I enjoyed another bushwhack loop on lower Acteon Ridge on a sunny, but cold and windy spring day. I thought of doing a wintry hike to a higher summit, but it would have been a short stay up top. So as usual in April, I opted for lower elevations and some signs of spring. There were lots of interesting boulders, cliffs, and open granite ledges to see along the way.
Still lots of ice in the Smarts Brook Gorge along the very icy Pine Flats Trail.
I wandered slowly up through the amazing assemblage of boulders on the SW slope of Bald Knob.
An endless variety of rocks.
Fern-capped.
Many of the boulders have names and rock climbing routes. An obscure climber's path meanders through them.
This behemoth was perhaps the most impressive.
I scrambled up the back side to see the VFTT.
I won't be continuing up that way.
Another huge chunk of stone.
On the south side of the peak is the sheer-sided Bald Knob Cliff.
Another part of the cliff.
Headwater stream.
Ice pillar.
One of my favorite hardwood glades.
Though fairly deep here, the snow was solid on this chilly day. Snowshoes went for a ride.
Western view to Welch-Dickey and Mt. Moosilauke from the 2300-ft. summit of Bald Knob.
South view.
There are many ledges up there. When exploring I place steps carefully to avoid trampling lichens.
Moosilauke beyond the big south ledge of Dickey.
Looking down at Rt. 49.
Southern peaks of Mt. Tecumseh (including Green Mtn.) and the Osceolas.
Mt. Osceola and East Osceola.
Ridgetop erratic.
So many ledges!
Jennings Peak.
Sandwich Dome and the two Black Mountains.
Last ledge of the day, a big one on the southern spur of Bald Knob, a longtime favorite.
It offers a fine view of the Campton Range, one of the lesser-known ridges in the WMNF.
Shadowed Sandwich Notch.
Dickey Mountain beyond the steep face of Bald Knob.
A nice hardwood flat below the south spur.
A small rocky stream.
Descending through the bare hardwoods, in evening sun.
Old, deeply incised bear claw scars.
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