VT/NH Trip 7/26-29

[MattC]

T-max and I just spent four day hiking across Vermont and New Hampshire and back again. Fun! We began the journey Weds. evening, but didn't quite make it out of NY. Rather than drive into VT, we headed to Paradox Lake by about 9 and set up our tents for a short night before moving on first thing in the AM. We agreed that it felt weird to drive through our beloved Adirondacks without hiking there. Terri described it as a "drive-by!"

Thurs. we paid a visit to Abraham and Ellen by way of Lincoln Gap. It was already hot and humid as we started out. A steady climb with a bit of flattish trail put us on the summit of Abe, where there is a rock ring adorned with several cords of Tibetan prayer flags. Good views up and down VT, but alas, too much haze for the neighboring states. Onward along the ridge, I counted 7 summits total-Abe, Little Abe, Lincoln, two on Nancy Hanks (on had a sign, the other was marked as the peak on the map), Cutts and finally Ellen.
More hazy views from Cutts and the ski areas on Lincoln and Ellen. Back to Abe, where we lingered a bit, chatted w/ some locals, then back down. A quick stop at Battell shelter for a last look as some hilarious cartoon entries in the log.

Another night of car-camping, this time at Button Bay State Park. This is an open, grassy area near Lake Champlain. Basketball court, volleyball net, tether ball-a good place to come with family or friends who like to do things other than hike. Imagine liking things other than hiking!

Friday was Camels Hump. The same route I did last year-Burrows>Long Trail>Forest City loop. Still hot, humid and hazy. We were greeted up top by lots of mountain sandwort, a dark-eyed junco, a friendly summit steward, and a fine breeze. Still no NY or NH views though. We had to take it on faith that the Adirondacks and Whites still existed beyond all that haze. Back down the spectacular, rocky south side of the Hump, along the ridge and down. One of my favorite mountains-I think I want to climb it once a year.

Onward to New Hampshire. We took the incredibly scenic "Kanc" as everyone likes to call it. We would sleep indoors in North Conway the next two nights. Thanks Dawn, wherever you are! Friday night we ate at the Moat brewpub, the first real food in two days. I had a cajun catfish wrap, salad and a pint of delicious pale ale. Good stuff after two days of trail food and convenience store fare.

Continued...

Matt

 

[MattC]

Part 2

Saturday the forecast called for a good chance of t-storms, possibly some severe. Terri was participating in Seek the Peak, the climb to benefit the Mt. Washington Observatory, and she felt obligated to give Washington an honest attempt for her pledgers. Since there was a good chance of her having to turn back, I figured I'd do something else without extensive above-treeline area. For my first climb of Washington, I'd like to wait for a good weather day and try for 3 or 4 of the Presidentials at once. So Terri recommended the Wildcats.

We parked her car at Pinkham and she headed one way, I the other, across the road. I walked the mile or so along the wetland and Lost Pond, warming up quickly and hoping to see a moose. No dice. Then it got steep for a while. I clambered up pretty relentlessly and was pouring the sweat off as I made the first lookout. Amazing views across to Washinston and it's neighbors. At the second lookout, there was a guy w/ a pack who turned out to be an AT hiker called Second Wind. He had met up w/ M&M/Hike the 115/Dawn briefly in Harpers Ferry. I walked and talked w/ Second Wind until Wildcat D, where we had more good views. We could still see the summit of Washington, which I figured bode well for Terri. Along the first couple miles of the Wildcat Trail I noted quite a bit of that mirror-like flaky stuff in the rocks. Mica?

I left Second Wind at the summit and motored along over the various other Wildcats, loving the sense of remoteness now that I couldn't see the notch any longer. The perfume of balsam was everywhere as I cruised along the woods tunnel. On A, the main peak, I enjoyed a snack and the amazing views of Carter Dome and Notch. Then down and back out the Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, where I saw about five times as many people as I had the entire hike until that point. Including two 20ish kids schlepping frame packs full of goods for the Hut.

