Weather forecast was unappealing on Saturday morning, but Judy and I had planned to revisit the Daniel Webster Scout Trail (we had hiked it with Dave Metsky in July 2004).
The bottom part of the trail goes through some lovely woods, with extensive rock work (many, many steps), a very well built trail. Then it hits the rocky section, which is steep and typical northern presidential rock hopping. Also, in good weather, typical northern presidential views. Yesterday there were good short to mid range views at lower elevations, but nothing visible in the distance. One of the best views was of Carter Notch, from an unusual angle.
Higher up we entered the clouds, with accompanying wind but no rain, and the views were limited to three or four cairns most of the time. Stopped on summit just long enough to mark a waypoint, then down to the hut.
My plans had been "to climb Madison by an interesting route then go as far as we felt we wanted to". We definitely climbed Madison by one of the best routes (Madison Gulf was the other candidate), but with the wind, cold, zero visibility and prospect of afternoon showers and maybe thunderstorms, we decided we had done as much as we wanted.
Good decision, it rained on us for most of the last hour on our descent via the Valley Way.
I leave for Switzerland on Thursday, arrive on Friday, and start the serious hiking on Monday. The hikes are intentionally short; I have never yet hiked five days in a row! Average distance is six miles, with 3,400 feet of elevation gain. Then a week in the village of Evolène, from where I hope to bag a couple of 3,000 meter hikable peaks (Aiguille du Tsaté, easy; Sassenaire, easy hike followed by about a kilometer of rock hopping along the ridge to the summit). If time, weather and fitness all cooperate I may try to climb the trailless Palanche de la Cretta; it is a popular ski mountaineering objective, and I will be thinking of Dave as I climb it
Back in mid-August, till then I wish you all a great summer!!!!
The bottom part of the trail goes through some lovely woods, with extensive rock work (many, many steps), a very well built trail. Then it hits the rocky section, which is steep and typical northern presidential rock hopping. Also, in good weather, typical northern presidential views. Yesterday there were good short to mid range views at lower elevations, but nothing visible in the distance. One of the best views was of Carter Notch, from an unusual angle.
Higher up we entered the clouds, with accompanying wind but no rain, and the views were limited to three or four cairns most of the time. Stopped on summit just long enough to mark a waypoint, then down to the hut.
My plans had been "to climb Madison by an interesting route then go as far as we felt we wanted to". We definitely climbed Madison by one of the best routes (Madison Gulf was the other candidate), but with the wind, cold, zero visibility and prospect of afternoon showers and maybe thunderstorms, we decided we had done as much as we wanted.
Good decision, it rained on us for most of the last hour on our descent via the Valley Way.
I leave for Switzerland on Thursday, arrive on Friday, and start the serious hiking on Monday. The hikes are intentionally short; I have never yet hiked five days in a row! Average distance is six miles, with 3,400 feet of elevation gain. Then a week in the village of Evolène, from where I hope to bag a couple of 3,000 meter hikable peaks (Aiguille du Tsaté, easy; Sassenaire, easy hike followed by about a kilometer of rock hopping along the ridge to the summit). If time, weather and fitness all cooperate I may try to climb the trailless Palanche de la Cretta; it is a popular ski mountaineering objective, and I will be thinking of Dave as I climb it
Back in mid-August, till then I wish you all a great summer!!!!
