Views Not From the Top (VNFTT): Mt. Hale on 10-July-2008

[1HappyHiker]

The views from the summit of Mt. Hale are quite limited. However, from both the Fire Warden Trail and the Lend-A-Hand trail, there are several “Views Not from the Top”. (Would that be VNFTT?!) Some of these views are available directly from the trail itself (or from a spur off the main trail), and some involve a short off-trail bushwhack.

All trails taken on this trek were in very good shape. They were as follows: North Twin Trail (+bushwhack trail along east side of the Little River); Fire Warden Trail, Lend-A-Hand Trail.

Since I opted to use the same route for both the outbound and the return, this involved summiting Mt. Hale twice!! This isn’t a big deal in my estimation. But to avoid a dual summiting, one could car-spot at the trailheads for the Zealand Trail and North Twin Trail.

On the day of the trek, some of the higher peaks (mainly the Presidentials ) had a persistent cloud cover hovering at various levels throughout the day. And so, some views were pretty much lost, however other fine views were still available. Photos are located HERE.

1HappyHiker

 

[zman]

Nice pictures !!!! especially how you captured all the shades of green- If there is a VNFTT, could there also be a VFTB (view from the bottom) like from a notch, pond or .... Sorry, I couldn't resist- it's a side effect of "hiking envy"

 

[Jazzbo]

Is that a view of Little River Valley?

Is that a view of Little River Valley in view from ledge off FW Trail? We were up FW Trail last April and I noticed a small rocky knob to the north visible from the saddle below summit cone. Is that where you caught this view? I think you might call it North Hale. There's also a very ledgy looking South Sugarloaf further to north I noticed on way up FW which looks like a worthy objective in its own right. You might not have seen it so well. We were hiking before leaves came out and had good views through the open birches of valley FW trail ascends though.

 

[1HappyHiker]

Is that a view of Little River Valley in view from ledge off FW Trail?

Jazzbo, you are correct, i.e. the view from the ledge off the FW Trail shown in one of my photos is indeed looking into the Little River Valley.

The photo was taken from a ledge on a west flank of Hale. For this particular ledge, I cannot take credit for finding it on my own . . . was told about it, and went there to check it out.

 

[una_dogger]

Nice report!

The Lend a Hand Trail is one of my favorites in the Whites.