Saddled with a persistent cold but on the upswing, I wasn't sure how far I would want to go on this cold and breezy day. I knew that Livermore Trail and the south end of Mount Tripyramid Trail would be nearly ice-free in these extended shoulder season conditions. This long walk into the Wilderness is often my go-to when conditions on many trails are lousy. (The older I get, the less I enjoy hiking on ice flows mixed with rocks, dirt and choppy snow.) I was curious to see how the Tripyramid trail fared during the December rainstorm, and whether there was any fresh activity out on the slides. I hoped to make it out to the lower open section of Tripyramid's South Slide, a fine viewpoint that would be less exposed to the NW wind. It would depend on my energy level and the condition of the crossings of Avalanche Brook, Cold Brook and a couple of nameless tributaries.
The cold (14 degrees at the start) was invigorating and the walking was good on Livermore Trail with just a dusting of snow. I made the obligatory stop at White Cascade on Slide Brook.
It was a nice sunny morning, though clouds rolled in early in the afternoon.
Here we go.
The crossing of Avalanche Brook, which was considerably rearranged by the December storm, was feasible using careful foot placement and a slightly underwater rock. The other brooks farther up the trail were all crossable with some scouting and care.
Always a pleasure.
The gateway glade, with Tripyramid glimpsed through the trees.
A seriously zippified blowdown.
Icy cascade on Slide Brook.
Endless hardwoods on Tripyramid's west slope.
The December storm took its toll on the trail.
This boulder was not on the trail in November.
South Tripyramid looms ahead.
A favorite sugar maple glade at 2900 ft.
Looking more like winter approaching the base of the South Slide at 3000 ft.
Hard-frozen ascending to the slide, but no ice.
A little slippery with some snow, careful footing needed.
Breaking into the open on the lower of three swaths of gravel and broken rock that the Mount Tripyramid Trail leads through as it ascends the South Slide. There appeared to be a bit of fresh erosion from the December storm, but nothing substantial. This was the first slide to fall on the steep slope of South Tripyramid, surging downward during an intense rainstorm on October 4, 1869. The bright scar of the slide was visible as far away as 50 miles to the south, and quickly attracted the attention of geologists and trampers. It soon became known as the "Great Slide." Though much of the original extent of the slide is revegetated with a dense growth of spruce, the three remaining open swaths still provide excellent views.
One of two white pines that have seeded in along the edge of the slide, high above their normal elevation range.
The second white pine.
Clouds had rolled in, obscuring the sun and the distant views, but there were still good local vistas looking towards Lost Pass and Sandwich Dome.
Approaching a familiar sitting rock at the top of the first open swath, at 3280 ft.
Wide views here to the SW. In the morning, when there was 90-mile visibility, the view would have included Killington Peak, Dorset Peak and Stratton Mountain in Vermont. Though there was a chilly breeze, by layering up I was able to hang out here for a half-hour lunch break.
After a careful descent back to the base of the 1869 South Slide, I bushwhacked across and then back up the slope to pay visits to the lower parts of the 2011 and 1885 South Slides.
Looking up from the base of the relatively small 2011 slide, which came down during Tropical Storm Irene.
A good angle on the slide from atop the steep bank it gouged out.
A ghostly view of Mount Tecumseh.
I continued across to the lowest of three remaining open patches on the 1885 South Slide (the highest patch is crossed by the Kate Sleeper Trail). This fell on August 13, 1885 (along with the huge North Slide and several more in Avalanche Ravine) and was reportedly an enormous slide, larger than the 1869 "Great Slide." Though slightly more recent, it is more fully revegetated with spruce than the 1869 slide.
Another angle on Sandwich Dome, rising behind the northern Flat Mountain.
At the bottom of this patch are two of the largest white pines I've seen growing on a higher elevation slide, here at 3160 ft.
Golden hour in the hardwoods along Mount Tripyramid Trail.
Until next time.
The rearranged crossing at Avalanche Brook.
No comments:
Post a Comment