Fisher Green Foss Dickey Frolic 8/28/10

[Jazzbo]

Earlier this year we did a traverse of the ridge between Tecumseh and Welch Dickey. I liked the ridge so much I became obsessed with returning to the ridge via another route this time ascending from Dickey TH and doing away with the car spot. I devised a Welsh-Dickey super-loop, of sorts - over 10 miles long with the majority comprising herd paths and bushwhacking, with a substantial portion of the latter through thick spruce. Starting like all the rational hikers from the Welch-Dickey lot, we followed the bike path through Dickey Notch to an informal trail that led us to Fisher, following fine view ledges up to its summit.

Here's a snap shot of Amicus looking up on one particularly large slab.

And here is snap shot from same spot looking down same slab with view of Mill Brook Valley below. BTW I should empahasize these slabs are pretty steep and could be hazardous if wet or icy.

That's where your 'whacking begins. It wasn't too bad, as thick spruce and scrub alternated with refreshing stretches of ledge with novel views. Here is nice view of Bald Mountain ridge overlooking the valley of Hazelton Brook. Gee there's a trail comes up from Tipoli Road up to West Tecumseh. Humm! Could this be another obsession for next year?

We passed through the saddle between the two Hogbacks, skirted Green's "west pinnacle" to the north and had no trouble finding the summit of Green, which is among the 24 elite NE3K Formerly Listed Peaks. (That is a much more select fraternity than the 453 Listed Peaks,)

From there, we followed herd paths south to Foss Mtn, (x3312 on maps) and from there to Dickey, from which we took the popular Loop trail back to our car. Here is view of Welch & Dickey from Foss.

We had a perfect, cloudless day for this long but rewarding innovation. Thanks Amicus for joining me on this interesting loop! We made a good navigation team.

 

[grouseking]

And, here is another great bushwhacking report, thanks for posting it! That pic of the Hazelton Brook valley was my favorite, I couldn't really recognize it at first. Nice!!

 

[Amicus]

The pleasure was mine, since you did all the imagining and planning for this novel loop! Two pairs of eyes are always better - we each picked up some oversights of the other.

Bushwhacks and views don't always go together, but today's long 'whack from Fisher to Green did, thanks to your skill, luck or both in hitting those mystery ledges, just as the back of my shirt was feeling about full of spruce needles. Here, you admire Bald Mtn., looking north from a ledge between Fisher and Hogback:

I also like this similar view from a nearby ledge - the Bald Mtn. ridge as the first layer, then the west end of Scar Ridge and Loon, and at the third remove, the Lafayette Ridge to the right and Cannon, the Cannonballs and the Kinsmans to the left.

The Foss view ledges also inspired - I liked this view of the Tripyramids, Sleepers and Whiteface, with the tip of Passaconaway peaking out between the Sleepers:

Then there were the little respites, way off the beaten track, like that flowery tarn in the col between Foss and Dickey:

Ten and a quarter miles is not a long hike, but when much is 'whacking, some thick, and the sun is shining hot on the many ledges, you feel that you have had a good day's work! (I did anyway.) I enjoyed it all!

 

[1HappyHiker]

Nice team work guys, and a darn nice whack!

Ray, I cannot recall if you've whacked to the Bald Mountain that you are admiring in the photo posted by Amicus.
If you haven't been there, it's an easy whack and has some very worthwhile views.

 

[Paradox]

Wonderful TR and photos! Are you planning to upload the track onto Wikiloc? If not could you email me the track?