una_dogger
Well-known member
I've really been wanting to get to Whitewall, and as luck would have it, Rocket21 asked me if I'd be interested this past saturday. Knowing that MichaelJ was also very keen on Whitewall, I didn't feel a bit of guilt committing us without really discussing it. 
Afterall, we will be married in a few weeks, and he really needs to get used to my way of doing things.
We collaborated with Forestgnome, who's spent alot of time on Whitewall, and after discussing many important factors; with doggability being the most serious issue concerning us all, we made a solid plan.
We met at Zealand; and low and behold it was like a hiker convention in the parking lot. First we encountered ScenicNH taking down his tripod along the roadside by the lake. Then in the parking lot, we met up with Mad Hatter, Boo, Poison Ivy, and ScenicNH again. There was also a subaru with a Maine plate and a VfTT sticker, but we didn't recognize that one.
Pretty soon, a half hour after we got there, I stated that we better get going before more friends and acquaintances arrived. Off we struck, down the trail, chatting happily. Its seems like the summer has come and gone, with too much time between visits and hikes, and it was good to catch up.
As often "is" with bushwacking, there is a difference of opinion as to where to start. I had been by this area of the Ethan Pond Trail last weekend, and had scoped what I figured to be "the place" to ascend. There were conflicting ideas, and we evaluated them all, in all fairness, because, that's just what friends do. In the end, we started where I thought. But that's where my decisions ended, because I'd never been up Whitewall, or a slide quite like this one, and my attention was focused on the group, and especially, Little Terra, with her Ruff Wear Griptex Booties, and making sure we all stayed together and happy.
Climbing the scree slope was actually not very physically challenging, but mentally, it required care. So many large rocks poised on teeny ones, like cruel fulcrums waiting to dislodge their heavy burdens. We made good work of the slide, no one sending any rocks down, and Terra, while apparently somewhat confused at the absence of visual or scent trail -- followed us in good dog hearted trust.
About 750 feet up, we reached the beginning of the bottleneck area where the adjacent walls of the canyon frame the slide. Above us, the standard bottleneck approach looked sandy and active. Patrick suggested we head into a right hand gully, just above his "knife edge" approach from a recent climb. The base was jagged and wet, but the majority of this line was solid, stable slab with some fine loose scree, and much more dog friendly.
We followed this line until we came to the top of the gully, then veered upward, sometimes circumnavigating small cliffs. There was plenty of vegetation and I could sense Terra, and feel myself, relaxing knowing we were back in the land of the living.
Looking across the canyon to the head wall on the other side, I was so impressed to be in this place, seeing a mirror image of what we were now standing precariously upon, well, there just are no words for it. Its one of those times where I just feel in awe of the power of nature, ego-less and full of gratitude for the ability and opportunity to witness.
Some scary steep scrambles and we were near the top, on fine, open flat ledges with amazing 360 views. We spent a good deal of time here. It was a great feeling to see such a solitary and breathtaking view, one I'd only be seeing because of the kindness of friends.
We wacked to the true summit, through open meadows interspersed with spruce and blueberry. It seems that there aren't many people who venture here, and even fewer who take the slide approach, but all were those we know or know of. Small world we hikers live in.
We chose to descend via the North Slope, and spent the next couple of hours meandering through open birch glades filled with golden rod, hobblebush, fireweed, and ferns. An American Lady butterfly danced along in front of us. Evidence of bear and moose were everywhere. The afternoon sky was bluer than I can remember. There was some silence punctuated by exclamations of beauty, joy and remembrance. It was a good day. Terra picked up several scent trails, and scurried here and there. I learned a little bit more about each of the people I was with. I stopped thinking about my everyday responsibilities and played in the woods with reckless abandon. I learned that bumble bees like to be petted.
And at the end of it, scraped legs, sunburned shoulders, and muddy wet shoes, I just kept thinking, "Holy smokes. We climbed Whitewall. Now isn't that something".
Pictures here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70073&id=1049077637&l=18a71eb76c
Afterall, we will be married in a few weeks, and he really needs to get used to my way of doing things. We collaborated with Forestgnome, who's spent alot of time on Whitewall, and after discussing many important factors; with doggability being the most serious issue concerning us all, we made a solid plan.
We met at Zealand; and low and behold it was like a hiker convention in the parking lot. First we encountered ScenicNH taking down his tripod along the roadside by the lake. Then in the parking lot, we met up with Mad Hatter, Boo, Poison Ivy, and ScenicNH again. There was also a subaru with a Maine plate and a VfTT sticker, but we didn't recognize that one.
Pretty soon, a half hour after we got there, I stated that we better get going before more friends and acquaintances arrived. Off we struck, down the trail, chatting happily. Its seems like the summer has come and gone, with too much time between visits and hikes, and it was good to catch up.
As often "is" with bushwacking, there is a difference of opinion as to where to start. I had been by this area of the Ethan Pond Trail last weekend, and had scoped what I figured to be "the place" to ascend. There were conflicting ideas, and we evaluated them all, in all fairness, because, that's just what friends do. In the end, we started where I thought. But that's where my decisions ended, because I'd never been up Whitewall, or a slide quite like this one, and my attention was focused on the group, and especially, Little Terra, with her Ruff Wear Griptex Booties, and making sure we all stayed together and happy.
Climbing the scree slope was actually not very physically challenging, but mentally, it required care. So many large rocks poised on teeny ones, like cruel fulcrums waiting to dislodge their heavy burdens. We made good work of the slide, no one sending any rocks down, and Terra, while apparently somewhat confused at the absence of visual or scent trail -- followed us in good dog hearted trust.
About 750 feet up, we reached the beginning of the bottleneck area where the adjacent walls of the canyon frame the slide. Above us, the standard bottleneck approach looked sandy and active. Patrick suggested we head into a right hand gully, just above his "knife edge" approach from a recent climb. The base was jagged and wet, but the majority of this line was solid, stable slab with some fine loose scree, and much more dog friendly.
We followed this line until we came to the top of the gully, then veered upward, sometimes circumnavigating small cliffs. There was plenty of vegetation and I could sense Terra, and feel myself, relaxing knowing we were back in the land of the living.
Looking across the canyon to the head wall on the other side, I was so impressed to be in this place, seeing a mirror image of what we were now standing precariously upon, well, there just are no words for it. Its one of those times where I just feel in awe of the power of nature, ego-less and full of gratitude for the ability and opportunity to witness.
Some scary steep scrambles and we were near the top, on fine, open flat ledges with amazing 360 views. We spent a good deal of time here. It was a great feeling to see such a solitary and breathtaking view, one I'd only be seeing because of the kindness of friends.
We wacked to the true summit, through open meadows interspersed with spruce and blueberry. It seems that there aren't many people who venture here, and even fewer who take the slide approach, but all were those we know or know of. Small world we hikers live in.
We chose to descend via the North Slope, and spent the next couple of hours meandering through open birch glades filled with golden rod, hobblebush, fireweed, and ferns. An American Lady butterfly danced along in front of us. Evidence of bear and moose were everywhere. The afternoon sky was bluer than I can remember. There was some silence punctuated by exclamations of beauty, joy and remembrance. It was a good day. Terra picked up several scent trails, and scurried here and there. I learned a little bit more about each of the people I was with. I stopped thinking about my everyday responsibilities and played in the woods with reckless abandon. I learned that bumble bees like to be petted.
And at the end of it, scraped legs, sunburned shoulders, and muddy wet shoes, I just kept thinking, "Holy smokes. We climbed Whitewall. Now isn't that something".
Pictures here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70073&id=1049077637&l=18a71eb76c
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