una_dogger
Well-known member
I met up with HighonLife at the Loj early saturday morning just after a major downpour. We laced on our boots, leashed up Terra, and headed out to Marshall via Avalanche Pass.
The trip out to the pass went quickly, I'm getting pretty used to hiking through the Marcy Dam area and feel like I'm on autopilot. We stopped at the dam so HOL could take her traditional photo, water levels are really low right now! Its been a few weeks since I've been in the Daks ( a few weeks too long).
I hadn't been through Avalanche Pass in a couple years, and I was astounded at how far the landslides have advanced! Downed trees lay like matchsticks clear all through the notch with a skinny herdpath swatched through them...the forces of nature are really incredible.
The jungle gym around the lake presented some doggy challenges, and I assisted Terra by carrying her up and down the ladders. She was a great dog and didn't squirm and let me carry her. Helps to have a compact pooch in a fourty five pound package. This was the one time I was surprised HOL wasn't snapping pics!! That's OK.
We walked through the meadow to the Interior Outpost and said Good Mornin' to the ranger, and were greeted by a field of Gentians. Just lovely. Maybe HOL will post one of the many pics she took of them here.
We found the Herbert Brook Herdpath very easily. I just love this trail -- its so green and moist and filled with flowers and indian pipe. The humid air from the morning's storm was lifting, and as we neared the summit, we shared great views of Iriquois. We pondered the approach from the col, and decided that the gully looked like the way to go....food for thought for future adventures.
Pretty soon my tummy was grumbling, and I realized that I had packed up all my food for the whole weekend, and forgotten to parse out a bit to load into my daypack for this hike ---DOH! Never have done that before! HOL was kind enough to share a couple of Pria Bars and some *yummy* Gatorade flavored jelly beans with me.
The herdpath to Marshall is so well maintained for an unmaintained herdpath, a big kudos and thanks to those who are taking such wonderful care of it. There were a few sections of trail climbing out of the banks of the brook that were soft and easily erroded, we took care here to stick to the trail and lessen our impact.
The summit sign quickly greeted us and I was happy to once again share another summit with HOL and Terra. Power hikin' sistahs! Strong girls rule, what a great hike!
We enjoyed a few moments on the summit, and then began our trek back.
On the otherside of the Hanging Matilda on Avalanche Lake, we met up with Woodstrider, her husband, and Uncle from Colorado who were on their way up to basecamp before their ascent of Marshall for Grace. We were wondering who had Marshall, so it was neat to bump into them. Woodstrider's Uncle is a46er, a Colorado Mountain Man, and a really nice guy with the oldest backpack I've ever seen. I good naturely teased him because he had a big bear cannister with him, and an equally huge jar of peanut butter in the pack, outside of the bear cannister. He assured me that he himself was going to ensure that all of the peanut butter would be consumed by him, and in short order.
Little T was very cute on the way back and no longer even attempted any ladders, she just paused and looked up at me and waited for her "chairlift". We reached the Loj about 8 hours after our start. We estimate the total mileage to be 16, but we didn't really count, it was a beautiful day as always and good to be in the woods again.
I had a cooler in my car with a chilled smoothie waiting for me and a couple of Kozy Shack Rice pudding cups for HOL. YUM!
A nice shower for me and a dip in the lake and a romp with a cute little dog for Terra, and it was off to Whispering Pines for the big bash!
A great day for my Number 22, thanks again to HOL for sharing it with me.
__________________
The trip out to the pass went quickly, I'm getting pretty used to hiking through the Marcy Dam area and feel like I'm on autopilot. We stopped at the dam so HOL could take her traditional photo, water levels are really low right now! Its been a few weeks since I've been in the Daks ( a few weeks too long).
I hadn't been through Avalanche Pass in a couple years, and I was astounded at how far the landslides have advanced! Downed trees lay like matchsticks clear all through the notch with a skinny herdpath swatched through them...the forces of nature are really incredible.
The jungle gym around the lake presented some doggy challenges, and I assisted Terra by carrying her up and down the ladders. She was a great dog and didn't squirm and let me carry her. Helps to have a compact pooch in a fourty five pound package. This was the one time I was surprised HOL wasn't snapping pics!! That's OK.
We walked through the meadow to the Interior Outpost and said Good Mornin' to the ranger, and were greeted by a field of Gentians. Just lovely. Maybe HOL will post one of the many pics she took of them here.
We found the Herbert Brook Herdpath very easily. I just love this trail -- its so green and moist and filled with flowers and indian pipe. The humid air from the morning's storm was lifting, and as we neared the summit, we shared great views of Iriquois. We pondered the approach from the col, and decided that the gully looked like the way to go....food for thought for future adventures.
Pretty soon my tummy was grumbling, and I realized that I had packed up all my food for the whole weekend, and forgotten to parse out a bit to load into my daypack for this hike ---DOH! Never have done that before! HOL was kind enough to share a couple of Pria Bars and some *yummy* Gatorade flavored jelly beans with me.
The herdpath to Marshall is so well maintained for an unmaintained herdpath, a big kudos and thanks to those who are taking such wonderful care of it. There were a few sections of trail climbing out of the banks of the brook that were soft and easily erroded, we took care here to stick to the trail and lessen our impact.
The summit sign quickly greeted us and I was happy to once again share another summit with HOL and Terra. Power hikin' sistahs! Strong girls rule, what a great hike!
We enjoyed a few moments on the summit, and then began our trek back.
On the otherside of the Hanging Matilda on Avalanche Lake, we met up with Woodstrider, her husband, and Uncle from Colorado who were on their way up to basecamp before their ascent of Marshall for Grace. We were wondering who had Marshall, so it was neat to bump into them. Woodstrider's Uncle is a46er, a Colorado Mountain Man, and a really nice guy with the oldest backpack I've ever seen. I good naturely teased him because he had a big bear cannister with him, and an equally huge jar of peanut butter in the pack, outside of the bear cannister. He assured me that he himself was going to ensure that all of the peanut butter would be consumed by him, and in short order.
Little T was very cute on the way back and no longer even attempted any ladders, she just paused and looked up at me and waited for her "chairlift". We reached the Loj about 8 hours after our start. We estimate the total mileage to be 16, but we didn't really count, it was a beautiful day as always and good to be in the woods again.
I had a cooler in my car with a chilled smoothie waiting for me and a couple of Kozy Shack Rice pudding cups for HOL. YUM!
A nice shower for me and a dip in the lake and a romp with a cute little dog for Terra, and it was off to Whispering Pines for the big bash!
A great day for my Number 22, thanks again to HOL for sharing it with me.
__________________
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