el-bagr
New member
[Full TR with inline pics is here: http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7590&highlight=]
In my informal quest to ski to the summits of all of New Hampshire's listed 4000'+ mountains, Mount Isolation remained as the last to explore. This weekend, the quest was completed -- and began again.
Saturday afternoon, we arrived at the Rocky Branch trailhead (1200') under brilliant blue skies to find no snow in sight. Undaunted, we left our sleds in the car (a good idea even if there had been snow) and packed our bags. I have never been accused of packing light, but this time was comical.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20901-med.jpg
As the Rocky Branch Trail climbed through many small rivulets, the warm sun released sweet, spicy smell of mouldering beech leaves -- one of the first smells of spring in these woods. Snow cover appeared spotty at first, but within a mile above the car and less than 1000' in elevation gain, there was enough to start skiing. The joy of being on snow again -- and putting heavy skis and boots on my feet -- lightened my load.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20902-med.jpg
Climbing up to Engine Hill Pass at about 3100', we got our first glimpses of our objective across the Rocky Branch valley. Snow depth here was excellent, about four feet. We skied down about 100' in elevation along the Rocky Branch Trail before diverging right into open birch woods: a not-so-secret bushwhack that would shortcut half a mile a few hundred feet of needless elevation loss, and two fords of the Rocky Branch.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20920-med.jpg
The bushwhack was delightful -- plenty of snow, relatively open trees, and the roaring Rocky Branch as a beacon. We emerged at the Rocky Branch at about 3100' as twilight fell and set up camp.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20903-med.jpg
We awoke the next morning under sunny skies. Though the nighttime temperature had been well below freezing, a leisurely morning in camp allowed our skins and socks to dry out -- plus some much-needed lounging.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20904-med.jpg
As we climbed the Isolation Trail along the Rocky Branch, we stole glimpses of our destination poking above the trees.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20905-med.jpg
Snow depths were excellent, making for essentially continuous skiing the whole way.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20907-med.jpg
Unlike many below-treeline routes in these mountains, sunscreen would have been a good idea on this trip.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20906-med.jpg
We bushwhacked a short ways to avoid two needless fords of the stream, but the final ford was unavoidable. This water crossing -- seemingly much feared in the community -- proved easy under these conditions. We remained quite dry, and lounged on the sunny banks, reveling in the luxury of the mountains.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20908-med.jpg
Above the ford, we soon reached an open area left by an old burn. The trail -- sparsely blazed at best -- grew indistinct, but we followed our instincts and sought out the most open areas. I couldn't help ditching my pack a few times and making some turns through this moderate-angled terrain.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20909-med.jpg
A short, moderately rough climb above this open area brought us to the ridgeline and the historic Davis Path, our route south toward Mount Isolation. This trail was liberally sprinkled with bottomless spruce traps, brief disappearances into nearly impenetrable fir, and open patches.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20911-med.jpg
A mile along the ridge, we reached the base of Mount Isolation's summit block. We knew that a short spur path off the Davis Trail led to the summit... but we also knew that we weren't on the Davis Trail. Resolute in purpose, we began to bushwhack through the horrendous krumholtz. It took half an hour to travel the remaining 500' to the open summit ledges. As a woods-skier, you learn quickly how little a branch it will take to stop you: down low, you can take a 1" viburnum between the legs, but a striped maple that size will stop you; here, finger-sized branches refused to yield to full-force tackles. Scratched, torn, and generally battered, we reached the top.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20912-med.jpg
I ski because I love it, not for purposes of stunt -- but skiing across five feet of rock seemed worth it at the time.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20913-med.jpg
There, at the summit of Mount Isolation, I reached my last remaining unskied NH 4000-footer -- gratefully. I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have had these experiences.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20914-med.jpg
The views north to the east side of the southern Presidential Range weren't shabby either.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20915-med.jpg
After over an hour's lounging and celebration on the summit, we easily found the proper spur down to the Davis Path. We'd been too eager to follow a brief open snow lead and had diverged off the trail just seconds too soon. The trip back along the ridge was even more beautiful than the trip south.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20916-med.jpg
Right at a section of spruce traps, we had an unexpected encounter with one of the Whites' most fast-moving creatures: we ran into Bob Williams on his way toward Isolation as part of another epic trip.
