Scar W (#100)

[Dugan]

To give credit where credit is due, a big thank you to Pete Hickey for his idea of jotting down distance and bearing of each leg on scotch tape then attaching it to the compass.

 

[Raymond]

Regarding this true summit: Was there a herd path along there? With perhaps a simple blowdown toward the eastern end? With an anchovy can below it?

That’s where I was a couple years ago, and I’m hoping it’s the same place you were.

Where did this herd path on Loon start? In the woods just east of the summit?

 

[MichaelJ]

I recall no herd path below the west or east summits of West Scar Ridge. The openness of the west summit did seem to have some footway here and there between the trees, but I think they were actual animal paths, and they petered out quickly.

West (true) summit, West Scar Ridge:

East (canister) summit, West Scar Ridge:

NB: I believe I read somewhere that both summits now have canisters.

 

[Peakbagr]

Jim,

Congratulations and well done.

PB

 

[Amicus]

Where did this herd path on Loon start? In the woods just east of the summit?

This herd path, which I'd read about in a "Trail Conditions" here last winter and also read or heard about from some older sources, leaves from around the top of the Loon North ski trails. Where it starts is not obvious, but it is then easy to follow - it heads pretty much straight east for about .5 mile before it turns north in the direction of Black Mt. and the Scar West "whack proper" begins. A Loon Resort employee we chatted with at the base lodge before our July 7 hike knew about it, describing it as a "bootleg ski trail."

MichaelJ's photo above gives you an idea of how the "true" western summit of Scar West looks. I think some prior post spoke of "looking for the high point on a pancake," and that's about right. I did wander around the mossy pancake a bit and, like MichaelJ, saw only what I took to be some animal paths. While there was no canister, anchovy can or other sign of civilization up there then, bigmoose has since done the honors with a can, as jim's TR above notes.

 

[SilentCal]

If you don't know where to look for that herd path, It's going to be tough to find. We lost it on the way back and could not figure out our mistake for about ten minutes. There were some numerous blowdowns in this area which confounded our efforts.

The top is indeed criss-crossed by animal paths. The summit is fairly open woods and the canister is not overly hard to find. About 35 yards from the summit, is where you get into the thick nasty stuff.

 

[SteveHiker]

Where did this herd path on Loon start? In the woods just east of the summit?

PM me if you want to know the secret for how to find it easily. I won't post it publicly since for some that's part of the fun.

 

[Dugan]

Where's the fun in knowing the secret?? Looking and searching are the fun parts of bushwhacking!

 

[Raymond]

I'm pretty sure I was at the true Scar Ridge summit on June 2, 2005. Your description agrees with what I found. Flat, fairly open, mossy. I remember a herd path running east-west, more or less. I've forgotten if it petered out heading east or if I just didn't bother following it once it went downhill. There could have been blowdown, too, who knows.

Here are some photos I took (as if there is a prayer of anyone saying that it looks familiar):

I found the AMC canister on the other, slightly lower, summit just about a year ago, so I consider the mountain climbed. Most people probably only go that far, anyway. There was definitely a herd path there. I picked it up as I came from the south and it curled around to the west and led me right to the canister. I don't recall how far it went beyond that point.

I climbed Loon back in May of this year. I didn't notice any path heading toward Black Mountain, but I didn't look, either; I was just interested that there was actually a path. I don't suppose I have much reason to go up and look for it at this point.