buckyball1
New member
Headed out from Orrington at the sorta' grim hour of 2 AM in order to try to avoid any late afternoon showers and also make it home for the basketball game tonight.
While these anecdotal observations might fit better under the current "high gas price" thread, I offer them here. High fuel prices are "biting". My usual "southern route" from Bangor to Conway was devoid of traffic in the early morning (expected), but also very light for a holiday Saturday on my way home. The usual congestion at the lake in Naples was non-existent and traffic/tourists in North Conway were in short supply. When i came thru the Village at 5 AM, the motels looked only 1/3 full, perhaps less. I talked to several small business owners in Conway/Bartlett/Intervale and they said things have been bad this year.
It was partly sunny, light wind, 40s when i started to Parker via the Langdon Trail at 530. The trail is mellow, well cleared, with good footing all the way to the Parker Trail-a nice stroll. I wandered a little way toward the lean-to where the Langdon Trail splits from the Parker trail and it suddenly seemed more grown in than some VT bushwacks-must not see much use. The Parker Trail itself is much rougher and less well maintained than the Langdon, but not a problem--one or two sizable blowdowns-there was no trace of snow anywhere on this hike The view from the top of a suddenly windy Parker was nice, but nothing special-the big guys were in the clouds. There was a red Forester with CT plates and a VFTT sticker in the lot when i returned, but no sign of occupants.
I stopped in the Bartlett General Store and headed to the Mt Tremont Trail for a 930 start. After reading severals recent posts, i wasn't sure what to expect in the way of snow. The first 1.5 miles of the trail is moderate/routine, but after crossing the brook, the last mile is steeper/more challenging than one might expect. I saw the first patches of snow on the trail (it's on the north side) around 2600' and they increased in frequency and size higher on the mountain. There was no need for traction devices, most of the snow could be avoided and the rest was no problem even when several feet deep in spots. I'd been pushing too hard all morning and was gagging a bit toward the top, but was surprised and rewarded. I've gotten a bit jaded and often just tap a peak's top, take a quick look and head down. Not on Tremont. It has a perspective that's pretty unique (at least for me) and a feeling of isolation not found on many of the NH summits. I sat for almost a half hour (an eternity for me) gazing at the surrounding terrain, Chocoura, the Sisters, almost everything around the Kanc, the Pemi area peaks, Carrigan, Vose, etc, The Pressies, etc etc--grand. I particularly liked the view over Sawyer Pond of Green's? Cliff.
Down by 1ish, grabbed a big chocolate whoopie pie and headed home--wondering which of my remaining quarry might be snow free by next weekend.
jim
While these anecdotal observations might fit better under the current "high gas price" thread, I offer them here. High fuel prices are "biting". My usual "southern route" from Bangor to Conway was devoid of traffic in the early morning (expected), but also very light for a holiday Saturday on my way home. The usual congestion at the lake in Naples was non-existent and traffic/tourists in North Conway were in short supply. When i came thru the Village at 5 AM, the motels looked only 1/3 full, perhaps less. I talked to several small business owners in Conway/Bartlett/Intervale and they said things have been bad this year.
It was partly sunny, light wind, 40s when i started to Parker via the Langdon Trail at 530. The trail is mellow, well cleared, with good footing all the way to the Parker Trail-a nice stroll. I wandered a little way toward the lean-to where the Langdon Trail splits from the Parker trail and it suddenly seemed more grown in than some VT bushwacks-must not see much use. The Parker Trail itself is much rougher and less well maintained than the Langdon, but not a problem--one or two sizable blowdowns-there was no trace of snow anywhere on this hike The view from the top of a suddenly windy Parker was nice, but nothing special-the big guys were in the clouds. There was a red Forester with CT plates and a VFTT sticker in the lot when i returned, but no sign of occupants.
I stopped in the Bartlett General Store and headed to the Mt Tremont Trail for a 930 start. After reading severals recent posts, i wasn't sure what to expect in the way of snow. The first 1.5 miles of the trail is moderate/routine, but after crossing the brook, the last mile is steeper/more challenging than one might expect. I saw the first patches of snow on the trail (it's on the north side) around 2600' and they increased in frequency and size higher on the mountain. There was no need for traction devices, most of the snow could be avoided and the rest was no problem even when several feet deep in spots. I'd been pushing too hard all morning and was gagging a bit toward the top, but was surprised and rewarded. I've gotten a bit jaded and often just tap a peak's top, take a quick look and head down. Not on Tremont. It has a perspective that's pretty unique (at least for me) and a feeling of isolation not found on many of the NH summits. I sat for almost a half hour (an eternity for me) gazing at the surrounding terrain, Chocoura, the Sisters, almost everything around the Kanc, the Pemi area peaks, Carrigan, Vose, etc, The Pressies, etc etc--grand. I particularly liked the view over Sawyer Pond of Green's? Cliff.
Down by 1ish, grabbed a big chocolate whoopie pie and headed home--wondering which of my remaining quarry might be snow free by next weekend.
jim
Last edited:
