bruno
New member
i'd been to isolation via the rocky branch way about a year or two ago and as it was october and foggy i didn't get the views. so yesterday i decided to go via davis path out and back. i'd totally recommend this way as the finest since even though the mileage is higher (about 21 miles including the spur paths which are way way worth the little extra effort), the views and just general open feeling are much better in my opinion than the standard peak bagger route.
i started up about 8.30 in complete sunshine and about 70 degrees. i wore my trail runners (asics trabucos--way!) and was thinking about running it the whole way but there are sections that are kinda steep and i was lazy so i slowed down a bit on the steep sections. the views from mount crawford on the way up are stunning. you are surrounded by peaks and valleys and can look up montalban ridge all the way to washington and back towards carrigain and the willey range. completely open ledges that are fun to run down too. great traction. i missed the stair's mountain spur on the way up but hit it on the way down and it's a good drop off. if you have vertigo or anything, don't get too close to the edge. the "downlook" on the way up is also worth the few steps.
mount davis may have the best views in the whites, as others have pointed out. completely open summit--just rock and sky. i had it all to myself along with a dark-eyed junco. a little breeze kept the bugs at bay, so i stayed up there for awhile and ate some fig newtons and drank a lot of water. then it was down across the boggy patches to isolation. again, some of the best scenery in the whites. as i mentioned, last time i was there, it was socked in and rainy but yesterday was sunny with a cool breeze and again, i was alone on the summit. you are surrounded by peaks here and are, well, isolated (but in a good way).
i only saw 2 people on the trail near isolation (they had missed the junction with the little hop to the summit of isloation, but i guess they eventually found it. it is kinda easy to miss if you haven't been there before). there were a few backpackers going up as i was on the way down.
a great great day.
21 miles. 5 hours and 51 minutes.
i started up about 8.30 in complete sunshine and about 70 degrees. i wore my trail runners (asics trabucos--way!) and was thinking about running it the whole way but there are sections that are kinda steep and i was lazy so i slowed down a bit on the steep sections. the views from mount crawford on the way up are stunning. you are surrounded by peaks and valleys and can look up montalban ridge all the way to washington and back towards carrigain and the willey range. completely open ledges that are fun to run down too. great traction. i missed the stair's mountain spur on the way up but hit it on the way down and it's a good drop off. if you have vertigo or anything, don't get too close to the edge. the "downlook" on the way up is also worth the few steps.
mount davis may have the best views in the whites, as others have pointed out. completely open summit--just rock and sky. i had it all to myself along with a dark-eyed junco. a little breeze kept the bugs at bay, so i stayed up there for awhile and ate some fig newtons and drank a lot of water. then it was down across the boggy patches to isolation. again, some of the best scenery in the whites. as i mentioned, last time i was there, it was socked in and rainy but yesterday was sunny with a cool breeze and again, i was alone on the summit. you are surrounded by peaks here and are, well, isolated (but in a good way).
i only saw 2 people on the trail near isolation (they had missed the junction with the little hop to the summit of isloation, but i guess they eventually found it. it is kinda easy to miss if you haven't been there before). there were a few backpackers going up as i was on the way down.
a great great day.
21 miles. 5 hours and 51 minutes.
...... but it will take me about twice as long. Glad you had good weather this time.
