Chocorua 11-6-05
If you got out Sunday, you know what I’m talking about when I say that the sky was grey with low-laying clouds and the air was thick with moisture. Rain and possible thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon. I figured I should get an early start so I would be off the mountain before those potential thunderstorms rolled in.
I created a loop by heading up Carter Notch Trail, connecting to Middle Sister, over the ridge to the summit and then backtracked down to Piper.
The Carter Notch Trail was a surprise as it was much more challenging than the topo on the trail map leads one to believe. I had a great time scrambling up the rocks and at one point had to remove my pack in order to get up and over a particularly hairy section.
There was quite a landslide of scree and loose rock that the trail side-skirted. The slide was impressive; tumbling down an outcropping where something like this would usually be found in a concave area or gully.
As I hiked up, there was a smell. A very bad, very strong, smelly smell and it permeated the air all around. I considered that an animal, possibly a rather large animal considering the stench, had a home nearby and once I was passed, the smell would go away. I was wrong. The smell hung on the mountain, clinging to it, and it stayed with me as I climbed. It was a smell such that I have never smelled. Occasionally, I thought it was similar to a damp dog wearing wet sweaty socks that had been left in a hot car for a few days, but actually, that would be to tame a description for this smell. I considered the possibility that I was following an animal, but never did I see any signs of one, any tracks in the mud, or hear any noise. After Middle Sister, the smell thankfully went away and only came back in occasional whiffs.
The ridge and summit were cold, windy and wet, with white wispy clouds flowing past my head and dampening my hair until droplets formed and rolled down my face. There was no snow really to speak of, but I did see small patches stashed here and there, mostly under trees or scrub.
The hike down was beautiful and peaceful. The Piper trail has been extremely well maintained with extensive grading and rock work.
Some may wonder why I chose to hike a mountain with incredible views on a day that wouldn’t provide any. Well, I’ve never been up Chocorua and I wanted to check it out. Besides, I wouldn’t see anything if I had hiked a viewless peak anyway, so did I miss anything in hiking a peak with a view on a viewless day ?
Chocorua, and the views it gives, will be there tomorrow. I look forward to hiking it again on a nice day. Perhaps from the Kanc next time.
If you got out Sunday, you know what I’m talking about when I say that the sky was grey with low-laying clouds and the air was thick with moisture. Rain and possible thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon. I figured I should get an early start so I would be off the mountain before those potential thunderstorms rolled in.
I created a loop by heading up Carter Notch Trail, connecting to Middle Sister, over the ridge to the summit and then backtracked down to Piper.
The Carter Notch Trail was a surprise as it was much more challenging than the topo on the trail map leads one to believe. I had a great time scrambling up the rocks and at one point had to remove my pack in order to get up and over a particularly hairy section.
There was quite a landslide of scree and loose rock that the trail side-skirted. The slide was impressive; tumbling down an outcropping where something like this would usually be found in a concave area or gully.
As I hiked up, there was a smell. A very bad, very strong, smelly smell and it permeated the air all around. I considered that an animal, possibly a rather large animal considering the stench, had a home nearby and once I was passed, the smell would go away. I was wrong. The smell hung on the mountain, clinging to it, and it stayed with me as I climbed. It was a smell such that I have never smelled. Occasionally, I thought it was similar to a damp dog wearing wet sweaty socks that had been left in a hot car for a few days, but actually, that would be to tame a description for this smell. I considered the possibility that I was following an animal, but never did I see any signs of one, any tracks in the mud, or hear any noise. After Middle Sister, the smell thankfully went away and only came back in occasional whiffs.
The ridge and summit were cold, windy and wet, with white wispy clouds flowing past my head and dampening my hair until droplets formed and rolled down my face. There was no snow really to speak of, but I did see small patches stashed here and there, mostly under trees or scrub.
The hike down was beautiful and peaceful. The Piper trail has been extremely well maintained with extensive grading and rock work.
Some may wonder why I chose to hike a mountain with incredible views on a day that wouldn’t provide any. Well, I’ve never been up Chocorua and I wanted to check it out. Besides, I wouldn’t see anything if I had hiked a viewless peak anyway, so did I miss anything in hiking a peak with a view on a viewless day ?
Chocorua, and the views it gives, will be there tomorrow. I look forward to hiking it again on a nice day. Perhaps from the Kanc next time.
