Friday, June 5, 2020

NW Slide, Mount Paugus: 6/4/20


A long, buggy bushwhack into a remote corner of the Oliverian Brook valley. Visited two logging camp sites from the Swift River Railroad (1906-1916) and climbed a small but steep slide with wide views over the Albany Intervale.

The slide on the NE ridge of Mt. Paugus can be seen left of center in this photo taken from a ledge on Green's Cliff. 



 The bushwhack began with a crossing of Oliverian Brook, an easy rock hop this day.


Here we go.



I followed a tributary brook for two miles.



This old hemlock has a grip on the stream.



Hemlock, spruce and hobblebush are the big three in this part of the valley.



By luck I came upon the site of Hartley's Camp of the Swift River Railroad, as approximately shown on the map in Bill Gove's "Logging Railroads of the Saco River Valley."



Some past visitor had leaned these artifacts against a log. As always, note that these are protected by law and should not be disturbed or removed.



Bucket in a tree fork, sprayed by a shotgun?



This may be a steep-sided little ridge mentioned by Frank Bolles in his 1892 book about the Chocorua-Paugus area, "At the North of Bearcamp Water."



As often happens when bushwhacking along a brook, frequent crossing is required to bypass steep banks.



Choked with blowdown here.



Moose have kept a path open along on an old logging tote road.



More luck farther up the valley, finding the remote site of Ladd's Camp.



Wonder what was cooked up in this pot?



Saw blade and remains of a logger's boot.



Almost looks like a mailbox.



Don't know what this container was used for.



Nice resting spot along the brook.



Divergence of two old sled roads.



Found the slide track.



Following it up.



First view back, to Mt. Carrigain, Vose Spur, Mt. Lowell and Mt. Anderson framing Carrigain Notch.



A review of Google Earth images suggests that the open lower part of the slide fell during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The upper part of the slide is much older.



Moose have been slide-climbing, too.



Looks like a good perch up there.



Steep but doable. Stepped carefully due to loose rock and ball-bearing gravel.



Pretty fine view for a small slide.


 A wider view of Mt. Carrigain and the Nancy Range.


The upper part of the newer slide section.



 Here's where it started.


Birches have grown in between the slide sections.



Heading up along the middle section of the slide.



Birches taking advantage of cracks in the ledge.



Crumbling granite.



I bypassed some sketchy sections with diversions into the woods. The slope of the slide is amply steep, rising 450 feet in 0.15 mile.



The upper end of the slide is a huge granite slab.



Another bypass through the forest.



Top of the slide.



 Yikes! A commanding view over the Albany Intervale to the mountains beyond.


 A more westerly angle down a bit along the edge.
 

Mt. Passaconaway and the Tripyramids.



Hedgehog Mountain and the prominent East Ledges, with Potash Mountain and Mt. Kancamagus behind.
 

 Cool roof rock at the top of the slide.
 

 The Paugus spruces, what the loggers came for a century ago.



After some threatening clouds passed by, the skies cleared nicely.




A hazy view of Mt. Washington, with the East Snowfields visible.



Moose sign along the slide.



 Homeward bound down the lower slide.



1 comment:

  1. Such diversity of perspectives! Hopefully applicable to all areas of life.....

    ReplyDelete