Below the Davis Path, the trip back through the old burn was pure grinning.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20917-med.jpg
Who needs a trail in terrain like this?
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20918-med.jpg
After spending Sunday night at our encampment along the Rocky Branch, we awoke to yet another brilliant blue day -- thankful to live in Maine, where our founding patriots are not forgotten (and are celebrated with a state holiday). We broke camp reluctantly, packed up, and bushwhacked back to the Rocky Branch trail at Engine Hill.
The ski down from Engine Hill went smoothly, though much snow had been lost during our stay in the mountains. I would suspect that the Engine Hill birch bushwhack won't be skiable much longer -- in the open sunny areas, it seemed to lose almost a foot of snow in those three warm days. Lower down, more rocks were visible from the beginning. Still, I stubbornly managed to ski down to about 3/4 of a mile from the car before packing it in. I'm liberal about what is skiable; this is skiable:
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20921-med.jpg
but this isn't:
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20922-med.jpg
A short but pleasant walk down to the trailhead brought us back out of the land of snows and into spring. Reluctantly, we admitted that spring has come to the valleys, but we'll be back in the high country soon.
In skiing to and from Mount Isolation, I completed one of the longest adventures of my lifetime: skiing to and from all of New Hampshire's 48 4000'+ mountains. It has been my privilege to get to know the mountains in this way. I ski because I love gliding across snow, not because I am driven by lists. Mount Isolation may have been the last peak for me to reach on skis, but it is in no way my final peak. Just as surely as the snow will melt and fall again, so too will we return to these mountains on skis, finding the freedom of the heels in the freedom of the hills.
In my informal quest to ski to the summits of all of New Hampshire's listed 4000'+ mountains, Mount Isolation remained as the last to explore. This weekend, the quest was completed -- and began again.
Saturday afternoon, we arrived at the Rocky Branch trailhead (1200') under brilliant blue skies to find no snow in sight. Undaunted, we left our sleds in the car (a good idea even if there had been snow) and packed our bags. I have never been accused of packing light, but this time was comical.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20901-med.jpg
As the Rocky Branch Trail climbed through many small rivulets, the warm sun released sweet, spicy smell of mouldering beech leaves -- one of the first smells of spring in these woods. Snow cover appeared spotty at first, but within a mile above the car and less than 1000' in elevation gain, there was enough to start skiing. The joy of being on snow again -- and putting heavy skis and boots on my feet -- lightened my load.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20902-med.jpg
Climbing up to Engine Hill Pass at about 3100', we got our first glimpses of our objective across the Rocky Branch valley. Snow depth here was excellent, about four feet. We skied down about 100' in elevation along the Rocky Branch Trail before diverging right into open birch woods: a not-so-secret bushwhack that would shortcut half a mile a few hundred feet of needless elevation loss, and two fords of the Rocky Branch.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20920-med.jpg
The bushwhack was delightful -- plenty of snow, relatively open trees, and the roaring Rocky Branch as a beacon. We emerged at the Rocky Branch at about 3100' as twilight fell and set up camp.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20903-med.jpg
We awoke the next morning under sunny skies. Though the nighttime temperature had been well below freezing, a leisurely morning in camp allowed our skins and socks to dry out -- plus some much-needed lounging.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20904-med.jpg
As we climbed the Isolation Trail along the Rocky Branch, we stole glimpses of our destination poking above the trees.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20905-med.jpg
Snow depths were excellent, making for essentially continuous skiing the whole way.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20907-med.jpg
Unlike many below-treeline routes in these mountains, sunscreen would have been a good idea on this trip.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20906-med.jpg
We bushwhacked a short ways to avoid two needless fords of the stream, but the final ford was unavoidable. This water crossing -- seemingly much feared in the community -- proved easy under these conditions. We remained quite dry, and lounged on the sunny banks, reveling in the luxury of the mountains.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20908-med.jpg
