A hot one on the MacIntyres

I figure that a hike has worked out just right if I run out of water just as I arrive back at the car. Friday was such a day as I hiked to Algonquin and Iroquois. It was a scorcher and although I was on the trail at 7am it was really humid on the early flat part of the trail. Thankfully as I got higher up there was a stiff breeze and the humidity dropped. I really love to hike Algonquin. It is a relatively short hike but has plenty of short but fun scrambles, a lot of terrain above treeline and views that can't be beat. There is a really fun section of steep slab just after the split to Wright peak. Fun when dry on the way up that is, not quite as much fun on the way down. I had picked up a few rocks from the pile at the parking lot and dropped them off at the sign as you approach the summit. The stewards use these small rocks to "fence" off the areas where fragile vegetation is growing to keep hikers on the rock while at the summit. It is probably a great job to be a steward spending your work day at a summit although I know my knees could not handle the "daily commute".

I took a few photos on Algonquin before heading off down to the trail to Boundary and then Iroquois. It is a drop of about 500 feet to the trail but there is the distraction of the straight ahead view of Boundary, Iroquois and Wallface. The trail between the peaks is a narrow one with sharp stuff on either side. I guess it has been dry this summer because I remember some nasty mud pits along the way from my last hike to Iroquois. You end up scratched and a bit dirty but happy! As you arrive at Iroquois there are two short but steep cliffs to scramble up. The great thing about Iroquois is the silence. Hordes of people make the trek to Algonquin but few go the extra mile over to Iroquois. I can't think of many better spots to sit with the sunshine with a nice breeze blowing as you enjoy the view. Not much to say about the trip back other than the climb back up Algonquin is tiring and the descent back to the LOJ is steep and rocky so you have to watch where you step to avoid a faceplant (which is worse when there is no snow covering up all the rocks).

More pics from the hike.