Blueberry Ledge Trail and Sleeper Trail to nice area below Whiteface summit, Nov.20th

[forestgnome]

refusing to let go of autumn, hiking wherever it's still autumn...

The big flat area southwestish of the summit of Mt. Whiteface has been calling me. I started on the Blueberry Ledge Trail from Ferncroft...

nice trail along pretty ledgy areas...

BLT then climbs through some nice beech stands...still autumn, but with the sounds of winter wind above the trees...

and then through some pretty conifers...

many beautiful views from scattered ledges up higher...

hiked as far as the Sleeper Trail and took that down to the saddle area below the summit...

in this saddle area I found lots of little openings in the thick spruce, with lots of fresh moose sign...

I think this is an antler rub...

continiued...

 

[forestgnome]

Exploring an area 5 miles deep this time of year is a short day....only had a couple hours before it was time to leave...just have to come back I guess...

Why must coyotes poop right on rocks right in the trail? show-off...

A yearling bull moose caught my eye near the junction of the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff. I called him in with cow calls and I thought he'd come right into the trail. He came so close...

Since bulls tend to congragate this time of year, after the rut, I decided to try a bull call. Bad. He immediately took off for 100'. I went back to cow calls and slowly went toward him. He took a few steps back to me, but no more. After a few minutes he turned and left for good. Nice encounter

happy trails

 

[audrey]

Nice area!

I had read that insects and other critters make short work of discarded antlers for the minerals they contain. That mossy one looks like it's been lying there quite a while...?

 

[una_dogger]

Interesting spot!

Saturday we spooked a moose(s) near the summit of the Bulge on our return trip from Cabot-- I think it must have been more than one because the ground LITERALLY shook as the galloped away!