peakbagger
In Rembrance , July 2024
I had a bunch of morning projects around the house that delayed the start time for a hike today. The conditions were perfect, bright blue sky and about 4 inches of fresh snow on the drive way from the 25th, so headed over to Starr King and Waumbek getting there around 11:15. The road to the parking lot was not plowed but plenty of traffic has been up there. The underlying base is pretty rough with a couple of very noticeable water bars. The conditions were perfect for microspikes but in anticipation of snow on Thursday, I threw the snowshoes on my new pack configuration and headed up. The trail conditions were perfect with great grip all the way up Starr King. There was zero breeze but as usual the slab up through the softwoods to the west of the summit was shaded and cool. There was very little wildlife activity out. I encountered a few folks heading down as I went up.
As I got up near the summit I stopped by the "high point" rock and lamented the lack of any good view like there used to be and then stopped by the former viewpoint that looked west and northwest, it too is grown in and the views are quite obscured by trees. At that point I got ready for the further lack of view at the old cabin site as long ago when I first started hiking, this area had one of the best views of the whites from the north and resigned myself to the walk over to Waumbek. Rounding the corner I did a double take, the view from the cabin site is back. I don't know if the clearing was official or bootleg but boy has the view improved, The view is now completely open starting at Madison all the way down the presidential ridge to Willey with no trees to block the view. With a bit of moving around, The Lafayette ridge, the twins, Bond and Carrigan all the way to Shelburne Moriah are visible.
I ended up hanging out at the cabin site enjoying the new view of the area and noticing the rather aggressive clear cuts on the north side of Bois Mountain In Randolph. It sure doesn't look like a USFS cut. I skipped the walk to Waumbek and headed back down. This restored view and the view just past the Waumbek summit now make this hike view intensive. I also noticed a blowdown and ledge to the right just after leaving the cabin site that has the potential for some clearing to give a good north view.
I personally did not object to the clearing and the reopening of past views.In the grand scheme of management issues in the WMNF, I consider some selective brush cutting to restore past views on summits a good thing and wish it was applied to other summits (like Hale).
The Waumbek Starr King hike is hard to beat on nice day and is a great Sunday hike for those who want to call an early day at the end of the weekend. Even if the parking lot is not usable, there is a winter lot on the opposite side of route 2 that is usually plowed or worse case park down near the store.
As I got up near the summit I stopped by the "high point" rock and lamented the lack of any good view like there used to be and then stopped by the former viewpoint that looked west and northwest, it too is grown in and the views are quite obscured by trees. At that point I got ready for the further lack of view at the old cabin site as long ago when I first started hiking, this area had one of the best views of the whites from the north and resigned myself to the walk over to Waumbek. Rounding the corner I did a double take, the view from the cabin site is back. I don't know if the clearing was official or bootleg but boy has the view improved, The view is now completely open starting at Madison all the way down the presidential ridge to Willey with no trees to block the view. With a bit of moving around, The Lafayette ridge, the twins, Bond and Carrigan all the way to Shelburne Moriah are visible.
I ended up hanging out at the cabin site enjoying the new view of the area and noticing the rather aggressive clear cuts on the north side of Bois Mountain In Randolph. It sure doesn't look like a USFS cut. I skipped the walk to Waumbek and headed back down. This restored view and the view just past the Waumbek summit now make this hike view intensive. I also noticed a blowdown and ledge to the right just after leaving the cabin site that has the potential for some clearing to give a good north view.
I personally did not object to the clearing and the reopening of past views.In the grand scheme of management issues in the WMNF, I consider some selective brush cutting to restore past views on summits a good thing and wish it was applied to other summits (like Hale).
The Waumbek Starr King hike is hard to beat on nice day and is a great Sunday hike for those who want to call an early day at the end of the weekend. Even if the parking lot is not usable, there is a winter lot on the opposite side of route 2 that is usually plowed or worse case park down near the store.
