Airline to Mt. Adams

[forestgnome]

You'd never beleive it, but I've photographic proof; I saw a nice cow moose in the early morning on the way to the trailhead!!! I followed her around to an old clearing and hung out for a while, watching and listening. She has no babies...

These were in bloom in her area.

To start the hike I ventured over to the Falls Way for the nice mossy Snyder Brook. I like the trail that hugs the east side of the brook...less traffic and a pretty trail...

An owl was perched and hunting and watching me and waited until I was in scare-the-wits-out-of-me-range to fly off. I was down on a knee, watching it fly to another perch with thumping heart...

Owl wouldn't let me get any closer. I must have interupted breakfast hunting. But she lead me to a wonderful find. This jawbone tells a story. We can see that it was a young moose. An expert may be able to zone in on the exact age. We can see that the baby teeth were being replaced by adult teeth at the time this young moose fell. I just stared and wondered what story unfolded here.

There is something special about the forest of the northern slopes of the Presidential Range. This wildflower is common in these areas ID help would be appreciated. This is along the banks of the Snyder Brook.

This is one of the beautiful falls along this mossy brook. What a special place..

wood sorrel...

continued...

 

[forestgnome]

This was my first hike on the Airline...very nice! It covers quite a distance through boreal forest before making treeline. I was hoping for Bicknell's Thrush, but I found none. There were, however, woodpeckers, white-throated sparrows, blackpole warblers, junkos, and Swainson's Thrushes..

Wind was strong above treeling. Just after changing into dry undies,socks and shirt I met Marty! I've enjoyed his posts, and we are fellow Loreena McKennit fans. I noticed his VFTT shirt. I got a big ole bear hug. Nice to meet you, Marty! He had hiked up the Amphibrach.

This little creature looks alot like the bugs that I saw in the beak of a Bicknell's Thrush last week on Mt. Moosilauke. They were being fed to babies..

A cool thing about Mt. Adams...I hiked to treeline three or four times before I saw the summit due to clouds. Not being a peakbagger, there's no particular reason to go to any particular place. I just follow my nose for adventure. It looked like it was another day to follow whim because the summit was in and out of clouds. I went up anyway, and as luck would have it, the clouds were very exiting. As I sat with two ravens on the summit, the clouds were racing by, lifting and dropping, revealing terrain and then gobbling it up again.

A fleating view of Mt. Madison...

labrador tea...

alpine bilberry (?)

I'm having trouble IDing these. (kind of embaressing at this point)

alpine goldenrod...

I was hoping for mountain heath, but I did not see any. I'm going to see these next Saturday at a huge patch I know of on Mt. Jefferson.




I lingered way too long above treeline. It's hard to leave. I tried to catch Bicknell's Thrush again on the way down , but nothin'.

Lower elevation on Airline is lined with these. A few red berries are out. Mid summer is upon us.

happy trails

 

[The Unstrung Harp]

DUDE! Those pics are gorgeous. I long for such captures.
I saw a moose near the Airline trailhead about 6 weeks ago too. Yours is much more sleek and lovely. She looks mysteriously pretty, in fact. Maybe you caught her on moose spa day.

Thanks for posting these. Yum.

 

[marty]

FG,
tremendous TR and photo as always

It was great to meet you on the Airline! I am happy your photo of me did not break your camera equipment. Am also very happy that the pesky clouds took a break so you could get some views. The clouds must have followed me down the Airline.

Nice moose jaw find, too!

Hope we meet up on the trail again soon.

Marty the Bear Hugger

 

[JohnL]

Last photo is of Partridge Berry. My backyard is covered with them. I love the fuzz on the petals.

JohnL

 

[grouseking]

You have outdone yourself once again. Awesome shot of that moose to start off, and then all the pics of the flowers above and below treeline. Thank you for bringing me back to New England thru your photography.

grouseking

 

[Mountain49]

Gorgeous pictures, especially the lovely moose.
Mountain49

 

[zman]

Patrick,

FANTASTIC PHOTOS and STORIES TO GO WITH THEM.....AS USUAL

Can't wait to bump into you again

zman/Marty

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Thanks!

The first flower is Heal-all Prunella vulgaris The name dates back to the 1700's when it was used to heal skin wounds.

I think Bilberry is right, and the other may be Bearberry, but I'm no expert! I hope Jason will chime in and set us straight.

Thanks again for taking me with you through your pictures!

KDT

 

[1HappyHiker]

Not being a peakbagger, there's no particular reason to go to any particular place. I just follow my nose for adventure.

Isn’t it liberating not to be tied to a list, or even to a trail for that matter? If it happens that you bag a peak here & there, that’s fine! However, I think you would agree that it’s secondary to just following your nose for adventure.

Super-awesome photos, Patrick! With your splendid photographic skills you’re able to weave some marvelous magic into all your shots.