Views From The Top

Views From The Top - Forums http://www.vftt.org/forums/ backcountry, hiking, skiing, kayaking, new england, new york, white mountains, adirondacks, catskills en Sun, 20 May 2012 10:08:50 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.vftt.org/forums/images/misc/rss.png Views From The Top - Forums http://www.vftt.org/forums/ Paving underway in Franconia Notch http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45067-Paving-underway-in-Franconia-Notch&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 01:53:34 GMT Paving resumed Thursday, 5/17, with sign saying to expect long delays. Road is down to one lane with north and south traffic taking turns.

Hopefully they don't work on weekends. It certainly was slow on Thursday. ]]> gram http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45067-Paving-underway-in-Franconia-Notch Peak Above the Nubble 5/19/12 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45066-Peak-Above-the-Nubble-5-19-12&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 01:45:02 GMT Peak Above the Nubble Bushwhack May 19, 2012. Dry conditions all the way, with a few damp, mossy spots here and there close to the summit. Several significant blowdowns on herd path from Nubble to summit; looks like they've been there a while. These weren't a problem on the ascent but it was hard finding the path again after going around them on the descent.

Special equipment needed: really good bug repellent. We didn't see any other hikers today so we had the bugs all to ourselves.

Thank you D&D for your helpful tips on our route up PAtN. The overgrown clearing was considerably thicker than I anticipated and I forgot your important instructions to follow the left edge of the clearing into the woods. We ascended too far to the right and had to cut in to get on track. A beautiful day to be out and enjoying the woods! ]]> New Hampshire Peppersass http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45066-Peak-Above-the-Nubble-5-19-12 Saddleback and the Horn, 5/19 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45065-Saddleback-and-the-Horn-5-19&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 01:41:40 GMT Via the AT from Route 4, out and back.

Conditions: Trail is muddy in spots.

Special Equipment: none.

Comments: Great day to be on these classic Maine summits. We had a nice swim at Small's Falls after the hike.

Photos ]]> Maine blaze http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45065-Saddleback-and-the-Horn-5-19 Mad/Ad: Howker Ridge - Star Lake- Valley Way http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45064-Mad-Ad-Howker-Ridge-Star-Lake-Valley-Way&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 01:03:26 GMT All trails in great shape - small snowfield on Howker Ridge Trail. No sign of Star Lake Moose. Minor blowdown on Valley Way. Great sunny day, very light wind, minimal bugs or mud. Four rounds for Terra. 5/19/12 All trails in great shape - small snowfield on Howker Ridge Trail. No sign of Star Lake Moose. Minor blowdown on Valley Way.

Great sunny day, very light wind, minimal bugs or mud.

Four rounds for Terra.

5/19/12 ]]> New Hampshire una_dogger http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45064-Mad-Ad-Howker-Ridge-Star-Lake-Valley-Way Jefferson, Adams, Madison via Great Gulf, Six Husbands, Osgood Trails http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45063-Jefferson-Adams-Madison-via-Great-Gulf-Six-Husbands-Osgood-Trails&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 00:08:21 GMT Saturday May 19, 2012 Trail Conditions: Trails mostly dry and bug free, water crossings not difficult. Six Husbands trail crosses a large snowfield above the Edmands Cutoff Trail. The Edmands Cutoff Trail also crosses a couple snowfields. Special Equipment Required: At least a ski pole to... Saturday May 19, 2012

Trail Conditions: Trails mostly dry and bug free, water crossings not difficult. Six Husbands trail crosses a large snowfield above the Edmands Cutoff Trail. The Edmands Cutoff Trail also crosses a couple snowfields.

Special Equipment Required: At least a ski pole to cross the Six Husbands trail snowfield. It is possible to avoid the snowfield but you'll need to bushwhack.

Comments: Beautiful day! Six Husbands trail fantastic as usual :)

Your name: John P.

