Raven
Well-known member
26-28 May 2012
The pack felt heavier than usual with the addition of a tent, stove, fuel, pan, and other backpacking gear not often pulling on my shoulders. It felt good though, comforting in its weight, balanced. Besides, we weren’t going far. We were leaving Appalachia on the Valley Way about 6:30 Saturday morning bound for the Valley Way Campsite. It was a beautiful morning to begin a trip my friend K had looked forward to for over a year. She had wanted to be on a 5,000 foot mountain for sunrise…or thereabouts. I was happy to be her companion and, as I found out later, a bit of a Sherpa.
After arriving at camp, we set up the tent, bear-bagged the food, repacked for the day, and headed up toward the summits. A quick right on the Upper Bruin brought us quickly to the Air Line at the most dramatic part of the Durand Ridge. I never tire of the view into King Ravine. We followed the ridge up past the Chemin des Dames and the dramatic end of the King Ravine Trail.
We continued on the Air Line over jumbled, uneven boulders to the summit of Mount Adams. We picked a good spot for a break out of the relatively mild, but gusty wind. The warm sun felt rejuvenating when the breeze was down. The views were fantastic this day with clear summits and blue ridges overlapped in the distance.
After a nice break, it was down the Star Lake Trail for some time at Star Lake. This is simply a magical place with red stained rocks popping out of a small glacial tarn. An enormous white quartz outcropping sits above the lake, and other similar quartz “stars” adorn the walls of Madison and Adams surrounding the col. It has been a favorite place of mine for many years.
Continued...
The pack felt heavier than usual with the addition of a tent, stove, fuel, pan, and other backpacking gear not often pulling on my shoulders. It felt good though, comforting in its weight, balanced. Besides, we weren’t going far. We were leaving Appalachia on the Valley Way about 6:30 Saturday morning bound for the Valley Way Campsite. It was a beautiful morning to begin a trip my friend K had looked forward to for over a year. She had wanted to be on a 5,000 foot mountain for sunrise…or thereabouts. I was happy to be her companion and, as I found out later, a bit of a Sherpa.
After arriving at camp, we set up the tent, bear-bagged the food, repacked for the day, and headed up toward the summits. A quick right on the Upper Bruin brought us quickly to the Air Line at the most dramatic part of the Durand Ridge. I never tire of the view into King Ravine. We followed the ridge up past the Chemin des Dames and the dramatic end of the King Ravine Trail.
We continued on the Air Line over jumbled, uneven boulders to the summit of Mount Adams. We picked a good spot for a break out of the relatively mild, but gusty wind. The warm sun felt rejuvenating when the breeze was down. The views were fantastic this day with clear summits and blue ridges overlapped in the distance.
After a nice break, it was down the Star Lake Trail for some time at Star Lake. This is simply a magical place with red stained rocks popping out of a small glacial tarn. An enormous white quartz outcropping sits above the lake, and other similar quartz “stars” adorn the walls of Madison and Adams surrounding the col. It has been a favorite place of mine for many years.
Continued...
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