Bob Kittredge
Active member
Jeez, I think I must be getting old or something.
It's been 3 or 4 years since I last hiked Huntington Ravine, so I was very pleased to arrive at Pinkham Notch yesterday morning in bright sunlight and cool temps. Got started about 9:45 and made good time up to the start of the HR Trail. The lower sections were a little soggier than usual, and the stream crossings somewhat higher. The second one really gave me pause, and I got out the trekking pole that normally just rides the back of my back for most of my hikes. It still seemed kinda hairy; must be getting wimpy in my old age. Bugs were not an issue.
Surprisingly few people on this trail. I was passed by a guy I met in the parking lot early on, and then I caught up with a group of four just below the fan, two men and two women in their 40s or 50s who were tackling it for the first time. As we hit the slab above the fan, it was apparent that one of the guys was going to have no problem whatsoever, and one of the women was going to need a lot of encouragement. I hung back for a little and talked her up the first pitch; then I scrambled on ahead. The rock was mostly dry with a bit of running water in a few inconvenient places; just a minor nuisance.
Now I've done this trail twice before and considered it a blast both times. This time I was dragging my butt and getting the distinct impression that I had definitely lost a good bit in the agility department.
By the time I topped out, I'd decided to skip the summit and just Alpine Garden over to Tucks. The Garden was mainly mountain Avens, sandwort, bluets, Indian Poke and cinquefoil with some Labrador tea. There was also some alpine azelea that appeared to be in bud. CAN THAT BE RIGHT? I figured the azelea would have bloomed and gone by by now.
Descent down Tucks proved a good deal buggier. The blackflies got their licks in. A half an hour from the trailhead I heard the first crackle of thunder and walked out through a small downpour.
It's been 3 or 4 years since I last hiked Huntington Ravine, so I was very pleased to arrive at Pinkham Notch yesterday morning in bright sunlight and cool temps. Got started about 9:45 and made good time up to the start of the HR Trail. The lower sections were a little soggier than usual, and the stream crossings somewhat higher. The second one really gave me pause, and I got out the trekking pole that normally just rides the back of my back for most of my hikes. It still seemed kinda hairy; must be getting wimpy in my old age. Bugs were not an issue.
Surprisingly few people on this trail. I was passed by a guy I met in the parking lot early on, and then I caught up with a group of four just below the fan, two men and two women in their 40s or 50s who were tackling it for the first time. As we hit the slab above the fan, it was apparent that one of the guys was going to have no problem whatsoever, and one of the women was going to need a lot of encouragement. I hung back for a little and talked her up the first pitch; then I scrambled on ahead. The rock was mostly dry with a bit of running water in a few inconvenient places; just a minor nuisance.
Now I've done this trail twice before and considered it a blast both times. This time I was dragging my butt and getting the distinct impression that I had definitely lost a good bit in the agility department.
By the time I topped out, I'd decided to skip the summit and just Alpine Garden over to Tucks. The Garden was mainly mountain Avens, sandwort, bluets, Indian Poke and cinquefoil with some Labrador tea. There was also some alpine azelea that appeared to be in bud. CAN THAT BE RIGHT? I figured the azelea would have bloomed and gone by by now.
Descent down Tucks proved a good deal buggier. The blackflies got their licks in. A half an hour from the trailhead I heard the first crackle of thunder and walked out through a small downpour.