Your E-mail address: bcborder at gmail dot com ]]> New Hampshire bcborder http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45063-Jefferson-Adams-Madison-via-Great-Gulf-Six-Husbands-Osgood-Trails A Twin bushwhack and Galehead http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45062-A-Twin-bushwhack-and-Galehead&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 21:39:40 GMT What an awesome hike!! Great views to recharge the soul after a trek to Owl's Head. Check out the full story on my blog:

http://opw9010.blogspot.com/2012/05/...lehead-30.html

Teaser pics:

]]> Trip Reports ow2010 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45062-A-Twin-bushwhack-and-Galehead north hancock, south hancock 5/19/12 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45061-north-hancock-south-hancock-5-19-12&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 21:13:15 GMT date: 5/19/12 trails: hancock notch trail, cedar brook trail, hancock loop trail conditions: all trails mostly dry except for the usual wet or muddy sections which were exacerbated by irene last year especially on the cedar brook trail. the mud bog below south hancock is in full effect. ... date: 5/19/12

trails: hancock notch trail, cedar brook trail, hancock loop trail

conditions: all trails mostly dry except for the usual wet or muddy sections which were exacerbated by irene last year especially on the cedar brook trail. the mud bog below south hancock is in full effect. i saw one small patch of ice in a hole on the way up north peak, but otherwise this route is snow/ice free. water crossings were all ok though a couple necessitated stepping in a bit of water.

equipment: nothing in particular.

comments: nice hike to the hancocks. a couple of my favorites to be sure. the day was a bit warm, but beautiful. felt like mid summer. great to be out.

bryan

bryancuddihee@yahoo.com ]]> New Hampshire bryan http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45061-north-hancock-south-hancock-5-19-12 AT from Lost River (rt112) to Layfayette Campground over Kinsmans - 5/17-5/18/12 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45060-AT-from-Lost-River-(rt112)-to-Layfayette-Campground-over-Kinsmans-5-17-5-18-12&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 16:10:53 GMT Did an overnighter on the AT from Lost River (rt 112) to Lafayette Campground (last mile not the AT). The Kinsman Ridge Trail from Gordon Pond Trail to Reel Brook Trail (over Mt. Wolf) was very muddy. There were several stretches of 30-50' that were 1-2 foot deep mud baths. Herd paths or rocks in the mud allowed these areas to be traversed but the going on that stretch was slow. Stayed at Eliza Brook Shelter which was recently rebuilt (Oct 2010) and was in fine shape - I think the old shelter was closer to the stream though and it had a fire pit our front versus the new "no fires" policy. A section hiker was there at the shelter and a group of 9 Harvard students came in who were on a tour leader training for the fall freshman trips.

The trail over the Kinsmans was in pretty good shape (but steep) except for some wet spots. One bog section on the way up to S. Kinsmans had all the wooden pontoon walkways under 6-12 inches of water. The view from the top of the Kinsmans was fantastic - visibility was near 100 miles. Fishin' Jimmy Trail was in good shape with lots of wooden stairs and steps to help get down. There were a few pieces of remnant ice on the side of Fishin' Jimmy. Stopped at the Kinsman Pond Shelter for lunch and it's also a new shelter having been rebuilt in 2007 - funny thing is the entrance faces away from the pond. I took the Lonesome Lake Trail instead of Cascade (AT) but saw a sign saying that the bridge on the Cascade is out and crossing in high water can be dangerous - not sure what the actual situation is as these warnings are sometimes overly cautious.

There were only 5-6 small blowdowns over the 14 mile stretch. Steam crossings were mostly easy rock hops. Blazing was a bit sparse - a few times the trail took a turn and it wasn't clear which direction to head until a blaze was spotted further down the trail. Didn't see one hiker on the first part of the trail. Saw a few day hikers heading up to the Kinsmans and a bunch more heading up to Lonesome Lake.

