Smoky Mtns in NH? Smarts Mtn Comparing

[grouseking]

Well, I must say, I wasn't expecting the Quebec wildfires to be the dominant factor in my hiking this weekend, but hey, that is what makes every trip unique. On Sunday, 5/30/10 I went up to Smarts Mtn with my father. We were pretty tired from out last week's hike to Whiteface along the lightly used McCrillis trail, so this week we were looking for a shorter, easier trek. The AT up Smarts was not to disappoint!

Throughout the trip, I'm going to post some comparison shots between Sunday's hike, and a trip I took last July. The smoke was really impressive, to say the least. So, as usual, lots of pictures coming.

Lambert Ridge trail is a beautiful walk through some tall hardwoods during the first 1/2 mile or so, then it rises up and gives you a a nice view across the way to the Dartmouth skiway area and points south. Time to compare and contrast!

Taken 7/10/09

Taken Sunday. 5/30/10, with smoke

7/09

5/10

A look back at my dad

more comparing
7/09

5/10

There were times when the smoke was so heavy,and the scent of smoke so strong, it felt like there were wildfires going on right nearby.

7/09

5/30

7/09

5/30...gross

continued in a minute

 

[grouseking]

part 2

Since the photo ops were less than stellar, I tried to take pics of other things.

fungus

Bunchberry flowers

beautiful sections of the Lambert Ridge Tr

New trail work, making this a walk in the park! Well appreciated!

Thanks to that trail work, the hike was much easier than last time, when there were no steps. It was kind of a belly crawl at times, because of the wet slabs. But Sunday there was no extra work involved. Fine by me, esp with the smoke screwing up my breathing.

K, now I'm at the top, ready to climb this monster of a fire tower..dizzy?

ready for more comparing?

7/09

5/30/10

7/09

5/10

7/09

5/10

eventually, the haze did lift just a little, for me to get a semi decent shot of Mt Cube

cont ina minute

 

[grouseking]

K, one more comparison

7/09

5/30

So, if there was no doubt before, smoke in the atmosphere can greatly reduce visibility.

Overall, the hike was a really good one. Despite the smoke, I was feeling good physically and never tired till the very steepest section before the summit. But thanks to new trail work, it wasn't that bad.

A couple more shots down along the Ranger trail

glorious hardwood shade

very impressive blowdown!

to end it all, some nice flowing water

After going thru these pics, I realize that I take the same picture over and over! But I'm glad I did for this, it really is fun to compare!

Enjoy
http://grouseking.smugmug.com/New-Hampshire/2010/Smoky-Smarts-5-30-10/12375375_Hi6gX#884601316_hNwvZ

grouseking

 

[erugs]

Just wondering if your comparison pictures were planned or taken by coincidence? Pretty interesting to see the differences.

 

[w7xman]

Love the series of comparitive shots! Nice report!

 

[SAR-EMT40]

We could actually smell the smoke on Saturday and Sunday and the haze was clearly visible.

Keith

 

[grouseking]

Just wondering if your comparison pictures were planned or taken by coincidence? Pretty interesting to see the differences.

Ha, they were definitely not planned. I had no idea the fires were going to hamper the views. It just shows you...I guess I have a similar eye when I take pictures over and over. Next time I'll be taking different ones.

Love the series of comparitive shots! Nice report!

Thanks, Jim! I'm all about comparing and contrasting. It is how I remember things...I guess I'm a visual and natural learner.

We could actually smell the smoke on Saturday and Sunday and the haze was clearly visible.

Keith

It was gross, wasn't it? I thought there were lots of campfires going on and being trapped by an inversion. Well, the inversion was present, but it was canadian fires instead! At one point, the smoke was so thick, I thought a rainshower was coming through, but in reality it was just a nasty batch of smoke! gross

grouseking

 

[SAR-EMT40]

It was gross, wasn't it? I thought there were lots of campfires going on and being trapped by an inversion. Well, the inversion was present, but it was canadian fires instead! At one point, the smoke was so thick, I thought a rainshower was coming through, but in reality it was just a nasty batch of smoke! gross

grouseking

It was pretty surprising/amazing. I originally assumed that it was from the campfires but the campground nearby doesn't allow fires before 7PM and after 11PM so it wasn't them. And I was trying to figure out the haze because there was no humidity. It was pretty surprising. But I also remember my car having ash cover it finely from Mt St. Helen's when it erupted so I believed that was what it was when my wife mentioned the fires.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Excellent comparative photos; reminded me of eye exam a couple of weeks ago.

Here are a couple of interesting links on the Quebec fires (play around with the animations at the second one):

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/events/31May2010/

http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=127&mapdate=20100531

 

[grouseking]

Excellent comparative photos; reminded me of eye exam a couple of weeks ago.

Here are a couple of interesting links on the Quebec fires (play around with the animations at the second one):

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/events/31May2010/

http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=127&mapdate=20100531

Thanks for the links, Dr. D! The visible satellite pictures are very impressive for sure. I was watching it this holiday weekend, and it amazed me the visibility went down under two miles all the way down to Chatham, MA.

grouseking