dr_wu002
Well-known member
It seems like the only reason I'm writing this trip report is that I tried passing this hot potato along (by saying that I was feeling 'depressed' yesterday) to Artex and Yam but now it seems like I've found the damn thing lying on the ground. 
So, here goes... the reason why I wanted to write the trip report is because I took my first hiking B&W pictures (shown starting here) and I liked them a bit so I figured I'd post them.
The Baldfaces certainly warrant a nice trip report though as they're spectacular. Particularly for the three of us (Yam, Artex, Dr. Wu) because this was our collective first trip into this area and while I had an idea of what we were info, I was quite surprised at just how impressive it turned out to be. For me, it was probably the closest thing to Crawford Path (my favorite trail in the NE, period) you'll find in The Whites -- only the elevation difference really was significant. But the above treeline walking and then the dips into the scrub and all those views and big rocks kept me amazed for quite sometime. The unique views to The Carter Range were quite stunning.
The details really can be the devil... we did basically a classic loop (except that we descended on the Slippery Brook Trail) that many VFTT'ers have done and those who haven't can easily read about in the guide book so I won't describe too much. I have to say -- this wasn't as difficult as I had expected. I really thought some of the ledges and stuff, both on ascent and decent, would be more tricky and slippery but they weren't. A few scrambles but this wasn't The Arrow Head or anything.
You do get a few miles of Alpine Zone Walking though, which probably makes this hike a classic. Since neither of us had done a hike here before we went with the loop of choice (w/ one minor variation) and walked around Eagle's Crag, the two Summits, Baldface Knob and the various humps and whatnot along the trail. We were quite taken back by the view towards Evan's Notch (which is quite tangled! I can't believe there's a road going through there), The aforementioned Carter Range, Caribou/Speckled Mountains, Maine in general, The Sandwich Range and the Presidentials (unfortunately in the clouds all day).
Speaking of weather, we were lucky enough to have what I call "great Crawford Path Weather" -- which is not too hot and with beautiful high clouds, not pure white or gray but striped and streaked with all different shades. It provides enough light to illuminate the surrounding peaks but softens the features which I finds makes it great for not just photographing but just relaxing and enjoying the views. These days, despite the cloud coverage, are usually dry enough that there isn't a shroud of haze obscuring the sights.
We spent a lot of time at the summits of North and South Baldface. We didn't see very many hikers this day so, I'd have to say that we mostly had them (summits) to ourselves. What a great time it is to be with friends in a place like this! I think Yam and Artex would agree that we had a great time. And it wasn't just the above tree line travel either -- the surrounding woods, particularly the lower elevations are beautiful and mostly open with lots of other 'trails' that look interesting to get up and follow. This is a great location, with less travel probably due to it's short stature (~3700') but every bit as enjoyable as anything else in the Whites.
Here are the pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/410276183AnKnLp
Check out Yam's too:
http://community.webshots.com/album/409638535qUUOFO
-Dr. Wu
So, here goes... the reason why I wanted to write the trip report is because I took my first hiking B&W pictures (shown starting here) and I liked them a bit so I figured I'd post them. The Baldfaces certainly warrant a nice trip report though as they're spectacular. Particularly for the three of us (Yam, Artex, Dr. Wu) because this was our collective first trip into this area and while I had an idea of what we were info, I was quite surprised at just how impressive it turned out to be. For me, it was probably the closest thing to Crawford Path (my favorite trail in the NE, period) you'll find in The Whites -- only the elevation difference really was significant. But the above treeline walking and then the dips into the scrub and all those views and big rocks kept me amazed for quite sometime. The unique views to The Carter Range were quite stunning.
The details really can be the devil... we did basically a classic loop (except that we descended on the Slippery Brook Trail) that many VFTT'ers have done and those who haven't can easily read about in the guide book so I won't describe too much. I have to say -- this wasn't as difficult as I had expected. I really thought some of the ledges and stuff, both on ascent and decent, would be more tricky and slippery but they weren't. A few scrambles but this wasn't The Arrow Head or anything.
You do get a few miles of Alpine Zone Walking though, which probably makes this hike a classic. Since neither of us had done a hike here before we went with the loop of choice (w/ one minor variation) and walked around Eagle's Crag, the two Summits, Baldface Knob and the various humps and whatnot along the trail. We were quite taken back by the view towards Evan's Notch (which is quite tangled! I can't believe there's a road going through there), The aforementioned Carter Range, Caribou/Speckled Mountains, Maine in general, The Sandwich Range and the Presidentials (unfortunately in the clouds all day).
Speaking of weather, we were lucky enough to have what I call "great Crawford Path Weather" -- which is not too hot and with beautiful high clouds, not pure white or gray but striped and streaked with all different shades. It provides enough light to illuminate the surrounding peaks but softens the features which I finds makes it great for not just photographing but just relaxing and enjoying the views. These days, despite the cloud coverage, are usually dry enough that there isn't a shroud of haze obscuring the sights.
We spent a lot of time at the summits of North and South Baldface. We didn't see very many hikers this day so, I'd have to say that we mostly had them (summits) to ourselves. What a great time it is to be with friends in a place like this! I think Yam and Artex would agree that we had a great time. And it wasn't just the above tree line travel either -- the surrounding woods, particularly the lower elevations are beautiful and mostly open with lots of other 'trails' that look interesting to get up and follow. This is a great location, with less travel probably due to it's short stature (~3700') but every bit as enjoyable as anything else in the Whites.
Here are the pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/410276183AnKnLp
Check out Yam's too:
http://community.webshots.com/album/409638535qUUOFO
-Dr. Wu