All-in-all is was perfect conditions for hiking the whites. No snow, temps were in the upper 50s/low 60s during the day and there were no bugs at all. Saw just a few blackflies at the LCG trail head and they hardy seemed interested in bitting. Suspect that will change in 1-2 weeks if the weather stays warm. ]]> New Hampshire LakeClouds http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45060-AT-from-Lost-River-(rt112)-to-Layfayette-Campground-over-Kinsmans-5-17-5-18-12 Colvin and Blake http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45055-Colvin-and-Blake&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 11:17:07 GMT May 18th. Hiked in from the Ausable Club and used the bypass trail to the Gill Brook trail. We made it to the top of Coldin in a little over 3 hours. This part of the hike was mostly dry with a few wet spots. From Colvin to Blake was a different story. The backside of Coldin was very muddy and... May 18th. Hiked in from the Ausable Club and used the bypass trail to the Gill Brook trail. We made it to the top of Coldin in a little over 3 hours. This part of the hike was mostly dry with a few wet spots. From Colvin to Blake was a different story. The backside of Coldin was very muddy and slick. Took us a while to get to the bottom slipping and sliding in the mud. Climbing Blake was mostly water running down the rocks and no where near as much mud. On the way back we met a trail cutting crew who were cutting recent blow downs from the winter. Give them a lot of credit carrying a chain saw in there. The whole hike took us about 10 hours car to car. ]]> New York Unregistered http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45055-Colvin-and-Blake <![CDATA[Don't climb every mountain - This year's climbing season on Everest and hazards]]> http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45054-Don-t-climb-every-mountain-This-year-s-climbing-season-on-Everest-and-hazards&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 01:13:49 GMT Fascinating article in today's NYT on the current climbing season on Everest, rockfall and avalanche hazards, and the decision of one prominent guide service to cancel all of the expeditions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/op...ef=todayspaper ]]> General Backcountry Peakbagr http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45054-Don-t-climb-every-mountain-This-year-s-climbing-season-on-Everest-and-hazards Bugs http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45053-Bugs&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 00:15:36 GMT What's the bug situation / forcast for Mem Day w/e??? Has the bloom begun?? ]]> rup http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45053-Bugs Lincoln-Lafayette loop via FW, FR, GL,OBP http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45052-Lincoln-Lafayette-loop-via-FW-FR-GL-OBP&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 23:11:49 GMT We opted to do the loop in the counter clockwise direction today since we had done it the other way last time. The trails are in good condition. There is only one blowdown, a duck under on the Falling Waters trail. The streams were running high today but branches and logs have been placed... We opted to do the loop in the counter clockwise direction today since we had done it the other way last time.

The trails are in good condition. There is only one blowdown, a duck under on the Falling Waters trail.

The streams were running high today but branches and logs have been placed at key places on the crossings making it possible to cross with dry feet. It does help to have a pole or poles when making these crossings.

Photographers alert: The falls are magnificent right now.

It was a pristine day. The views above the treeline were fantastic. There was a light cool breeze. There was a small amount of traffic up on the ridge. We met some folks who had been up on Owl's Head last week when we were up there.

We were met by some folks with what is now a familiar question: Are you Tom and Atticus? I had to disappoint them by telling them we weren't. Then they said: "Well then you must be Ed 'n Lauky." I guess we're making some progress.

This hike on a beautiful day like today has to be one of the most beautiful in the White Mountains perhaps one of the most beautiful stretches on the AT trail.

Milage: 8.8
Elevation gain: about 4000'
Ednlauky@gmail.com ]]> New Hampshire http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45052-Lincoln-Lafayette-loop-via-FW-FR-GL-OBP Iron Mtn via Iron Mtn Trail + Green Hill (Jackson) via Bushwhack: 17-May-2012 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45051-Iron-Mtn-via-Iron-Mtn-Trail-Green-Hill-(Jackson)-via-Bushwhack-17-May-2012&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 19:41:21 GMT Probably the first thing to be aware of is that the Iron Mountain Trail has large segments that are extremely eroded which makes for some tedious hiking. This erosion is most severe between the trailhead and the old fire tower site. The trail has been eroded for several years. However, it seemed... Probably the first thing to be aware of is that the Iron Mountain Trail has large segments that are extremely eroded which makes for some tedious hiking. This erosion is most severe between the trailhead and the old fire tower site. The trail has been eroded for several years. However, it seemed to me that there was even deeper erosion since my last trek along this trail a few years ago. Perhaps Hurricane Irene might have played some role??

There are also a number of blowdowns along this trail, but all can be worked around in one way or another and will not slow your progress by much, if any.

