forestgnome
New member
Friday night was beautiful for a first night of camping. I took a moose cruise just before sunset on the Kancamagus. Saw this cow hanging out in a bog.
The night sky was crisp as Venus and the stars blazed through the high canopy of pines. It was great to smell the pine campfire and climb into a tent and listen to the drone of the distant Swift River.
I was up and out by sunrise and on another cruise before heading to Champney Falls Trail when I saw these twin bull yearlings standing in the road. I pulled over and tried to shoot from a distance in low light, which isn't easy but it was cool to see these two in the quiet of the early morning. They kept walking toward me until they were very close. No sign of mama. I think she recently booted them from the house and they're now on their own.
Champney Falls Trail is clear and dry until the top loop trail junction, packed slush above that. Here's a view from the trail...
The snow is still waist-deep at highest protected elevation, as revealed by postholes from the day before. It was cold enough to support my weight at the time, but I'm sure that hikers later in the day didn't fare as well.
Looking north from summit...
Looking south from summit...
From the West Side Trail, which is unbroken and deep, I bushwacked westish to explore the drainage north of the ridge which carries the Brook Trail. From the summit, I could see that it was snow-free. After a little crashing through tough spruce and knee-deep snow I reached clear ground in hardwoods. What a difference right now between northern and southern slopes!
I approached a small brook that feeds the main drainage and as I reached its' bank I happened to be right above an adult bull moose who was getting a drink. He didn't hear me because of the noise of the brook and wind direction. I didn't know he was there either, until we both scared the *#@% out of each other! He was only 20' away and below me. He jumped out of the brook and trotted up the opposite bank. I was able to get a shot at him through the thick woods when he turned to see who I was...
Then he kept going and never let me see him again, but his track did nicely lead me through some areas of heavy moose sign. There is also a lot of piliated woodpecker sign in the area...
I heard a grouse drumming as I shot the above picture. He sounded quite close, and sure enough he took flight soon after I started hiking. As I got lower in elevation, I noticed my first trilliums but none were open yet. The sound of woodpeckers was almost constant in this area, a nice accent on this bright, clear, warm afternoon.
Finally, I emerged on Bolles Trail, just below Mudge's Camp. I saw these round-leaved yellow violets (?). I was too tired at this point to change lenses
for a proper flower shot...
Bolles Trail is dry to the height of land, but up in the col the snow is knee-deep, and it was warm when I got there!!! Coming down the north side, there was plenty of snow until the last half-mile. Emerged at the trailhead at 6:00, very tired and very sore from a fall I had taken. Wow, that was one yummy Summer Ale!
Happy Trails
The night sky was crisp as Venus and the stars blazed through the high canopy of pines. It was great to smell the pine campfire and climb into a tent and listen to the drone of the distant Swift River.
I was up and out by sunrise and on another cruise before heading to Champney Falls Trail when I saw these twin bull yearlings standing in the road. I pulled over and tried to shoot from a distance in low light, which isn't easy but it was cool to see these two in the quiet of the early morning. They kept walking toward me until they were very close. No sign of mama. I think she recently booted them from the house and they're now on their own.
Champney Falls Trail is clear and dry until the top loop trail junction, packed slush above that. Here's a view from the trail...
The snow is still waist-deep at highest protected elevation, as revealed by postholes from the day before. It was cold enough to support my weight at the time, but I'm sure that hikers later in the day didn't fare as well.
Looking north from summit...
Looking south from summit...
From the West Side Trail, which is unbroken and deep, I bushwacked westish to explore the drainage north of the ridge which carries the Brook Trail. From the summit, I could see that it was snow-free. After a little crashing through tough spruce and knee-deep snow I reached clear ground in hardwoods. What a difference right now between northern and southern slopes!
I approached a small brook that feeds the main drainage and as I reached its' bank I happened to be right above an adult bull moose who was getting a drink. He didn't hear me because of the noise of the brook and wind direction. I didn't know he was there either, until we both scared the *#@% out of each other! He was only 20' away and below me. He jumped out of the brook and trotted up the opposite bank. I was able to get a shot at him through the thick woods when he turned to see who I was...
Then he kept going and never let me see him again, but his track did nicely lead me through some areas of heavy moose sign. There is also a lot of piliated woodpecker sign in the area...
I heard a grouse drumming as I shot the above picture. He sounded quite close, and sure enough he took flight soon after I started hiking. As I got lower in elevation, I noticed my first trilliums but none were open yet. The sound of woodpeckers was almost constant in this area, a nice accent on this bright, clear, warm afternoon.
Finally, I emerged on Bolles Trail, just below Mudge's Camp. I saw these round-leaved yellow violets (?). I was too tired at this point to change lenses
for a proper flower shot...
Bolles Trail is dry to the height of land, but up in the col the snow is knee-deep, and it was warm when I got there!!! Coming down the north side, there was plenty of snow until the last half-mile. Emerged at the trailhead at 6:00, very tired and very sore from a fall I had taken. Wow, that was one yummy Summer Ale!
Happy Trails
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Fantastic pictures! 
