Wild River Ramble: 9/12/24

I had a craving for a helping of Wild River Wilderness. With the Wild River Road approach from the north closed due to storm damage, the best option was to hike in from the south off Carter Notch Road out of Jackson. My objective was a ledgy 3132-ft. knob on the east side of Carter Dome, which from previous visits I knew had sweeping views of the peaks around the upper Wild River Valley. From experience I realized the bushwhacking would be tedious at times due to extensive brush. In addition to the views, the rewards would include the supreme sense of isolation out there, and the birch glades that go on forever.

The easiest access to the southern end of the Wild River Valley is the Bog Brook Trail. The current low water levels would make the eight brook crossings along the trail easily manageable. 

Mushroom explosion.

The Wildcat River is the biggest crossing on the trail, and it was pretty easy this day, though the rocks were a bit slick.

Though the grades on Bog Brook Trail are mostly easy, there is a lot of this, even in a dry season.

There are some very pleasant sections as well.

The trail skirts this attractive wetland just before it meets the Wild River Trail at 2.8 miles.

Beautiful woods along the rolling 0.7 mile section of Wild River Trail that links with the Rainbow Trail.

I headed a short way up the Rainbow Trail before starting the mile-plus whack to the ledgy knob.

The lower part of Rainbow Trail passes through nice hardwood forest. Higher up, there are gorgeous birch glades. I would pass through plenty of these off-trail.

In we go.

Nice maple glade. Although the grades are mostly easy and the woods open, the whacking on this broad slope is slow going due to near-constant pushing through knee to waist high brush and ferns, with uneven and often rocky footing beneath.

In some areas the brush is chest-high.

Into the endless birch glades, the legacy of a huge 1903 forest fire.

There is abundant moose sign in this area. With rutting season about underway, I was hoping I did not startle a bull in the dense undergrowth.

Ferns taking on their fall hues.

After a tedious traverse of a meadow with hidden water seeps and holes, I came into this glorious birch glade with low undergrowth.

Oh, my!

Brush getting higher again, but still picturesque.

Crossing Red Brook after a long traverse.

Ascending more steeply towards the knob.

 

View of the Baldfaces and Eagle Crag from the top of a wide-open glade.

The knob in sight ahead.

Sable, Chandler, Kearsarge North and Doublehead.

One of several moose beds spotted along the way.

Approaching the col behind the knob.

A short climb through darker woods.

 

The ledges!

A commanding view over the upper Wild River Valley. Black Mountain on the right.

Beaver meadows on the valley floor.

Profile of the Baldface Range.

The ledgy Baldfaces.

I love the sweep of the remote Spruce Brook valley leading up to Carter Dome (L) and Mount Hight (R).

 

At the head of the valley is a cirque-like basin. The Black Angel Trail cuts roughly across the steep upper face of Mount Hight.

Rainbow Ridge, the open southern knob of Carter Dome traversed by the Rainbow Trail.

The Sandwich Range in the distance seen through the broad gap of Perkins Notch.

A wide spread of the range, from Scaur Peak and Mount Tripyramid on the right to Mount Chocorua on the left. Iron Mountain in front.

This perch was a hard place to leave, but a four-hour exit awaited.

There was actually a moose path on the back side of the knob.

I guess they enjoy the views, too.

I navigated a return route higher up on the slope to see if it would be any better going. It started through a vast birch graveyard.

Another moose bed.

An amazing scene.

A small cascade and pool on Red Brook.

Some pretty good going here.

Can't get enough of this.

Not so good here.

Early foliage at a mountain meadow.

Hello hobblebush, my old friend.

At least it was a colorful embrace.

Prettiest meadow of the day.

I was happy to reach the Rainbow Trail. After a short break, it was time to hustle back along the trails. For the last section I used the longer but easier Forest Service gravel road that leads back to the trailhead, avoiding three stream crossings in the gloaming. I was grateful that no bull moose appeared on the road ahead of me. I was lucky, for after driving just a couple hundred feet on my way out from the trailhead, a bull moose loomed in my headlights and trotted off into the dark forest.