Best trail in the whites-Israel Ridge

[hikerfast]

This trail is amazing. Saturday I headed up castle trail, crossing a brook. Israel ridge trail takes off the the left, thru gorgeous woods. couple brook crossings. You come to the link trail and bang a right a little bit. You come to this awesome opening with a brook coming down cascade ravine. Mt bowman is across the way, gorgeous. You are on this 60 foot ledge with waterfall..just unreal scenery. The woods are very thick. This trail is growing over some, you really feel like you are out there. From this point the book says the forest was never cut. It's very thick and lush underfoot and all around. Another brook crossing with nice views, and wide ledges just off the trail. You blast up thru very steep woods..and cascade ravine is to your left. Some ladders, which make it interesting and fun. The woods stay thick and lush. There is a lookout to the right called emerald bluff, down the emerald trail a few minutes. Amazing view straight into castle ravine, and incredible view across the the castles on castle ridge. A flat area on the way is home to tons of amanita muscaria mushrooms, those of you from the 60's know EXACTLY what those are. Heading back up the israel ridge, you pass the way to the perch on the left, really good footing on the trail, grades are easier. You come out at treeline at the randolph path crossing. You are at the corner of the ridge. Views into the castle ravine below you and across the the castles are simply amazing. From here you can take israel ridge up adams to the left, from a unique perspective, or just stay on randolph path at a totally level grade into edmunds col. Great view of Jefferson cone straight head, and into the ravine to your right. I had done this trail a few times about 20 years ago, and remembered that it was nice, but what a treat to go back and see how amazing it all is. From a botanical point of view, I have never seen such variety. I saw so many varieties of trees and plants and mushrooms. Beware of the destroying angels along the trail, one bite of those and you are toast in an hour, beautiful though they look. I was surprised at how overgrown the trail was, both in softwoods and evergreens. I saw a few people but it must not get that much use. I plan to go up there with my sierra saw and do some trailwork. I am definitely going to be going up this trail more often. So many places to go and see, and so many branches going all over the place. Next time I'll bring my NEW digital camera, and post some pictures, though nothing can compare to seeing these views and experiencing those lush forests with your own eyes.

 

[Double Bow]

Very nice report. Which summit did you go to? Back in June, I took this trail up to The Perch where I had lunch before taking the Perch Path to Randolph and eventually up to Jefferson and then down Castle (see TR titled "Jefferson, a different way"). It really is a very nice trail. I saw a few people on it when I was there but, it definately doesn't get the same usage as some of the other trails on Adams or Jefferson!

 

[hikerfast]

breezeway

breezeway sounds real nice. I didn't notice the cairns but will look next time. I walked to Edmunds col saturday and ate on the way, then came back to the junction. I walked up Israel ridge till i hit the gulfside, then turned left on the gulfside for a bit. I was wondering(fairly sure) I was looking at the adams slide route that nhmtnhiker took up a couple weeks ago. There was a small bump to my right that i climbed. I assumed the large prominence to my left was Sam Adams, headed that way a bit on the gulfside, then turned around because it was getting late.

 

[Michelle]

Nice trip report!
I was in that area on Sunday, nice little loop up Castle Ravine Tr. to Emerald Bluff and then down Isreal Ridge Path, we didn't see another person the whole time. We were lucky to get that great view from Emerald Bluff as the rain hit soon after we left. It is a beautiful area!