Friday, December 22, 2017

MOUNT TECUMSEH: 12/21/17

Mark Klim and I had planned to do some bushwhacking in the Goodrich Rock area, but the blue skies and snow-caked mountains prompted a change of plan, and we ended up snowshoeing up Mount Tecumseh for some fine views.

There was a nicely packed snowshoe track on the Mount Tecumseh Trail.



I always stop to admire this old yellow birch.



A sweeping vista from the ski trail viewpoint partway up.



The Osceolas.



On the mile-long trudge up to the ridgecrest.


Snow-draped conifers and blue skies up on the ridge.


Mount Moosilauke through the trees, from the Sosman Trail.


Great views from the summit, but it was cold - down near zero - with a bone-chilling breeze.


The Tripyramids, with the ravine of Cold Brook in shadow.


The Presidentials beyond the Osceolas.


After a finger-numbing summit stay, we broke trail a short way along the ridge to the less-known south outlook. The contrast in comfort was amazing - we spent an hour here basking (!) in the sun, with no wind at all.



Looking south down the ridge.


Vast horizons beyond ledgy southern spurs of Tecumseh.


Sandwich Dome beyond the Waterville snow guns.


The Sleepers, Mount Whiteface, and the Lost Pass area.


Among the two-dozen other hikers we saw today were Grid finishers Bill "Schorman" Schor and John Gutowski. Wish I had gotten their wives, "Lady Di" and June Rogier, in the pic.


Late afternoon sun on Osceola.


Alpenglow on Tripyramid, from the ski area access road.



Friday, December 15, 2017

SMARTS BROOK SNOWSHOEING: 12/14/17

With an afternoon free and 13" of fresh snow on the ground (but no base) it was time to break out the snowshoes and hit some smooth, non-rocky trails.




Unbroken snow on the Tri-Town Trail.


First snowshoe tracks of the season.


Turning onto an unofficial mountain bike trail that is great for snowshoeing.


Good snow cover in these woods.


Someone was in the holiday spirit.


Deer tracks?


A snowy vignette.


Snowshoe hare?


View of Welch and Dickey Mountains and southern ridges of Mt. Tecumseh from the top of a small cliff, reached by a spur path.




Zoom on Welch and Dickey.



Bald Knob and its pointy southern spur. Middle Acteon Peak peers over in back.


Bear tree #1.


Bear tree #2. One of the treats of leisurely woods wandering.
 


A Pileated Woodpecker masterpiece.


The Smarts Brook beaver pond, beside the Smarts Brook Trail, getting locked in for the winter.

 

Coyote tracks at the edge of the pond.


Meandering stream.


View of the lower Black Mountain on the SW ridge of Sandwich Dome.


I went partway up another unofficial mountain bike trail to see this scene on Smarts Brook. I considered continuing up to some ledges, but it was getting late and breaking 1 1/2 miles of trail was probably enough for the first snowshoe outing of the season. So I retraced my tracks to the packed-out Yellow Jacket Trail and looped back via that trail and the Pine Flats Trail.


The ice was coming in nicely at Smarts Brook Gorge, along the Pine Flats Trail. Winter has arrived!


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

DICKEY MOUNTAIN LEDGES: 12/11/17

I had a few hours free in the afternoon and headed up to two ledges on Dickey Mountain, one off-trail and one on-trail.

Oak branches reach for a mottled sky on the Dickey Mountain side of the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail.



A blowdown from the October 30 storm.



Off-trail, this massive oak also bit the dust during the storm



Hardwood bushwhacking on the south side of Dickey. The powdery snow, several inches deep, was very slippery.




Cone Mountain and its north spur from a SW-facing ledge. Mark Klim and I visited both those spots the week before, on bare ground.



Wintry scene.


I had an unexpected buddy for part of this bushwhack. He had followed my tracks/scent from the trail. When we headed back to the trail he was reunited with his human companions.





The ice wall on the approach to the big first ledge on the Dickey side of the trail.



 Looking back at Cone Mountain from the big ledge.


 

 Broad view out to the Campton Range. 


One of the more impressive ledges slabs anywhere in the Whites, looking up at Dickey and Welch.


Skiers sometimes schuss down these ledges on the face of Dickey.


 Across the Welch-Dickey bowl with the fuzzy ridges of Sandwich Dome beyond.


Interesting light.


Late afternoon rays illuminate the snowy face.


Sunset over Stinson Mountain.


Descending in the hardwoods.