alpinista
Active member
I'd canceled plans to hike Isolation since I figured the promised rain would make those river crossings impassable. So instead, I decided regardless the weather, it'd be a good time to hit the section of AirLine I'd adopted to do some trail work.
I got up at a relatively leisurely hour and hit the road in Massachusetts at 7 a.m. By the time I got passed what appeared to be a triathalon in the Pinkham Notch area, and picked up my tools, I didn't hit the trailhead until close to 11:30 a.m. I gazed up at the sky and wished I'd arrived sooner because it was an absolutely glorious day in the mountains -- only a few skimpy clouds atop the northern Prezzies. It's not often you see that, especially when a hurricane is on its way!
The lower part of the trail was in decent shape, but as you traveled north up AirLine, it gets muddier and muddier. Tried to clean out as many water bars as possible so that when the rain does finally arrive, it flows out nicely. Some spots were dammed up pretty good with pine needles, twigs and dirt.
The spring off AirLine was nearly bone dry _ a shocker given that much of the rest of the trail is very wet right now, and about to get wetter.
Just past the spring, I heard a rustling off in the woods. It puzzled me at first, since I didn't think any humans would venture into that thicket of brush, fallen logs and uneven terrain.
I stopped briefly but kept walking up the trail only to hear twigs snapping underfoot and more rustling. I stopped again and looked off into the woods and spotted the culprit: a moose! It was massive, its snout barely concealed by the foliage. She was munching her way along through the woods. Then, I heard some more rustling from the right and spotted the source of that noise: her baby moose. Wow! I stood there as quietly as possible for about 15 minutes as they inched closer to me. I prayed they would find their way across the trail -- but far enough away that the mother moose wouldn't feel compelled to charge me to protect her youngin'. But as I started up my camera to ready it in case they came close enough for a shot, somehow the beeping sounds of civilization _ however faint _ spooked her enough to slowly retreat.
I started back up the trail and 10 minutes later, I heard the familiar rustling sounds again. She and her baby were also inching their way up through the woods. But rather than spook her further, I kept going. I doubted with her baby in tow she'd get all that close to me, and I certainly didn't want her to feel the need to defend themselves. I was blessed with getting that close to them, and I enjoyed the sight.
There were quite a few people on the trails today, including what appeared to be a youth group heading to explore the Ice Caves, and quite a few mothers and daughters. Just as I was finishing up my work, I ran into two hikers, one of whom had a nice gash above his left eye and another nifty bloody patch on his lip.
An unfortunate encounter with a big branch or a rock, I asked? The latter. Ohhhh, I can empathize with that! He said he was initially dizzy but was feeling fine now. If you read this: I hope you're not achy and sore today!
I veered off at Scar Trail, taking the Durand cut-off to see some incredible views. Only the thinnest and scantiest of clouds were seen atop Madison and one of the Adams (I'm not sure which one I can see from there though I'm guessing it's not the main Adams peak). The views out to the valley and the mountains beyond were seemingly endless.
Absolutely gorgeous day in the mountains!
I got up at a relatively leisurely hour and hit the road in Massachusetts at 7 a.m. By the time I got passed what appeared to be a triathalon in the Pinkham Notch area, and picked up my tools, I didn't hit the trailhead until close to 11:30 a.m. I gazed up at the sky and wished I'd arrived sooner because it was an absolutely glorious day in the mountains -- only a few skimpy clouds atop the northern Prezzies. It's not often you see that, especially when a hurricane is on its way!
The lower part of the trail was in decent shape, but as you traveled north up AirLine, it gets muddier and muddier. Tried to clean out as many water bars as possible so that when the rain does finally arrive, it flows out nicely. Some spots were dammed up pretty good with pine needles, twigs and dirt.
The spring off AirLine was nearly bone dry _ a shocker given that much of the rest of the trail is very wet right now, and about to get wetter.
Just past the spring, I heard a rustling off in the woods. It puzzled me at first, since I didn't think any humans would venture into that thicket of brush, fallen logs and uneven terrain.
I stopped briefly but kept walking up the trail only to hear twigs snapping underfoot and more rustling. I stopped again and looked off into the woods and spotted the culprit: a moose! It was massive, its snout barely concealed by the foliage. She was munching her way along through the woods. Then, I heard some more rustling from the right and spotted the source of that noise: her baby moose. Wow! I stood there as quietly as possible for about 15 minutes as they inched closer to me. I prayed they would find their way across the trail -- but far enough away that the mother moose wouldn't feel compelled to charge me to protect her youngin'. But as I started up my camera to ready it in case they came close enough for a shot, somehow the beeping sounds of civilization _ however faint _ spooked her enough to slowly retreat.
I started back up the trail and 10 minutes later, I heard the familiar rustling sounds again. She and her baby were also inching their way up through the woods. But rather than spook her further, I kept going. I doubted with her baby in tow she'd get all that close to me, and I certainly didn't want her to feel the need to defend themselves. I was blessed with getting that close to them, and I enjoyed the sight.
There were quite a few people on the trails today, including what appeared to be a youth group heading to explore the Ice Caves, and quite a few mothers and daughters. Just as I was finishing up my work, I ran into two hikers, one of whom had a nice gash above his left eye and another nifty bloody patch on his lip.
An unfortunate encounter with a big branch or a rock, I asked? The latter. Ohhhh, I can empathize with that! He said he was initially dizzy but was feeling fine now. If you read this: I hope you're not achy and sore today!
I veered off at Scar Trail, taking the Durand cut-off to see some incredible views. Only the thinnest and scantiest of clouds were seen atop Madison and one of the Adams (I'm not sure which one I can see from there though I'm guessing it's not the main Adams peak). The views out to the valley and the mountains beyond were seemingly endless.
Absolutely gorgeous day in the mountains!
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