1HappyHiker
Well-known member
South Percy & Sugarloaf (Nash Stream), 27-Jul-2007
To Sugarloaf, we took the Sugarloaf Trail (what else?!). Then on a 2nd hike, we took the Percy Peaks Trail and South Percy Spur to South Percy. Other than a recent large blow down on the Percy Peaks Trail (about 0.3 mile from trailhead), the trails were in good shape.
The weather didn’t promise to be the best for this trek. But sometimes here in the Whites you have to go what you’ve got, and don’t let the prediction stop the expedition.
Zman and I didn’t arrive at the Sugarloaf Trail until close to 11 AM since we got a late start and besides it’s a bit of journey up to the trailheads on Nash Stream. The Sugarloaf Trail is definitely an old jeep trail and was not originally designed for hiking. It relentlessly goes up the mountain in nearly a straight line! But we easily beat book time and were on Sugarloaf summit in an hour and a half (despite leaving a trail-eroding stream of sweat behind us on a very hazy, hot & humid day). From what we could tell, the views from the summit are probably splendid on a day without haze. But, there was no lack of haze when we were there!
Descending Sugarloaf took only an hour, and we then headed back down Nash Stream Road for the Percy Peaks trailhead. We contemplated doing the Percy Loop Trail since 1HappyHiker had previously taken that route and knew it was a very mild mannered trail. But, we opted to try the Percy Peaks Trail since it's a bit shorter than the Percy Loop trail. Hmmm! In retrospect, the longer route might have been the better choice. Sometimes “more is less”!
So, despite taking the shorter (but steeper!!) trail on a hot and humid day, we made it to the summit of South Percy. From the summit of South Percy, North Percy is right in your face! And so, even with the haze, we were able to have fantastic views of that summit.
After South Percy we briefly contemplated doing North Percy, but both of us were running low on “spunk”, and besides there were some threatening clouds to the south. So, we just retraced our steps and headed back down the trail and arrived at the trailhead about 6 PM just as claps of thunder were starting to be heard. It was a good decision not to go to North Percy. Being on that bare slab summit in a thunderstorm would not be “a good thing”!
Since it was so hazy, there weren’t many good photos, but the link below shows a few of the photos taken:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560056208PYpxWv
To Sugarloaf, we took the Sugarloaf Trail (what else?!). Then on a 2nd hike, we took the Percy Peaks Trail and South Percy Spur to South Percy. Other than a recent large blow down on the Percy Peaks Trail (about 0.3 mile from trailhead), the trails were in good shape.
The weather didn’t promise to be the best for this trek. But sometimes here in the Whites you have to go what you’ve got, and don’t let the prediction stop the expedition.
Zman and I didn’t arrive at the Sugarloaf Trail until close to 11 AM since we got a late start and besides it’s a bit of journey up to the trailheads on Nash Stream. The Sugarloaf Trail is definitely an old jeep trail and was not originally designed for hiking. It relentlessly goes up the mountain in nearly a straight line! But we easily beat book time and were on Sugarloaf summit in an hour and a half (despite leaving a trail-eroding stream of sweat behind us on a very hazy, hot & humid day). From what we could tell, the views from the summit are probably splendid on a day without haze. But, there was no lack of haze when we were there!
Descending Sugarloaf took only an hour, and we then headed back down Nash Stream Road for the Percy Peaks trailhead. We contemplated doing the Percy Loop Trail since 1HappyHiker had previously taken that route and knew it was a very mild mannered trail. But, we opted to try the Percy Peaks Trail since it's a bit shorter than the Percy Loop trail. Hmmm! In retrospect, the longer route might have been the better choice. Sometimes “more is less”!
So, despite taking the shorter (but steeper!!) trail on a hot and humid day, we made it to the summit of South Percy. From the summit of South Percy, North Percy is right in your face! And so, even with the haze, we were able to have fantastic views of that summit.
After South Percy we briefly contemplated doing North Percy, but both of us were running low on “spunk”, and besides there were some threatening clouds to the south. So, we just retraced our steps and headed back down the trail and arrived at the trailhead about 6 PM just as claps of thunder were starting to be heard. It was a good decision not to go to North Percy. Being on that bare slab summit in a thunderstorm would not be “a good thing”!
Since it was so hazy, there weren’t many good photos, but the link below shows a few of the photos taken:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560056208PYpxWv
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