The bushwhack to a ledge just east of Green Hill was effortless in the open hardwoods below the ridgeline that connects Iron Mountain and Green Hill. However, travel was slow on the ridgeline itself due to the time it took to carefully maneuver through razor-sharp conifers without getting slashed!

My BLOG has some photos, as well as a description of my route. ]]> New Hampshire 1HappyHiker http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45051-Iron-Mtn-via-Iron-Mtn-Trail-Green-Hill-(Jackson)-via-Bushwhack-17-May-2012 <![CDATA[Free F&G Compass/Nav Course]]> http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45048-Free-F-amp-G-Compass-Nav-Course&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 13:18:47 GMT

Quote:

....For those who don't want to risk having to pay the costs of a rescue, Fish and Game is holding a free beginning-level map and compass navigation skills workshop at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center on Saturday, June 16.

Jane Vachon, public affairs officer for Fish and Game, said Tuesday that the workshops are successful skill-building sessions, and useful to all those who participate in outdoor recreation. In the classroom session, participants learn the parts of the compass and how they work, and learn how to read topographical maps. During the outdoor session, participants use their new skills. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call 536-3954.

Good to see some proactive measures being taken, although I have to wonder how many in the "target group" ( the navigationally clueless?) will actually respond to events like this. ]]> General Backcountry Tim Seaver http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45048-Free-F-amp-G-Compass-Nav-Course Sand Lake Falls, Woodhull Lake, and Bear Lake 5/9-5/11/12 (Adirondacks) http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45047-Sand-Lake-Falls-Woodhull-Lake-and-Bear-Lake-5-9-5-11-12-(Adirondacks)&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 22:12:10 GMT

Click Here To View Photo Gallery

I decided to spend some more time exploring the south west corner of the Park- an area that is still new to me and which I've infrequently visited. After visiting Bear Lake and Woodhull Lake last spring, and climbing Woodhull Mountain, I was curious to explore further south, in particular the trail between Bear Lake and Atwell.

Atwell is an interesting little community- very much in the "middle of nowhere." To reach it, one must drive 15 miles down a road through pretty much the middle of nowhere. Very remote and peaceful seeming (although there are public car accessible camp sites on North Lake opposite the community, and it looks like they get pretty heavy use during the summer!). It's obvious that the trail to Sand Lake Falls gets very little use by hikers through- only a single register sheet, front and back, contained all the entries made by hikers for the past year and a half!

It was dark by the time I started hiking, but the trail follows an old road and so navigation was not an issue... at first. I flew down the trail, making very good time on the old road bed. Some parts were wet, but for the most part the trail was in great shape.

When I'd signed in, though, I noticed an entry made by a group a few weeks earlier that had listed a 2 night stay at Sand Lake Falls as their destination. Next to their entry, was a comment that they'd been forced to turn around because it was "too wet." At first I thought this meant that they'd turned around due to rain... I was soon to find out though that this had a much more ominous meaning...

when I was about 3 miles in, the trail met up with Woodhull Creek. The ADK guidebook described the next mile to the lean-to as "sometimes being wet," a description that is woefully inadequate. The trail follows the edge of the creek, disappearing into expansive wetlands. Trail markers are absent for long stretches at a time, and one is forced to pick their way through wet moss, dense vegetation, water that was calve-deep at times, and floating bog mats. The tread of the trail here completely disappears, leaving the hiker to guess as to the best route across each flooded section. To further add to the difficulty, I was attempting to cross the wetlands at night, trying, sometimes in vain, to scan ahead with my headlamp and pick up even the faintest reflection of a trail marker on the far side of each wet section.

Eventually, I made it to Sand Lake Falls, although my feet were soaking wet long before I got there. I settled down in the lean-to, made a quick dinner, and fell asleep, with the roar of the nearby falls drowning out every other noise- this lean-to certainly isn't a destination for the light sleeper! :)

The morning dawned cool and gray. I spent some time poking around at the falls. The main falls are certainly an impressive sight- it looks like there could be some decent swimming at the base when it gets really warm. The log book in the lean-to also made reference to a smaller set of falls upstream, which I bushwhacked to. These were more a flume through a natural chasm in the rock than true waterfalls, but still neat to see. Lying around the lean-to was a fair amount of old logging equipment- cross cut saws and the like. I assume that there must have been a lumber camp located at this spot at one point...

