H
HikerBob
Guest
I turned myself around last September when I did the full loop because the North Slide was wet, greasy and just too nasty for my comfort level hiking solo. Having seen what was above the spot I turned around at I'm glad I did!
After a brisk walk along the Livermore trail trying to outrun the mosquitoes I finally gave up and donned pant legs, hat and headnet. A gallon of Off on the arms did for them.
The Approach section of the North Slide trail could use a trim, just as last time, but was easy to follow. The start of the slide itself was a tad slick and greasy in the shady, mossy sections but not as bad as last time. Just need to exercise a little care. At this point poles got collapsed and stuck on the pack, they would not be needed for a while.
The place where I gave up last time was pretty much dry and a simple (!) walk up. The Vibram soles on my new(ish) Montrail Torre 'summer boots' giving plenty of traction. At that point I also stashed the headnet. Oddly enough I was only pestered by blackflies at a specific spot mid slide.
All new territory for me from that point up. Once the slide opens up a little it is not always obvious which way to go. I followed boot marks and worn slab but at one point had to bust through a small bit of scrub to get back on course when the track I was following petered out.
Yellow blazes appeared on cue and led the way up the rest of the slide which was hard work but not too difficult. Personally I would never attempt it on anything but a dry day.
Had to be a little careful on the looser stuff up higher as any dislodged stones slide a long way. I was overtaken by one hiker and caught up to by another as I rested at the exit point marker cairn. We all managed to avoid dinging each other with loose rocks.
Dissapointingly it stayed cloudy the whole time I was on the slide and up top. I got good views down the slide itself and across the valley but a hazy silhouette of Carrigain was the only other mountain view. I'll just have to go back again
I caught up to the last hiker to pass me at the junction with the Pine Bend Brook trail and explained that the summit was only a few yards further on. I then completely blew my credibility by telling him the trail led off along the ridge and not down the (very obvious) trail that I said led to an outlook. On realizing my mistake I called out and fetched him back from the maze of tracks that look to be created from folks finding tent sites. I apologized and wished him luck with the rest of the loop.
Got to take a few pics of a Black Admiral on the summit then headed back down the Pine Bend Brook trail as I planned on returning the easy way via the Scaur Ridge trail.
A short way down from the summit I bumped into another solo hiker heading up who looked familiar - it was amstony! He had come up the Scaur Ridge trail and was off to bag East Sleeper.
Met a group comprised of two couples at the Scaur Ridge trail junction then saw nobody until the bikers on the Livermore Trail.
The top end of the Scaur Ridge trail is very grown in and not obvious. Pushing aside the growth does reveal the worn trail, you just have to trust it! The trail could use a trim in several places but it is a nice easy trail for either an ascent or descent.
I put the headnet back on on the descent and only took it off as more and more strollers and bikers kept giving me odd looks. Seems the monsquitoes were in fact absent over the last couple of miles
So another White Mountain classic trail completed. As an aside, how does the North Slide compare to other tough trails, Huntington Ravine say?
I'll have pics up later.
Bob
After a brisk walk along the Livermore trail trying to outrun the mosquitoes I finally gave up and donned pant legs, hat and headnet. A gallon of Off on the arms did for them.
The Approach section of the North Slide trail could use a trim, just as last time, but was easy to follow. The start of the slide itself was a tad slick and greasy in the shady, mossy sections but not as bad as last time. Just need to exercise a little care. At this point poles got collapsed and stuck on the pack, they would not be needed for a while.
The place where I gave up last time was pretty much dry and a simple (!) walk up. The Vibram soles on my new(ish) Montrail Torre 'summer boots' giving plenty of traction. At that point I also stashed the headnet. Oddly enough I was only pestered by blackflies at a specific spot mid slide.
All new territory for me from that point up. Once the slide opens up a little it is not always obvious which way to go. I followed boot marks and worn slab but at one point had to bust through a small bit of scrub to get back on course when the track I was following petered out.
Yellow blazes appeared on cue and led the way up the rest of the slide which was hard work but not too difficult. Personally I would never attempt it on anything but a dry day.
Had to be a little careful on the looser stuff up higher as any dislodged stones slide a long way. I was overtaken by one hiker and caught up to by another as I rested at the exit point marker cairn. We all managed to avoid dinging each other with loose rocks.
Dissapointingly it stayed cloudy the whole time I was on the slide and up top. I got good views down the slide itself and across the valley but a hazy silhouette of Carrigain was the only other mountain view. I'll just have to go back again
I caught up to the last hiker to pass me at the junction with the Pine Bend Brook trail and explained that the summit was only a few yards further on. I then completely blew my credibility by telling him the trail led off along the ridge and not down the (very obvious) trail that I said led to an outlook. On realizing my mistake I called out and fetched him back from the maze of tracks that look to be created from folks finding tent sites. I apologized and wished him luck with the rest of the loop.
Got to take a few pics of a Black Admiral on the summit then headed back down the Pine Bend Brook trail as I planned on returning the easy way via the Scaur Ridge trail.
A short way down from the summit I bumped into another solo hiker heading up who looked familiar - it was amstony! He had come up the Scaur Ridge trail and was off to bag East Sleeper.
Met a group comprised of two couples at the Scaur Ridge trail junction then saw nobody until the bikers on the Livermore Trail.
The top end of the Scaur Ridge trail is very grown in and not obvious. Pushing aside the growth does reveal the worn trail, you just have to trust it! The trail could use a trim in several places but it is a nice easy trail for either an ascent or descent.
I put the headnet back on on the descent and only took it off as more and more strollers and bikers kept giving me odd looks. Seems the monsquitoes were in fact absent over the last couple of miles
So another White Mountain classic trail completed. As an aside, how does the North Slide compare to other tough trails, Huntington Ravine say?
I'll have pics up later.
Bob
![Grand Canyon, North and South Rims [Grand Canyon National Park] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/419Y-ycyVUL._SL500_.jpg)
![Grand Teton Day Hikes and National Park Map [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DB0jvRnbL._SL500_.jpg)
![Yellowstone National Park [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kGuJ72qjL._SL500_.jpg)
