Black Mtn: Stretching half day hike to a full day

I'm too tired to posting a report tonight, so I'll just post one pic, for a taste for tomorrow. Hope you like it...its prob one of my favorite foliage shots of the year for me.



See you all tomorrow!

That's a beautiful shot! Black Mountain has some great autumn colors!

I see the Moose looks rime-free. Quite a difference from Saturday!

Ok, finally..

Well I'm still tired, but it is time to whip out this trail report. I've been wanting to hike Black Mtn for awhile now, so off I went with my friend Brian, and his wonderpuppy Hunter. I hiked Mt Pierce with them earlier last month, and its cool to see how much the dog has grown since then. He has grown a couple of bad habits since I last saw him, including getting into my turkey bacon sub when I wasn't looking! Such is life I guess. haha

Anyhoo....we took the Chippewa trail to the summit, and then back, while kind of bushwhacking around to check things out. For example, the picture above was taken from a ledge off the trail. The hike was a shade over 4 miles with all the bushwhacking, but we stretched a half day hike into a day excursion. The weather was absolutely perfect...a cool breeze, warm sunshine, low 60s, and extremely clear visibilities. You shall see in the following pictures!'

After descending from the trailhead, we could see a nice beaver pond with Sugarloaf mtn in the back


lovely foliage, peak or slightly past




entering the red pine forest, really neat!


first viewpoint, off trail...one of my new fav viewpoints. This was worth the hike






Looking back into VT


getting up to the summit


foliage is past peak on the other side...




such a great view over to Franconia Ridge, Kinsmans etc

cont

It has begun...Hunter is starting to enjoy the views!!


...till it was sleepy time


close up, you can see some rime on franconia ridge


jaw dropping view over to moosilauke


Liberty, Flume, and Wolf framed by some lenticulars


now heading down. the trail bypasses this major scramble, but we wanted to go down it anyways. it was fun!


now, back at the best viewpoint, from the morning....




check out those houses...must be some neat views!


patience is virtue....



on the way back, we checked out the lime kilns.


and finally, up a taped path, there was a small stream, with attractive cascades. this was another nice surprise



This hike was prob the prettiest hike of the year. There are views all over the place, and with a little bit of exploring, you can get so many unique perspectives. Plus, there is history abound on the lower slopes, with the lime kilns, and cellar holes. I will be back here some day. Hope you liked the pics!
http://grouseking.smugmug.com/New-Hampshire/2010/10-10-10-Black-Mtn/14135145_6ZT7S#1042311026_4GgD8

Beautiful shots!

We hiked Black (Benton) about four years ago on New Year's Day -- its a spectacular peak in winter, too.

Spectacular trip and photos. Thanks for sharing.

Phil . . . great stuff! It looks like you really did "fall" into some great Fall Foliage there on Black Mountain!
That really is a nice destination, Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring!

Thanks for posting!

NeoAkela said:

That's a beautiful shot! Black Mountain has some great autumn colors!

I see the Moose looks rime-free. Quite a difference from Saturday!

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Thanks very much! And you got that right...no ice on the Moose, though I could see some over on Franconia Ridge.

una_dogger said:

Beautiful shots!

We hiked Black (Benton) about four years ago on New Year's Day -- its a spectacular peak in winter, too.

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Thanks Sabrina. I will def be back. Some of the ledges below the summit were my favorites I have ever visited. I will def be back!

Peakbagr said:

Spectacular trip and photos. Thanks for sharing.

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THanks!!

1HappyHiker said:

Phil . . . great stuff! It looks like you really did "fall" into some great Fall Foliage there on Black Mountain!
That really is a nice destination, Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring!

Thanks for posting!

Click to expand...

I was lucky to catch the tail end of the colors. Granted, I def helped the pics along a little with some minor color tweaking, but the colors were still great. Overall, I think the colors have been somewhat lackluster this season, so it was nice to see the brighter shades.

I liked the zoomed-in view of Knox, Butterfield, Signal and Spruce mtns in Vermont.

Great views and photos! No wonder you stretched it into a full day. If it were me I probably would have leaned back on those ledges and joined Hunter.

We hiked it a few years ago and met up at the trailhead with some mighty grungy "miners" who had dug up a good collection of crystals.

That photo of your puppy in the leaves is a keeper.