My destination for the second day was Woodhull Lake for lunch, then Bear Lake to camp in the new lean-to there. I started north on the snowmobile trail from Sand Lake Falls. For the most part, the trail north to Millbrook was in good shape, but a few spots were pretty badly rutted due to illegal ATV use. I discovered that there is no gate at the north end of the trail, where it meets the road in Millbrook, so there really is little deterrent keeping the ATVers out.

Millbrook has a sign declaring it to be a dry town with a population of 0. It's really just a collection of hunting camps, all clustered together on a parcel of private land on the end of Bear Creek Road.

Continuing north of Millbrook, the trail joined an old road, and was in great shape all the way to just before Woodhull Lake before it left the road bed. I did follow the side trail all the way down to the boundary line with the Adirondack League Club's lands. I was able to spot the boundary with the ALC land's easy enough, but there were not posted signs anywhere. The National Geographic map seems to indicate that there are trails (canoe carries perhaps?) that connect Woodhull Lake with Sand Lake- are these open to public use?

Continuing north to the Woodhull Lake lean-to, the trail became wet again in a few spots but was still overall in decent shape. As I was eating lunch in the lean-to, it started to rain lightly. Someone had torn all of the pages out of the log book, which was disappointing, as I'd hoped to read my entry from when I'd camped there almost exactly a year before.

After lunch, I continued through the drizzle down the Bloodsucker Pond trail to Bear Lake. This is one of my favorite Adirondack hiking trails- it obviously gets little use, and for much of it's length it follows a picturesque babbling Adirondack brook.

When I arrived at the Bear Lake lean-to, what I saw was a bit of a shock. The difference between a year ago and this trip was like night and day. This lean-to is rapidly becoming a high use, highly impacted area. The rock against which the fire pit was built is beginning to crack and peel back, layer by layer. Numerous social trails and satellite sites have begun to form. The area around the lean-to has completely lost the duff layer, exposing numerous roots. The understory vegetation has been lost (much of it looks to have either been trampled or ripped out of the ground), and some freshly cut stumps are indicative of more aggressive firewood gathering habits.

Several entries in the lean-to log book lamented the fact that the new lean-to was constructed so far from the water... all I can say is that I am thankful it was; if it had been built on the water, the shoreline would have been wrecked from all the impact, and the damage much more significant. As they are, the impacts are probably inevitable, and on the plus side, the lean-to seems to have drawn enough use away from the illegal campsites directly on the lake that they appear to be beginning to recover.

The temperature had been dropping all day, and combined with the rain which turned steady, I spent a pretty cold evening in the lean-to. Friday morning dawned bright and sunny, however, and soon it began to warm up. After packing up, I took the trail south from Bear Lake back to Millbrook. On the south end of Bear Lake it passes through the remains of what looks to have been another lumber camp. I kept my eyes open for the old trail to the Coleman Dam, but I never saw any sign of it (is the Coleman Dam a hard bushwhack? Is it even worthwhile visiting?).

I made good time back to Sand Lake Falls, where I stopped for lunch. It was nice to be able to see the falls on a sunny day!

By this point, it was warm enough that the black flies were starting to come out- and they continued to get much worse that afternoon as I hiked out. They weren't biting, yet, but the were swarming pretty good in my face and eyes and around my neck... and I managed to inhale a few. Bug season is definitely upon us!

When I returned to North Lake, the first camper was set up for the weekend. As I gathered my gear and got ready to leave, several more showed up. One guy that I talked to indicated that he's there almost every weekend in the summer, and that the campsites do indeed get very very busy!

Definitely a neat area. I'll be returning at some point for sure to stay at the lean-tos on Gull Lake and Chub Pond. I've also noticed that it's possible to hike from Nobleboro to Stillwater almost entirely on trails in the Western Adirondacks... I read an entry in the Sand Lake Falls log book by a couple who did just that. It would certainly be a worthwhile adventure! :) ]]> Trip Reports DSettahr http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?45047-Sand-Lake-Falls-Woodhull-Lake-and-Bear-Lake-5-9-5-11-12-(Adirondacks)