After whittling away at the New Hampshire Hundred Highest (which contains 108 peaks, go figure) the last few years, I was left with two: Fool Killer and South Hale. The Fool fell easily Thursday, Sept. 4, leaving South Hale for Friday.
After a soggy summer, the weather this week was superb, but the dew point rose as the weekend approached. I shoved off from the Zealand trailhead 7:30 Friday morning, a little bummed to find thick, humid air fogging the atmosphere. I hoped it would burn off.
Outside Zealand Hut, backpackers basked on the sun-bleached rocks of Whitewall Brook. Inside, I gobbled a piece of hut pastry from the self-service table. Nice boost! Then, off to the Lend-a-Hand Trail.
The hot sun began overpowering the mist and clouds as I pushed on through the glorious forest, a scenic mix of spruce and white birch.
I left the trail at about 3200', making a bee line for the South Hale ridge. Once on top, I hoped to find a moose path to follow, but didn't. No matter, the woods were open, so I took a bearing and continued. Then, right on cue, up ahead to the left, I saw two moose sprinting away from me atop a small ridge. I hiked to that spot and found the path, which I followed on and off to the highest bump, 3700', at the ridge's far west end.
The celebration of my NHHH finish was low key. Not even the moose came by to offer congratulations. No matter, it was an enjoyable moment.
I didn't stay long on the "peak." I had an encore planned.
Allegedly, South Hale has some nice views from ledges along the ridge's top edge somewhere, but the atmosphere was still thick and anyway, I had better viewing in mind. I followed the moose paths most of the way back to the Lend-a-Hand, intercepting it at 3450, just above a swampy area. Then up to Mt. Hale, my third visit to this mundane 4k.
Then the coup de grace, a bushwhack easterly to East Hale, a 3550' peak not on any list due to its inadequate col.
DMS from this site, one of the few to claim all 451 New England 3k's, had crowed about East Hale and its spectacular views, and I wanted to see for myself.
The whack wasn't difficult, less than a mile, and I pushed up onto the top, finding rocky outcrops with stunted bushes interspersed. Continuing, I came to a large cairn marking the bare top and, indeed, the views were outstanding. Thanks, DMS! The sensation was one of looking directly down 1600' into the Zealand Valley.
By now blue sky had replaced the misty overcast, but the humid air lingered, making the view less than picture perfect. But, anyway,
http://picasaweb.google.com/jtbyfield/EHale#
On a clear day, you'd get a great view of Washington, too, and the southern Presidentials. But, on this day, those images were murky.
From the summit cairn, it was a mile due east to my car, albeit early straight down, 900' for the first two-tenths or so. Cliff city. Returning to Mount Hale and taking the trails back, though, would involve six miles. I gulped and chose the direct drop.
The bushwhack back to the car provided the day's biggest thrills. I avoided the sheer cliffs that nearly ring the East peak, finding a steep chute to the south and avalanching down to a drainage which plummeted, finally, to some hobblebush-infested woods below. Whacking east, I eventually came to Hoxie Brook and crossed it, knowing I'd find a logging road on the other side that would lead me to the trailhead and my car.
All in all, a great day and a nice finish to an interesting list.
jt
After a soggy summer, the weather this week was superb, but the dew point rose as the weekend approached. I shoved off from the Zealand trailhead 7:30 Friday morning, a little bummed to find thick, humid air fogging the atmosphere. I hoped it would burn off.
Outside Zealand Hut, backpackers basked on the sun-bleached rocks of Whitewall Brook. Inside, I gobbled a piece of hut pastry from the self-service table. Nice boost! Then, off to the Lend-a-Hand Trail.
The hot sun began overpowering the mist and clouds as I pushed on through the glorious forest, a scenic mix of spruce and white birch.
I left the trail at about 3200', making a bee line for the South Hale ridge. Once on top, I hoped to find a moose path to follow, but didn't. No matter, the woods were open, so I took a bearing and continued. Then, right on cue, up ahead to the left, I saw two moose sprinting away from me atop a small ridge. I hiked to that spot and found the path, which I followed on and off to the highest bump, 3700', at the ridge's far west end.
The celebration of my NHHH finish was low key. Not even the moose came by to offer congratulations. No matter, it was an enjoyable moment.
I didn't stay long on the "peak." I had an encore planned.
Allegedly, South Hale has some nice views from ledges along the ridge's top edge somewhere, but the atmosphere was still thick and anyway, I had better viewing in mind. I followed the moose paths most of the way back to the Lend-a-Hand, intercepting it at 3450, just above a swampy area. Then up to Mt. Hale, my third visit to this mundane 4k.
Then the coup de grace, a bushwhack easterly to East Hale, a 3550' peak not on any list due to its inadequate col.
DMS from this site, one of the few to claim all 451 New England 3k's, had crowed about East Hale and its spectacular views, and I wanted to see for myself.
The whack wasn't difficult, less than a mile, and I pushed up onto the top, finding rocky outcrops with stunted bushes interspersed. Continuing, I came to a large cairn marking the bare top and, indeed, the views were outstanding. Thanks, DMS! The sensation was one of looking directly down 1600' into the Zealand Valley.
By now blue sky had replaced the misty overcast, but the humid air lingered, making the view less than picture perfect. But, anyway,
http://picasaweb.google.com/jtbyfield/EHale#
On a clear day, you'd get a great view of Washington, too, and the southern Presidentials. But, on this day, those images were murky.
From the summit cairn, it was a mile due east to my car, albeit early straight down, 900' for the first two-tenths or so. Cliff city. Returning to Mount Hale and taking the trails back, though, would involve six miles. I gulped and chose the direct drop.
The bushwhack back to the car provided the day's biggest thrills. I avoided the sheer cliffs that nearly ring the East peak, finding a steep chute to the south and avalanching down to a drainage which plummeted, finally, to some hobblebush-infested woods below. Whacking east, I eventually came to Hoxie Brook and crossed it, knowing I'd find a logging road on the other side that would lead me to the trailhead and my car.
All in all, a great day and a nice finish to an interesting list.
jt
Were you trying to become famous as the guy who finished the HH and died on the way down! 
