With sunny skies, temperatures into the low 30s and bare ground at lower elevations, I headed over to Lincoln Woods for a bushwhack to the small ledgy slide on the west side of Mount Hitchcock's West Peak. This would be my third visit to this spot. The approach to the whack was an easy mile on the Pemi East Side Trail.
Into the forest we go.
A fine hardwood and hemlock mix on a small ridge.
Most of the whack on this western slope of Hitchcock was through a pure hardwood forest with a healthy population of beech saplings. This was like a late October/early November stick season bushwhack.
At 2250 ft. the forest abruptly switches over to spruces.
Steep and wild.
There's the slide!
Climbing steeply through the woods parallel to the slide.
Looking back down.
Won't be going out there for a view. Need to go a little higher.
I wormed my way up and out to a tiny perch at the lower north corner of the wider upper part of the slide, which consists of very steep overlapping ledge slabs. This is one of the more dangerous slides I've been to, best appreciated from its edges. Back in 1998 I made a full circuit up over the top of the slide and down the other side and found only a couple of safe small perches for enjoying the views.
A side view shows the steepness. The slope on this slide averages 37-38 degrees. It is fresh-looking and prominent in a 1939 aerial photo, suggesting that it may have fallen during the November 1927 rainstorm or the September 1938 hurricane.
Interesting layering along the edge of the slide.
I dropped down from this somewhat precarious little spot to seek a more comfortable place for a late lunch.
I traversed to a safe little shelf with a fine view down the East Branch valley to the center of Lincoln, with Mount Moosilauke on the horizon. This slide is visible from the end of our driveway. With binoculars I tried to make out the roof of our house, but couldn't tell for sure.
Moosilauke is a dominant presence.
Peering up the slide from my perch.
Looking across some icy slabs.
Farther down along the slide, a peek across at several summits of Scar Ridge.
Scraggly spruces and birches have gained toeholds on these steep slabs.
Heading down through the wild spruce forest alongside the slide.
Back down in the hardwoods, a glimpse of the Franconia Range through the trees.
Late day sun.
A chaos of blowdowns.
The sun going down behind a great ent tree.
Ent tree from the other side.
Scar Ridge at dusk, from a field beside the Pemi East Side Trail. Happy Holidays to all, and best wishes for the New Year!
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