Sunday, 28 August 2011

Whiteface via Connery Pond

Whiteface summit sign with Moose and MacKenzie in the background

Trailside mushroom
Whiteface was one of my first Adirondack high peak hikes, Mark and I hiked up from the Atmospheric station several years ago. That trail starts with a relentless climb up Marble mountain. Friday's hike from the Connery Pond trailhead was the inverse. The first 3+ miles gain little elevation and are generally soft underfoot. It is a pleasant "walk in the park" to that point. The trail makes a big right turn at Whiteface Landing (a small dock on the shore of Lake Placid) and heads up the side of a brook until reaching a lean-to. At Whiteface Landing you pass a sign that indicates 3 miles to the summit and 2932 feet to gain (yikes!!). The section between the landing and the lean to is not too bad and is still soft.

Steep trail
From the lean-to on, the party is over. From that point on it is steep and rocky (and nasty) with no let up. Thankfully it was almost completely dry. I'm pretty sure that the trees, rocks and whatever wildlife lives up there hear plenty of cussing and complaining from hikers on their way up (probably down too). Most of the ascent is in the woods which at least gives you some protection from the sun as well as trees to use to pull yourself up the steeper bits. Just as you are about to throw in the towel and call for a helicopter the trail breaks tree line and you start to see some views. There are some fun short scrambles and thankfully the rock wall above is the summit.

Pay a quarter for a close-up view of the Great range
The summit is a somewhat strange experience. You haul your sorry self over that last rock and think to yourself "Hey, where did all these people come from and how come none of them have backpacks? And who ever heard of families with small kids hiking up a mountain in flip-flops?". Whiteface, has an auto-road to the top. In the summer you can pay to drive up (and in the winter you can xc ski up). It would be a great bike ride, although you would need to check your breaks beforehand! For those that make the drive there is the option of hiking the last few hundred feet with a railing to hold onto or taking the small elevator. There is a restaurant as well as a small gift shop and those binocular things you put a quarter in. While the masses seemed to be enjoying the summit, I bet they secretly wished they were hot, exhausted, sweaty and not quite sure they were going to make it back down to their cars like me! The view from Whiteface is quite something and especially on a clear sunny (not hazy) day and there is plenty of space to find a spot and soak in the view.

The return trip was slow going. I met a few groups on their way up. A short nap at the lean-to was a welcome rest stop. Just as I was nearing the parking lot I could hear someone crying. At first I thought it was my sore feet voicing their displeasure but it turned out it was a family setting out on a walk that one of them was not happy about. I don't know what he/she was complaining about, being carried in a backpack and all!

More photos.


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Sunday, 7 August 2011

Late start to hiking season

At Moosilauke summit in the fog

Appalachian trail north from Moosilauke
I spent a few days this week in NH getting my vacation off to a relaxing start and getting a late start to hiking season. I figured it would be best to ease into it to make sure that the equipment was still working. By equipment I mean knees, lungs etc rather than boots and hiking poles (although those still work too. Some scanning through my White mountain guide led me to two peaks with short trails and trailheads at least 2000 feet above sea level. It is always a welcome sight to be driving uphill on the way to a trailhead, less elevation to gain on foot!

Gorge brook
Thursday, I hiked Moosilauke from the Ravine Lodge. I went up via the Snapper-Carriage Road trails and returned via Gorge Brook. The Carriage road was a welcome trail for the first time out as it was pretty soft underfoot and a consistent but never steep grade. The cloud ceiling was low which made it cool on the way up but obscured almost all views when at the top. I stopped for some long breaks at South Peak as well as the summit waiting for the clouds to break up but they never did. There were plenty of people out including a couple of AT section hikers. After about an hour with no views to speak of I headed back down the Gorge brook trail. This was a short day so I headed down the Kancamagus highway to North Conway for some tax free shopping.

Franconia ridge and Garfield from Osceola
Friday, I opted for another short one to Osceola from Tripoli Road. This may be the shorted 4000 footer hike in the WMNF. It is rocky underfoot and entirely made up of switchbacks. I appreciated these on the way back down but was getting pissed on the way up as they did not seem to be gaining much elevation. When I arrived at the top I encountered a few hikers and the inside of a cloud. The hikers were Bruin fans who appreciated the Ottawa connection for all that Chara, Kelly and Chiarelli helped them accomplish. The book described an excellant view. While there is an open summit facing east, the best views are to the north and west but you have to stand on a small boulder to see the Pemi Wilderness from Franconia Ridge to Mt Carrigain.

More Moosilauke pics


More Osceola pics

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