There was just a light, brief rain at this point, and I was actually hoping for more. After enjoying the lovely walk out along the brook (in spite of some black flies and mosquitos), I waited 40 minutes or so in the lot for Terri, who had successfully summited Washington after all! She had received a bag of goodies for her efforts as well. It sounds like a great event, which I'll let her write more about if she wishes.

Sunday was our day to return, so we opted for a short hike up and down Hale. The forecast once again included a chance of strong t-storms, and it was once again merely hot and humid.It was sunny up high, cloudy down around the mountains. After the fun, steep climb we hung out on the summit for half an hour or so. There were several juncos around and a large garter snake. Terri also explored a bit and found an old trail/herd path leading west off the summit. On the way down we met a guy who was planning on using this to get back to the North Twin Trail. He said it was actually the remains of the old fire wardens road. I rather liked Hale. It reminded me a bit of a Catskill hike, and the shortness of it put us on the road early.

We headed back through the lovely Connecticut River Valley and back across Vermont to my waiting car in Glens Falls. Half a dozen high peaks, 5 of them new for me, and another great sample of the lovely Greens and Whites. As for Terri, with the Vermont additions, she is now just a few Maine peaks shy of the 115. Thanks again for all the driving and the hike recommendations Terri. I should also mention how once again I found the New England trail system to be great. I have yet to walk on a poor section of trail over there, and most parts I've been on have been superbly designed and built. Thanks to all those trail folks past, present and future. A great trip, much too short.
Hope to get back again soon.

Matt

 

[Tom Rankin]

Sounds great!

 

[Peakbagr]

The Ellen-Abraham ridge walk is one of my favorites. You expect the view on Abraham, but until you've done the ridge the first time, you get all those small viewspots here and there. Different than the typical LT hike.

The Kanc is really nice. Good campground along it too, and what a nice road to drive!!!

Nice other hikes too.

If the purpose of the trip report was to share the feeling of being over in the Whites, you certainly conveyed it and made me itch to get back.

Alan

 

[TMax]

Great job on the TR Matt. It was a really nice mini-vacation.

The Abraham/Ellen hike turned out to be a bigger day than I anticipated but worth it! One wierd thing...We walked into the warming hut on Lincoln and it was clear someone has been hanging out there. There was quite a bit of food (and flies helping themselves to it) and what looked like a pee-bottle. It must have been close to or over 100 degrees in there. Can't figure out why someone would want to be hanging out there. On the way back down, we spotted an enourmous chunck of quartz. It was very cool.

Camel's Hump was really wonderful. I can't wait to get back there and do that hike in the winter. It must be an incredibly fun climb.

Mt. Washington was, as it always is, simply awesome. I chose the standard route this year because of the poor weather prediction (up Tuckerman, down Lion Head) and I saw loads of people on the way up. Seek the Peak brings out lots of folks who don't often do this kind of thing so I saw the whole range of hikers from those who were completely miserable with a hike they underestimated to those who were practically running to the top. The most distressing was a family who was forcing a very unhappy child to continue on.

I certainly appreciated Hale a little more this time. Especially that big ole snake on the top!

LIFE IS GOOD!

 

[Jay H]

Camel's Hump was really wonderful. I can't wait to get back there and do that hike in the winter. It must be an incredibly fun climb

How about the fall?

Jay

 

[giggy]

sweet -

 

[MattC]

One wierd thing...We walked into the warming hut on Lincoln and it was clear someone has been hanging out there. There was quite a bit of food (and flies helping themselves to it) and what looked like a pee-bottle. It must have been close to or over 100 degrees in there. Can't figure out why someone would want to be hanging out there. On the way back down, we spotted an enourmous chunck of quartz. It was very cool.

Wow, I had somehow forgotten about both of those things. Yes, that hut was strange, w/ the rancid food, heat, flies, mysterious substance in the bottle, etc. It was kind of creepy now that I think of it.

And that chunk of quartz on the trail, a tenth or two of a mile below the summit of Abe. Both of us missed it on the way up somehow, but stopped to admire it on the way down. It was amazing. Can't wait to see your pics Terri.

Matt