Waumbek
New member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,890
- Reaction score
- 209
I went up So. Baldface in the Evans Notch today; both 113 and the trail are CCC projects from c. 1936. It was a gorgeous day with no stagnant air, possibly the only one this week free of T-storms. The sometimes "unreliable" Last Chance Spring at the shelter just below the beginning of the ledges was gushing; the bugs weren't bad at all. Anybody who hasn't made it over into the Evans Notch on the NH/ME border to hike the Baldface Circle has a real treat in store.
I've done the Circle (loop) before, but today was straight up and back on the So. Baldface Trail. On the way up, I was appalled to find the largest bag of trash--a kitchen-sized white bag full--I've ever seen on a WMNF trail in 30+ years of hiking here. It was sitting in the middle of the trail about .25 mile below the shelter. Empty tin cans reeking with meat grease and other junk. Clearly, I'd have to haul it out, but I decided to pick it up on the way down rather than drag it all the way up and back down again.
As I descended, I was further amazed to pass about four hiking parties heading up this trail who had to have walked around the trash. Somebody else's problem, I guess they figured, or maybe, like me, they planned on getting it on the way down, although I doubt it. Few people retrace their steps on this trail.
In any event, I arrived back at the trash site and had no bag in my pack big enough to put this greasy mess in. I'd swapped out the garbage bag I usually carry for a real pack cover this morning. I emptied out my emergency clothing from three smaller zip-locks, crushed all the cans, and managed to get it all in the smaller bags.
I concentrated on zen-like thoughts for the remainder of the hike, forgot the garbage episode, and was reminded how those awful "slash and run" logging practices of the turn of the 20th c. created beautiful mountain views from the Baldfaces.
A very few pics here.
I've done the Circle (loop) before, but today was straight up and back on the So. Baldface Trail. On the way up, I was appalled to find the largest bag of trash--a kitchen-sized white bag full--I've ever seen on a WMNF trail in 30+ years of hiking here. It was sitting in the middle of the trail about .25 mile below the shelter. Empty tin cans reeking with meat grease and other junk. Clearly, I'd have to haul it out, but I decided to pick it up on the way down rather than drag it all the way up and back down again.
As I descended, I was further amazed to pass about four hiking parties heading up this trail who had to have walked around the trash. Somebody else's problem, I guess they figured, or maybe, like me, they planned on getting it on the way down, although I doubt it. Few people retrace their steps on this trail.
In any event, I arrived back at the trash site and had no bag in my pack big enough to put this greasy mess in. I'd swapped out the garbage bag I usually carry for a real pack cover this morning. I emptied out my emergency clothing from three smaller zip-locks, crushed all the cans, and managed to get it all in the smaller bags.
I concentrated on zen-like thoughts for the remainder of the hike, forgot the garbage episode, and was reminded how those awful "slash and run" logging practices of the turn of the 20th c. created beautiful mountain views from the Baldfaces.
A very few pics here.
