MattC
New member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2004
- Messages
- 1,038
- Reaction score
- 69
Hike the 115, ERD and I rang in the solstice w/ a tramp up to Southwest Hunter Mt. We took the Devil's Path up from Notch Lake and picked up the herd path most of the way to the summit, w/ a little true 'whacking for the last 1/4 mile or so. The snow was in better shape than it had been on Saturday, when Coldfeet and I were across the Clove on Plateau. It was just enough to use snowshoes, w/o the breakable icy crust that had been present on the weekend. The three of us broke out the trail pretty well. The only part where ice presented a challenge was the one ledge not too far up from Notch Lake, the one that has a rock shelter below it, and a switchback in the trail above it. It's such a small spot that it really wouldn't be worth the change into crampons. Hike the 115 has one of those trekking poles with the little ax blade on the handle, and this really made negotiating the ledge pretty easy. It worked well as an arm-extender for us vertically-challenged types.
The trees were less iced than they had been, but still a little glazed, particularly on the birch branches and twigs. Bare hardwoods w/ icy branches glistening in the sun against the dark of conifers is quite a lovely thing. We also had a few nice through-the-trees looks at Plateau, Olderbark, and the slopes of the main part of Hunter. Some solid tracks, including snowshoe hare and bobcat (not together, fortunately for the hares!).
Of special note is the ice! The freezing rain last Friday was annoying, but it did help create some beautiful flows. The rock shelter I mention above was especially striking. I have a very good memory of this place, because Dr. Wu took a shot of me sticking my head into it last January, which became my winter avater pic. Last winter, the floor was iced up pretty well, but right now, the icicle walls surrounding the thing are amazing-it's like a little cell. There were even larger flows in other places. The climbers are loving all this as well-I saw about half a dozen returning to their cars both Weds and Sat.
Matt
The trees were less iced than they had been, but still a little glazed, particularly on the birch branches and twigs. Bare hardwoods w/ icy branches glistening in the sun against the dark of conifers is quite a lovely thing. We also had a few nice through-the-trees looks at Plateau, Olderbark, and the slopes of the main part of Hunter. Some solid tracks, including snowshoe hare and bobcat (not together, fortunately for the hares!).
Of special note is the ice! The freezing rain last Friday was annoying, but it did help create some beautiful flows. The rock shelter I mention above was especially striking. I have a very good memory of this place, because Dr. Wu took a shot of me sticking my head into it last January, which became my winter avater pic. Last winter, the floor was iced up pretty well, but right now, the icicle walls surrounding the thing are amazing-it's like a little cell. There were even larger flows in other places. The climbers are loving all this as well-I saw about half a dozen returning to their cars both Weds and Sat.
Matt
