Mt. Jim (we think), Oct 17, 2010

[TrishandAlex]

Copied from http://trishandalex.blogspot.com
Accompanying pictures can be found there.
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Asquam Ridge Trail from Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, 6.8 miles roundtrip.

Alex wanted to ascend Mt. Clay today, but Winter With Attitude kept us below treeline. Mt. Jim, near Mt. Moosilauke, has a treed summit and is a moderate hike from the lodge. Just the thing for this kind of weather.

It was fall when we started...

...but it became winter within a mile of the hut.

Alex was happy to see the snow; winter has become her favorite hiking season and she looks forward to the coming months.

Tracks!

The one bit of view we had today...

The path leading up to the summit...

The peak of Jim lies a bit off the trail, to the north of the path. There's supposedly a herd path leading to it, but we couldn't find it underneath all the snow and blowdowns. We resorted to wandering about and stepping on all the high bits of land we could find.

Is this the summit?

What about this?

Well, I think we must have gotten it at some point. We're deciding we did, anyway.

Our descent was quick and easy, in spite of the slippery snow-slush on the lower portion of the ridge.

This was a great hike for the shoulder-season conditions -- not too steep, and relatively short.

After an after-hike stretch at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge...

...we spent the rest of the day making pumpkin pies.

We'll get Clay next time, provided the wind behaves itself.

 

[erugs]

We tromped around Jim last summer and came to the same conclusion. We saw some pretty big bear droppings during our summit meanderings. (Unless we were going in circles and kept seeing the same pile.)

 

[TrishandAlex]

Ellen, I'm glad you chimed in. A few other people told me they also had difficulty locating the actual peak. Now I don't feel quite so inept.

 

[Bill and Sheep]

I've never actually tried to find the path to Mt. Jim (it's good for me to suppress the peakbagger instincts at times) but I love the Asquam Ridge Trail. I've done it as a loop with the Gorge Brook and a traverse with the Benton and either way it's just a nice way to experience the area.

Moosilauke is still my favorite peak and I never get tired of redlining that area.

 

[TrishandAlex]

Asquam Ridge was mellow and enjoyable, though we didn't go farther than the intersection with Beaver Brook Trail. I enjoyed the trek -- and I too enjoy the various routes up Moosilauke (though I've only tried three different approaches...looking forward to Beaver Brook Trail when the conditions are right).

 

[TrailwrightBratt]

72?

Another Trailwrights 72 for you both I presume

 

[TrishandAlex]

Yes, another Trailwrights peak. We're close to 40 now...but we still have a lot of trailwork hours to do! (Sorry again about the Bald Mountain mix-up -- we look forward to getting out there at our next opportunity!).