Above the ford, we soon reached an open area left by an old burn. The trail -- sparsely blazed at best -- grew indistinct, but we followed our instincts and sought out the most open areas. I couldn't help ditching my pack a few times and making some turns through this moderate-angled terrain.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20909-med.jpg
A short, moderately rough climb above this open area brought us to the ridgeline and the historic Davis Path, our route south toward Mount Isolation. This trail was liberally sprinkled with bottomless spruce traps, brief disappearances into nearly impenetrable fir, and open patches.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20911-med.jpg
A mile along the ridge, we reached the base of Mount Isolation's summit block. We knew that a short spur path off the Davis Trail led to the summit... but we also knew that we weren't on the Davis Trail. Resolute in purpose, we began to bushwhack through the horrendous krumholtz. It took half an hour to travel the remaining 500' to the open summit ledges. As a woods-skier, you learn quickly how little a branch it will take to stop you: down low, you can take a 1" viburnum between the legs, but a striped maple that size will stop you; here, finger-sized branches refused to yield to full-force tackles. Scratched, torn, and generally battered, we reached the top.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20912-med.jpg
I ski because I love it, not for purposes of stunt -- but skiing across five feet of rock seemed worth it at the time.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20913-med.jpg
There, at the summit of Mount Isolation, I reached my last remaining unskied NH 4000-footer -- gratefully. I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have had these experiences.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20914-med.jpg
The views north to the east side of the southern Presidential Range weren't shabby either.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20915-med.jpg
After over an hour's lounging and celebration on the summit, we easily found the proper spur down to the Davis Path. We'd been too eager to follow a brief open snow lead and had diverged off the trail just seconds too soon. The trip back along the ridge was even more beautiful than the trip south.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20916-med.jpg
Right at a section of spruce traps, we had an unexpected encounter with one of the Whites' most fast-moving creatures: we ran into Bob Williams on his way toward Isolation as part of another epic trip.
Below the Davis Path, the trip back through the old burn was pure grinning.
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20917-med.jpg
Who needs a trail in terrain like this?
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20918-med.jpg
After spending Sunday night at our encampment along the Rocky Branch, we awoke to yet another brilliant blue day -- thankful to live in Maine, where our founding patriots are not forgotten (and are celebrated with a state holiday). We broke camp reluctantly, packed up, and bushwhacked back to the Rocky Branch trail at Engine Hill.
The ski down from Engine Hill went smoothly, though much snow had been lost during our stay in the mountains. I would suspect that the Engine Hill birch bushwhack won't be skiable much longer -- in the open sunny areas, it seemed to lose almost a foot of snow in those three warm days. Lower down, more rocks were visible from the beginning. Still, I stubbornly managed to ski down to about 3/4 of a mile from the car before packing it in. I'm liberal about what is skiable; this is skiable:
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20921-med.jpg
but this isn't:
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/737/20922-med.jpg
A short but pleasant walk down to the trailhead brought us back out of the land of snows and into spring. Reluctantly, we admitted that spring has come to the valleys, but we'll be back in the high country soon.
In skiing to and from Mount Isolation, I completed one of the longest adventures of my lifetime: skiing to and from all of New Hampshire's 48 4000'+ mountains. It has been my privilege to get to know the mountains in this way. I ski because I love gliding across snow, not because I am driven by lists. Mount Isolation may have been the last peak for me to reach on skis, but it is in no way my final peak. Just as surely as the snow will melt and fall again, so too will we return to these mountains on skis, finding the freedom of the heels in the freedom of the hills.
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