Peak Above the Nubble, 5/31/2010

[Paradox]

Only 4 miles round trip, but it can be difficult negociating the spruce and the 8-15' cliffs that ring the mountain at about 2500'. The climb up got us into the worst spruce and they are labled as waypoints on the GPS track. We also had to deal with the slight burning in our eyes, throat and lungs from the smoke and smell of the wildfires burning in Quebec. By the time we reached about 3500' we were above much of the smoke. On the way down we managed to find mostly open woods, and herd paths. Read Marty's touching tribute to Ray Loring near the summit.

Highly recommend wearing eye protection, and remove the snow baskets from your hiking poles.

 

[una_dogger]

I loved those cliff bands. Did you notice the faint cutting and blazing on them? Funny, we missed them on the way down, I was disappointed.



Very sobering finding a Memorial Plaque to Ray in a small clearing on the way down. Rest in Peace, Ray.

 

[Paradox]

I loved those cliff bands. Did you notice the faint cutting and blazing on them? Funny, we missed them on the way down, I was disappointed.



Very sobering finding a Memorial Plaque to Ray in a small clearing on the way down. Rest in Peace, Ray.

Never thought to look for blazing on the rock. Some weenie had placed several dozen orange surveyor tapes on the way up. I removed about half of them. Never saw any of them on the way down. Did not find the clearing/plaque you refered to.

 

[marchowes]

Slopetastic (Ethan) and I removed these from the "herd path*" on 5/29/2010. I guess we missed several dozen. When wadded up this clod is bigger than a softball.


*This is not a herd path. This is a trail. I can't even imagine how someone would think it's a reasonable idea to flag every 10 feet on a trail that is almost as obvious as the Wilderness Trail. That's right, I said the Wilderness Trail.

 

[una_dogger]

Never thought to look for blazing on the rock. Some weenie had placed several dozen orange surveyor tapes on the way up. I removed about half of them. Never saw any of them on the way down. Did not find the clearing/plaque you refered to.

Little peices of orange plastic tape blazing on roots on the rocky ledge.

Good for you for getting all that tape outta there!

Mark, that looks to be about the amount of tape we took out of the Firewarden's Trail last fall -- like you said, every ten feet, ridiculous! And the trail was so well defined! The flagging was pretty low, too, so I doubt it was the work of a winter hiker.

 

[bigmoose]

I hope you saved that wad of flagging, Marc. It makes a really good campfire starter.

 

[marty]

Slopetastic (Ethan) and I removed these from the "herd path*" on 5/29/2010. I guess we missed several dozen. When wadded up this clod is bigger than a softball.


*This is not a herd path. This is a trail. I can't even imagine how someone would think it's a reasonable idea to flag every 10 feet on a trail that is almost as obvious as the Wilderness Trail. That's right, I said the Wilderness Trail.[/QUOTE]

Marc,
Please note that some of the flagging may be the result of the SAR for Ray Loring in September 2008. The SAR team had to cut a path wide enough for the carry and flagged it accordingly. That path led off the north side of the ridge, starting with some serious cliffs.

Of course, that may be more flagging from other sources, too.

Regards,
Marty

 

[Slopetastic]

If one looks at the 'herd path' treadway one will be astounded at the number of apparently freshly cut boughs laying on the trail. Still green with whitish tips, these spruce remnants and branches could not be 2 years old. Perhaps 2 months old.

The main 'herd path' has obviously been (semi-)recently 'maintained' and much of the orange flagging in particular looked and felt quite new -- not weathered or brittle, not washed out, etc.

In addition, the flagging and cutting/snipping continued well beyond where I understand Ray Loring was recovered.

I would bet my life that due to the massive amount of expertise, woods-sense, courage, and navigation ability SAR folks have, they wouldn't be the types to continually tie flags to 4 or 5 trees within a 20' radius, as we saw. It was total overkill.

 

[jniehof]

There is indeed an illegally-cut trail up from Haystack Rd. I tend to preach in any PAtN thread on this, not to condemn anyone for their choice of route but because the 4K committee has not publicised the statment from the NEHH route guide: "There is now an illegally constructed wildcat trail that runs more or less along this route. It is poorly located, being far too steep, and will become seriously eroded if it receives any substantial use. For that reason it is not an acceptable route for the ascent or descent of this peak. The Four Thousand Footer Club requests that hikers who feel compelled to use this environmentally damaging path should voluntarily refrain from requesting official membership in the New England Hundred Highest Club."

There is an equally unofficial, but far less damaging, trail from the Gale River Road to the Nubble itself; Mohamed has a nice description. From there it's possible to crash through the spruce to the summit, or there's an alternative route, very fun, which a little research should show up. (Google Maps is sufficient, although they mislabel PAtN as "The Nubble".) PM for details if desired.

 

[Tom Rankin]

There is indeed an illegally-cut trail up from Haystack Rd. I tend to preach in any PAtN thread on this, not to condemn anyone for their choice of route but because the 4K committee has not publicised the statment from the NEHH route guide: "There is now an illegally constructed wildcat trail that runs more or less along this route. It is poorly located, being far too steep, and will become seriously eroded if it receives any substantial use. For that reason it is not an acceptable route for the ascent or descent of this peak. The Four Thousand Footer Club requests that hikers who feel compelled to use this environmentally damaging path should voluntarily refrain from requesting official membership in the New England Hundred Highest Club."

FYI: That quote is at least 6 years old.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

FYI: That quote is at least 6 years old.

At least - I remember it from over a dozen year's ago, perhaps more. The source of that quote is revised infrequently.

Thank God for the vigilance of the All-Knowing Trail Police, keeping the rest of us safe from the scourge of plastic tape ...

 

[Snowflea]

I remember it from [gulp] almost 20 years ago!!