latter much easier than on most of the Northern Presidential trails. But it is steep ...
Towards the end there are a few areas where hands are emphatically needed for propulsion (not just balance), but even I found them relatively easy.
I reached the summit and found no humans. Not that I was lonely, zillions of insects kept me company, and a few (very few) of them got a meal in the process.
Descent was by Lowe's Path, which really has rather good footing compared to many other trails in the region. But I was TIRED, as tired as I have been recently. It was my first 4,500 foot gain trip of the year, and the star Lake Trail was STEEP. So I returned to the hut SLOWLY.
I spent a full half hour there, it was moderately full and a couple of the guests chatted with me. I finally had a rather late lunch, and descended. To my surprise I was soon moving at a normal pace, no longer dead tired.
A couple of years ago ten miles and 4,500 feet of vertical would have seemed like a "good hike", worthwhile but not terribly challenging. Today I was definitely challenged, and survived! Let's see what I can do in Switzerland.
If you are curious, check my blog.
A few days ago I had hiked up to Madison Hut with the intention of doing Mt. Adams by the Star Lake Trail. I met Grouseking on the trail (on the way up Valley Way) and in the hut, and both times told him that was my plan. Going out of the hut I had an attack of laziness, and went down Valley Way rather than up Star Lake
So today I decided that it was Adams by Star Lake or bust
I started at 8 AM, and it still was a hot and humid hike. Valley Way to the hut was uneventful, done at what (for me) is a reasonable pace. I spent some time resting in the hut, knowing what awaited me
The first part of Star Lake Trail, to the lake and slightly beyond, is deceptively easy. Then the angle changes (guess which way). The trail is a mix of "real trail" and talus, with the latter much easier than on most of the Northern Presidential trails. But it is steep ...
Towards the end there are a few areas where hands are emphatically needed for propulsion (not just balance), but even I found them relatively easy.
I reached the summit and found no humans. Not that I was lonely, zillions of insects kept me company, and a few (very few) of them got a meal in the process.
Descent was by Lowe's Path, which really has rather good footing compared to many other trails in the region. But I was TIRED, as tired as I have been recently. It was my first 4,500 foot gain trip of the year, and the star Lake Trail was STEEP. So I returned to the hut SLOWLY.
I spent a full half hour there, it was moderately full and a couple of the guests chatted with me. I finally had a rather late lunch, and descended. To my surprise I was soon moving at a normal pace, no longer dead tired.
A couple of years ago ten miles and 4,500 feet of vertical would have seemed like a "good hike", worthwhile but not terribly challenging. Today I was definitely challenged, and survived! Let's see what I can do in Switzerland.
If you are curious, check my blog.
