Presidential Traverse 7.13.13

[tomcat32]

I know it's on here a lot. But this is my first true traverse.
I left Appalachia at 447am up Valley Way to Watson. Reached Madison at 648. Star Lake to Adams. Gulfside to Washington with Jefferson and Clay Loops. Washington at 1036am. Crawford Path to Webster Cliffs trail hitting Monroe and Eisenhower Loops and quick spur to say hi to Franklin. Went to Mt Webster and down Webster-Jackson reaching 302 at 357pm
Kind of warm for Pressies 60 on Washington but only 3mph wind.
My knees were feeling it by Pierce, I think above treeline I focus on scenery but in trees I notice fatigue.

I hiked all these peaks before at one time except Clay which is a true beauty, perhaps best in Pressies
I never went to the "summit" Franklin before. I'm surprised they even bother naming it, it's so insignificant.

When I thru hiked AT I hiked from just below Webster Cliffs to Osgood tent site but skipped Ike, Monroe, Jeff, and Adams since weather was crap, so this is my first true traverse.

Normal weekend crowds, especially on Washington and Ike south.

Full story and LOTS of photos on my blog http://tomcatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2013/07/presidential-traverse.html

 

[Driver8]

Nice report, tomcat, I enjoyed your pictures. Glad you got that hitch around the mountains from a fellow traverser! Hope your knees recover quickly. Meanwhile, I hiked today from the CT border south for a bit today, amidst the hot wet blanket of mid-July. It's tougher, just about, to hike gently graded trail in the HHH conditions, with the air pollution factored in, than it is to hike a stern trail in the Whites.