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Fred's Home | 7 images |
Lots of juicy commentary below pictures.
The 2-day adventure (16-17 Oct 2010) trying to make Dry River Shelter #3 resulted in a major backtrack to Mizpah Springs Hut (hotel)---see notes. |
Our hike on Sunday took us up to Mt Jackson and down to Crawford Notch |
A fine night after Mt Liberty and Mt Flume |
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The post-Thanksgiving hike was a loop to Mt Tom and Mt Field. Here are Ceil and Jay enjoying lunch on Mt Tom. |
After a short-lived white-out coming down from Mt Field. Beautiful but cloudy. |
4-5 Dec 2010. Only a few inches of snow on top, partly cloudy, no wind, Liberty Springs tent site #3, in the 20s overnight with some snow, return to Lafayette Campground. |
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The view from Little Haystack on Sunday, 5 Dec 2010 |
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Fred: As Jonah put it, "That was an adventure," which is his highest praise, I believe.
Jonah, Mackenzie, and I did 11.5 miles on Saturday in mist, snow, wind-swept granules, and finally full blown rain. (I had advertised "clearing skies" on Saturday pm.) Yet, we had to turn back before reaching the Dry River Shelter due to high level of the "substantial brook" on the Dry River Cutoff. On the first of what would be four river crossings near the end of the Dry River Cutoff trail, the usual path across was out of reach due to the high water from the heavy rain the day before. After being unable to make a bridge, we decided to retrace the 3 miles through a soggy trail back to the Mizpah Springs Hut, which we reached at dusk. We found three spots open and grabbed them. This was my first stay in a hut---quite a crowd (~60 guests) on the Hut's last night of the "summer" season. Outside was a couple inches of icy snow.
We had a cozy night. Following breakfast and skits by the Hut crew, we returned to Hwy 302 via Mt Jackson, which looked like full winter at the top---wind and rime ice with blue sky above. Great vistas at the only time in the trip with sun. See photo.
The trek down from Mt Jackson is slow going. I can't imagine you Presidential Traverse guys doing that at the end of 24 miles!! We got back to the car about 1pm, and the rain started again!
Summary: 2 days, Fred Knight, Jonah and Mackenzie Tower, 16.5 miles, wet conditions, "adventurous hill walk."
Oh yes. This was my second unsuccessful attempt at reaching Dry River Shelter. One more sometime in the future I hope.
Jonah: Ahem… a few clarifying points, if I may:
1) "substantial brook" = river crossing of minimum 15 feet wide with best options being a 6-foot leap from one slippery rock to the other over rushing water that fell 5-6 feet immediately after said leap… not the place you want to miss with all hikers soaked through and daylight running out on a 35-40 degree afternoon
2) "3 miles through a soggy trail" = starting with steady rain – turning into steady snow as we reach higher, colder elevation; completely soaked trail more reminiscent of a small brook or bog at times; areas of knee deep mud; snow covered, rotted logs as "bridges" over the bogs; failing daylight (Jon W. and Chuck W. might remember scrambling out of Zealand this spring); and …oh, did I mention that all of us were completely soaked through?
3) Fred makes a great pea soup, and if you keep it in a thermos all day, it'll separate.
4) Getting down from Mt. Jackson, after some 21-odd miles is tough, but doing it with most of the trail covered in mud is something special too.
5) "That was an adventure" is most certainly high praise from me… this was not the toughest hike I've been on (this spring still holds that title), but without a doubt it was the wettest/coldest (combined) I have ever been by far.
-Jonah
A short report from a nice jaunt. With Matt and Lea bowing out due to illness, I went solo. My plan was to take the Gale River Trail (4 miles), to a short portion of the Garfield Ridge Trail (0.7 mi), to the Galehead Hut where I could camp. Last year, Jay and I did the Gale River Tr the other direction after coming up the Garfield Tr. If I feel energetic, I will go another 2.5 miles to the 13 Falls Tentsite.
I was foiled by the rushing Gale River, which I would have needed to cross twice. It was too high. Now I'm thinking that neoprene socks with crocks and possibly microspikes over those might be a lightweight footwear for fording when necessary.
By 11 on Saturday, I was back on the road to Liberty Spring Tr. I reached the Liberty Spring tentsite (LST) after about 3 hours, ~ book time. I dropped most of my gear on platform #9 and headed up to Mt Liberty and then Mt Flume. Unfortunately the clouds only parted momentarily. There were a few inches of snow; microspikes helped. Lots of hikers. Got back to LST about 4:30. I had a delicious dinner of sweet potatoes and chicken, which I had cooked the night before and needed a little double boiler work in the kettle to get them hot. After I settled into the double sleeping bag, light snow started, so I wrapped my 8' x 10' tarp over me to make a leanto with my trekking poles (see pic). Worked fine. The night didn't get much below freezing, say mid 20s; I was cozy (once I got settled).
Today I had tortilla, eggs, and cheese, again reheated to tastiness. Then I took 2.5 hours to get back to the car, back down the Liberty Spring Trail.
Quite pleasant. ~14 miles total.
Next event is post-Thanksgiving (Friday) hike. Celia wants snow, so we'll go north.
Cheers,
Fred
A short report from yesterday's hike to Mts Tom and Field. Celia, Jay, and I drove to HIghland Center at Crawford Notch. We hiked up Avalon and A-Z trails and then up to Mt. Tom, where we ate Thanksgiving leftovers and had the only views of the day (see pic). Mt Washington was still in the clouds, but we could see Mt. Eisenhower. There was some sun and not too much wind. By the time we got back to the trail to head for Mt Field, the temperature had dropped, and the snow had started. We met two guys who said the temperature went from 25 to 18 degrees quickly. We planned to take the trail over to Mt Willey, but the trail kept being steep before the cul, so after 15 minutes we headed back to the Avalon Trail junction and descended from there. A white-out squall came through for 15 minutes, but otherwise it was just a gentle snowfall. Depth up to a few inches at the 4300' elevation. We got down by 3:30, a six-hour, 8-mile walk. Quite a good time. Attached are scenes on Mt. Tom and on the Avalon Trail.
Matt Hansen, Lea Johnsom, and I went up the Osseo Trail to Mt Flume and Mt Liberty. Then we stayed at Liberty Springs Tentsite #3 and descended the next day to Lafayette Campground, where we had the second car. Nice. Summary: ~14 miles, no snow at the base adn up to a couple inches at the top, fairly icy, especially coming down Falling Waters after Little Haystack. Very little wind. Dinner from Lea was good. My breakfast of egg/ham burritos didn't quite get warm; need new warming method. Noticed some coolness on the bare tent platform, so I had to make sure that the sleeping bag draw strings were completely closed. Except for potty trips, a good night.
Click on picture for Falling Waters movie from 5 Dec 2010. 
