Afternoon Snowshoe at Lafayette Brook: 12/6/24

After morning errands and packing up mail orders, I took the afternoon off for a favorite short snowshoe bushwhack partway up the ridge on the north side of Lafayette Brook to an obscure viewpoint. Skies had cleared somewhat and the morning winds had subsided. From the old highway bridge by the Gallen Memorial (off Exit 34C),  where there is a wonderful view of Mt. Lafayette at the head of the Lafayette Brook ravine, it looked like the summit might emerge from the clouds by the time I reached the viewspot.

Just beyond the bridge I left the bike path and briefly followed an old woods road along the brook.

I wasn't sure there would be enough snow up here for good snowshoeing. Once I veered off into the woods, I found there was more snow than I had bargained for: a good 14 to even 20 inches in the open hardwoods.

December shadows.

Weaving through the trees and the hobblebush.

A peaceful wintry scene.

Farther up the ridge the hobblebush was prolific and the snow was deep and mounded.

After pushing though some dense, snow-laden conifers, I descended into the scrubby area that offers views up the valley. The first view was looking across at the back side of the Eagle Cliff ridge.

I continued steeply down to the most open area with the best views.

Tangled deciduous scrub guards this spot.

The summit of Lafayette was still socked in, but I did have an intimate view of the ridges enclosing the Lafayette Brook valley.

Looking to the left at the ridge on the north side, I could see a favorite view ledge I have bushwhacked to several times over the years.

Pushing back through the dense spruce.

Before descending, I headed across the slope to visit a neat glade area highlighted by large twin maples.

Nearby is a wide-open glade where many birches have died off, similar to those found in the area near the Rainbow Trail in the upper Wild River valley.

 

Looking back at the Eagle Cliff ridge.

Sunset behind Artist's Bluff.