Mount Chocorua: 9/13/19

A glorious late summer day to climb to Chocorua's rocky peak with my brother Drew. Blue skies and endless views. It was a pleasure to meet several store customers along the way!

Fine rock step work on the Champney Falls Trail by the WMNF Saco Ranger District trail crew.

Drew negotiates the angled slabs on the upper switchbacks of Champney Falls Trail.

First Sister seen from a large view ledge near the top of Champney Falls Trail.

First look west to the Sandwich Range.

Great spot for a break before the final climb to the summit.

A good crop of Mountain Ash berries this year.

Emerging on the open ledges along the Piper Trail.

Classic view west to the wild, twisting ridgeline of the Sandwich Range.

Passaconaway and Tripyramid.

Rough granite ledges.

The summit cone in sight ahead.

Symmetry.

On the west side, looking down into the "Bee Line Valley."

On the east side, a dramatic down-look into the Chocorua River valley with Carter Ledge beyond.

Looking back at the Three Sisters ridge with Mt. Washington on the horizon.

The important trail junction below the final short scramble to the summit.

The summit benchmark, placed in 1943, is positioned atop a triangle chiseled by the U.S. Coastal Survey in 1876.

Brothers at the summit.

Looking south.

Silver, Ossipee and Chocorua Lakes.

Taking in the 100-mile views.

Looking NE.

A pair of hikers on the summit.

A group of hikers perched above the Chocorua River valley.

Drew making his way back down the ledges.

Open ridge walking.

Descending into the views.

Tree tenacity along Champney Falls Trail.