Mt Success! -- 10/2/05

[Double Bow]

On Sunday Shamie, Arghman, and I wrapped up our camping weekend by doing more in the Mahoosucs and getting what Arghman would describe as a "true" Mahoosucs experience by climbing Success, which Arghman had been up multiple times.

The drive in was easy as Success Pond Rd has been recently graded and is in really great shape. At the trailhead, we saw one other car and other than one couple, I don't think we saw anyone all day. Due to recent logging activity, the lower elevations are now a fairly open woods with large cuts visable from some sections. The day was bright and warm making it feel and look more like August 2 than October 2. The climb was steep at times but always pleasant. There were slabby parts that made for a slight challenge at times but, I enjoy that sort of thing.

We did the .3mi loop to take in the outlook and it was well worth it! It's a good destination in and of it's own right. It would really be a loss to not visit it while going up there. We stopped there and took a break and pictures. After continuing on, past more slabs and one scramble, we reached the upper reaches of the Success trail which are VERY muddy as in you could get lost forever in the mud muddy. I can only imagine what it's like in spring! It this area, there are interesting reminants of logging tools. I plan to get back up there and bushwhack around exploring... someday.

We were very happy when we passed the AT corridor cut and instantly found the forrest to be thicker. Soon we were on the Mahoosuc trail and then the summit which is rocky but is on a very boggy ridge. I'd never seen such a boggy ridge. No wonder Arghman likes it so much! He pointed out some interesting species including some late blooming bog laurel and we ate some mountain cranberries and reminised about this years best blueberry hikes. It really did feel like it was still summer.

After we had explored more of the ridge and the bogs, we headed down and I found the descent to be almost as pleasurable as the climb. As we left, I reflected that this had been a fitting end to the camping weekend as it truly had been a success.

Here are some pics. Hopefully, Arghman will share some of his as well.

 

[jjo]

Sounds like fun...Good report and great pics...What type camera did you use?? Like your shots. Thanks

 

[carole]

Nice report and pics.

I was 'unSuccessful' last Nov. After a heavy rain the day before and a hard freeze overnight we encountered a lot of thin ice which made for slow going. The outlook was nice but we only stopped briefly on the way up. When we reached the area with the logging remnants it was basically a pond all through there with a sheet of ice over everything. Even the boardwalks were under water and ice. We decided we'd had enough and returned to the outlook which was basking in the sun. That was worthly all by itself. No one seen all day. I will go back.

 

[MichaelJ]

Nice report and pics!
(hmm ... you've heard that already)

I love the Outlook - it has to be one of the finest ledge/cliffs out there, and when I was there we spent a long time just taking in the *vastness* of it all.

I have to share this pic from the Outlook. It's such an amazing spot.

 

[carole]

Can I share a few 'cooler' shots from the lookout?

 

[MichaelJ]

Ooooh - icy goodness.

 

[Gator]

looks fantastic

not a bad weekend, weather-wise, eh?

 

[Double Bow]

Sounds like fun...Good report and great pics...What type camera did you use?? Like your shots. Thanks

It was an absolutely beautiful day. They don't get much better. Thanks all for the compliments on my pics! I'm pretty new to digital photography so, it's good to hear that I'm doin' it right!

jjo, to answer your your question, I use a Canon Powershot A520. It is small, light, and has a great optical zoom. I love it!

 

[arghman]

Bog bridges at summit askew

Warning: The bog bridges which cross the summit bog now have two bridges askew, one slightly to the side & much of it a few inches under water/mud, the other farther away but on the surface. (On 7/30 one of them was slightly askew) Use caution when crossing this spot, if you are heading to the lower sections of the summit ledges.



(edit: a few days ago I contacted an acquaintance who works for Appalachian Trail Conference, to let them know and they have since forwarded to AMC trail maintenance people. Feedback was that it was unlikely it would get worked on this year though. Hiking early next year during the spring thaw/rains may be hazardous.)

I may post pics when I have time, things have been fast&furious at work. My avatar pic of the bog laurel is from that day.

edit: Best pic is of the summit as a whole (shown above), I didn't take many others & they don't really look that great in high-resolution.

 

[arghman]

Sorry to rain on a happy thread but you all need to be aware that the Outlook is on private land, and given the land ownership changes in the last few years, access to it (or most of the Success Trail, for that matter) seems a bit tenuous. Enjoy it the next time you're up there but keep that unhappy thought in the back of your head. I posted more info on Don L's Carlo Col logging thread.

 

[arghman]

Warning: The bog bridges which cross the summit bog now have two bridges askew, one slightly to the side & much of it a few inches under water/mud, the other farther away but on the surface. (On 7/30 one of them was slightly askew) Use caution when crossing this spot, if you are heading to the lower sections of the summit ledges.

An update: I've been told by my contact at ATC that AMC plans to schedule repair for next year (2007), as it is likely to require a helicopter drop.

As of late July 2006, the bad puncheon had drifted further askew and has submerged more. There is no longer a safe way to cross w/o taking a detour around on some of the nearby vegetation. If you go here, please tread lightly on the plants.