Every year, April is snow avoidance month for me. It was a great winter for snowshoeing and winter hiking, but now all I want to see is bare ground. Here are scenes from a series of shorter, lower elevation mid-April hikes and bushwhacks.
FLOOR OF CRAWFORD NOTCH
One day I enjoyed a 3 1/2 mile loop on trails on the floor of Crawford Notch, finishing up just as afternoon showers were moving in. Several of the trails that made this loop possible were the brainchild of the late John Dickerman, longtime manager of Crawford Notch State Park, who conceived a plan to open new trails to provide easier hikes down in the valley. It is a wonderful legacy.
I parked at the Pleasant Valley picnic area on Rt. 302 and followed Maggie's Run Trail southward alongside the Saco River.
This gentle trail is exceptionally scenic.
After 0.2 mile I turned onto a link trail that crosses the highway and meanders across the floor of the notch to meet the Saco River Trail in an area of old-growth hardwood.
There are some big old trees in here.
I followed Saco River Trail south and turned left onto the Dry River Trail, which here follows a portion of the 1890s Saco River Railroad. This line ran five miles up this wild, remote valley.
Just beyond the boundary of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness is an amazing open area on the Dry River carved out by the massive August 2011, October 2017, and December 2023 rainstorms. This is only 0.7 mile from Rt. 302 via Dry River Trail and is a great destination for a short, easy hike. Beyond here, Dry River Trail becomes considerably more difficult.
It's a fascinating area of ledges and boulders that invites exploration.
Just downstream is a massive gravel slide on the east bank that was carved out by these storms.
A bit farther upstream I found a view down the river towards Mount Bemis.
On the way back I made a short bushwhack for a close-up of the gravel slide.
Then I followed the railroad grade along the Dry River Connection to the Dry River Campground, wandered through the closed campground, and crossed Rt. 302 at this picnic area with a nifty view of Frankenstein Cliff.
I completed the loop by following Maggie's Run back to the north, passing this steep ledge that plunges into the Saco River.
LAFAYETTE BROOK
On a partly sunny mid-day I made a familiar short bushwhack through the open hardwoods on the north side of Lafayette Brook.
There is hobblebush a'plenty in some of these woods.
Pileated Woodpecker at work.
Pushing through dense spruce to access the rather precarious viewpoint I was seeking.
Here there is an intimate view up the wild, twisting valley of Lafayette Brook.
Zoom on Mount Lafayette.
Lafayette Brook Falls aka Charlie's Falls was roaring below due to recent rain and snowmelt.
A large maple seen along the way.
RETURN TO SCARFACE MOUNTAIN
Though I had bushwhacked to Scarface Mountain on the north side of Mount Lafayette just a month earlier, on that trip I didn't have time to seek out the limited view ledges in the thick spruces on its southwest side. The open hardwoods on the climb to the little ridge between Scarface and (Little) Bickford always beckon in spring, so a return trip it would be. A sure sign of spring was the emergence of many Trout Lily leaves. Those seen here were down low, but they were evident even up on the ridge at 2400 ft.
Some areas of the open hardwoods were carpeted with Shining Clubmoss.
Mount Lafayette seen through the trees.
Random rocks in the forest.
Up on the ridge, glimpses of Scarface (L) and Big Bickford (R).
Mossy rocks in a col.
A rather steep climb up to Scarface.
Found an opening with a view up to Lafayette, with the rounded North Peak prominent.
Two of the three other ledge viewspots had very limited views. This third one was a little more open but far more closed in than it was 20 years ago.
It used to have a clear view of Cannon Mountain. That is slowly being blotted out.
Sugarloaf and Black Mountain in the Benton Range.
This ledge is well-guarded by grabby spruce trees.
Wandering around the broad, flat summit of Scarface.
The actual summit is a small mossy bump.
Summit register.
The best spot on Scarface is an open glade of dying birches on the north side of the mountain, with a view out to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
On the return trip I meandered across the ridge to the inconspicuous 2380-ft. summit of (Little) Bickford Mountain. There are some lovely open hardwoodglades here.
Found a small opening with a view up to North Lafayette. Bickford and Scarface are the northernmost spurs of the mountain.
An interesting tumble of rocks below the summit of Bickford.
MOUNT MIST
One of my favorite spring hikes is the quiet, easygoing southern approach to Mount Mist along the Wachipauka Pond Trail (part of the AT) from NH 25C. The 2230-ft. summit is wooded, but there are views to be found along the rim of its eastern cliffs, if you know where to look.
This unusually massive birch is a trailside landmark 1/3 of a mile up from the trailhead.
Much of this approach is through a wonderful open hardwood forest.
Meandering along the broad summit crest.
Dartmouth Outing Club humor. The trail passes over the west knob of the summit. The east knob is slightly higher (by about two feet).
I descended about a half-mile northward towards Wachipauka Pond. There was some good recent rock work here by DOC.
I continued down to a short side path to a limited view that was once more open. There used to be a DOC sign here that read "Scenic View, Beware of Tourists."
From here I left the trail and bushwhacked southward and uphill along the rim of the heavily wooded eastern cliffs. I first came to a long view to Mount Kineo (L) and Carr Mountain (R).
Zoom on broad-spreading Carr.
And Kineo.
Farther along I worked my way out to a hidden and rather precarious spot that offers striking views to the north. In this vista Webster Slide Mountain is on the left, rising above Wachipauka Pond. In the center is the cliff known as Owl's Head with Blueberry and Jeffers Mountains rising beyond. The cliffs of The Hogsback are in the distance between Webster Slide and Jeffers.
Closer look at Webster Slide, which has a trail to its summit branching off Wachipauka Pond Trail.
Owl's Head is an impressive cliff face. A fresh rockfall can be seen just right of center.
My favorite part of the view reveals Mount Clough and Mount Moosilauke rising behind Wachipauka Pond.
Massive Moosilauke.
A good angle on Slide Ravine, with its three most open slides revealed. Several fir waves can be seen at the upper left.
Continuing on to a steep ledge with a similar but partial view.
A headwater of Black Brook plunges over a precipice.
Open hardwoods behind the cliffs.
Though most spots along the cliffs are in tight quarters, I did find one place where I could actually sit and take in the view.
Down-look.
There are some old and gnarled trees up here.
The last viewpoint provided a good profile of Moosilauke and its long south ridge, which includes Hurricane Mountain, Chokecherry Hill and Bald Hill.
The Moose, with the Glencliff Home nestled at its base.
The east knob, the high point of Mount Mist.
Homeward bound through the hardwoods.
No comments:
Post a Comment