Bunch of hikes in the Whites 7/5 to 7/13 [Archive]

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Jay H

07-18-2010, 08:22 PM

A gazillion of trips and no time to really write a report, lets just say I had a fun week+ in the whites, despite the heat and humidity, car problems, and the lack of cooperation with the weather on the one day it kind of counted (7/10).. But all in all a very successful peakbagging experience and some awesome peaks, lists or not.

Isolation on 7/5. After staying at Bob's place (thanks Bob!) sunday night, I got a very early start to shoot up towards Pinkham to meet ajtiv and the kids to hike Isolation. We talked about this beforehand and we all were prepared for the long day. We weren't really that prepared for the scorching weather as it was really hot and humid and a bit of the Glen Boulder trail is alpine..

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/Isolation070510

After a nice dinner and shower at the Joe Dodge Lodge, I scooted off in search of a free campsite along the Kanc, decided on the Greeley Pond trail towards the Osceolas and took my camping gear and scampered off into the woods and off the trail. Unfortunately, this short hike to a spot that I found resulted in myself being drenched again in sweat due to the humidity....

Anyway, next day, I got a very very early start to try to get Owl's Head before the sun rose on the west facing slide. So I was hiking by 6am to a very lonely trail. (not many hikers out on a tuesday at 6am!!)

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/OwlSHead20100706

In any case, a good swim in the Franconia brook on the way out was nice and I climbed in the shade. Hit the old and new summit and even took a nice nap at the new summit before my return.

Wednesday was a rest day, so I did Chocorua and the sisters, after another night at my secret spot off the Greeley Pond trail.

Really nice hike, cool peak, looked like a must-do after seeing it from Whiteface and Passaconaway last year..

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/ChocoruaSisters20100707

Now the weather forecase was not looking good on saturday so i thought I'd go knock off peaks in the Wildcats-Carters-Moriah range and in that end, and my desire not to pay for a piece of land to camp, headed off to Cherry Mtn road north of Crawford Notch for the next few nights.

Thursday, I headed off to do Moriah and Shelburne Moriah via the AT/Rattle River trail.

Nice cool hike up and played in the stream..

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/MoriahShelburneMoriah20100708

Friday, after another hot night at Cherry mtn road, I figured I go do the Carters via a loop, however, my car had other plans, so basically I got a tow from Lowe's Store to Profile Subaru in Conway and did nothing that day, other than get a rental and run up to Barnes field for my reserved campsite.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/Car_Barnes20100709

Saturday, the rains did look threatening so I got another early start to try to beat the rain and took 2 hours to do Wildcat D from the Wildcat Ridge trail. nothing too special this day, views into Pinkham was good til a short bit below Wildcat E and the rains started when I hit Wildcat E so I ran over to the chairlift to get shelter, dropped pack and ran and tagged Wildcat D to get back to the sheltered spot before leaving. No views today except down low.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/WildcatD20100710

Sunday was a lot nicer day and also made plans to meet Procook at Barnes sunday night so I put off a idea to do Wildcat A and the Carters for a shorter hike close to Barnes... Goose Eye! An awesome hike and a long dirt road drive on my rental car which I hoped was good enough to get to the trailhead. (yes it was)...

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/GooseEye20100711

So sunday night, Procook joined me at Barnes and we planned monday, he went to do the WCM traverse with Hikernate while I did a loop hike to do Wildcat A and the Carters via 19MB and the Imp trail return.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/WildcatATheCarters20100712

Tuesday, I hoped to have my car back and ready to go home so I did a short hike from Pinkham Notch to Lowe's Bald Spot and those short crew cut trails..

http://picasaweb.google.com/cycleslugyahoo/LowesBaldSpot20100713

then I returned my rental, got a shuttle to Profile and drove all the way home..

Whew.

Jay

procook131

07-18-2010, 10:54 PM

Nice read Jay! Can't wait to get home and be able to see the pics. Thanks again for letting me join you at Barnes, it made for a much nicer nights sleep than car camping! Glad all your car troubles got ironed out as well. I am still keeping an eye on Moosilake for your finish, I hope I can join :)

procook131

07-19-2010, 12:41 AM

I loved the Goose Eye pics! It was also nice to see Wildcats, Caters and Moriah from someone else's perspective. I think we found the same vista on Carter Dome looking over to the Presi's though!!! Well done Jay :)

Maria

07-21-2010, 01:01 PM

Jay, glad that you had a successful and fun trip. Only one to go! :) Really like the looks of Chocorua - something about the way way the ridges go - very pretty. Looks like you might have a chance to really explore the area now ;)

Jay H

07-21-2010, 01:29 PM

Thanks procook, I was kind of thinking of you when it started to rain.. :-)

Maria: Chocorua is quite amazing little sub 4k peak, there is a liberty cabin on the southern approach to the mtn which I didn't go by but it is a little maze of trails just below the summit dome and there is a short scramble, much like Wright Peak is in the ADKs to get to the top. But it does have some really good views of the peaks along the Kanc, as well as the valley below towards the Ossippees and Chocorua Lake..

And there are some waterfalls to swim in on the way in from the Kanc... wink wink...:)

jay

catdacker

07-21-2010, 05:43 PM

Jay H

07-21-2010, 07:12 PM

Hi Jay, Nice Pictures. Ellen and I hiked Chocorua this May and it was great. It's not even on a list. It was the best 3500 peak we ever did. I think we went the same way as you from the Knac. Before the top we went left to Little Sister and across the ridge to Chocorua. It looked like Haystack in the ADK's. We got turned back trying to hike My Nancy and hope to go back in September to try again. We also hope to do Goose Eye on the same trip. Did you do a loop over Mt Carlo? Is that where you got that great picture of Goose Eye from? We had car trouble once in Stratton, NH on Memorial day. We missed the parade. Mike D.;)

It was so nice on Goose Eye, I didn't even bother going to Carlo, I just basked up on the summit for a full 2 hours, ate some leftover pizza and descended the same trail. The picture of Goose Eye is just from the Goose Eye trail but down low and a little view from a clearing.

Would like the backpack the whole Mahoosuc trail someday, that is neat, those peaks closer to Old Speck look real nice too... The trail reminds me of Saddleback and The Horn by Rangeley as a lot of it is open.

Jay

Jay H

07-21-2010, 07:34 PM

Hiked Chocorua years ago with my wife and then, 7 year old daughter. Reminded me of Noonmark for some reason.
Looking forward to going back there.

The profile looks like Noonmark when you see it from below, and the summit is open... It's a pretty hike to in the woods, once you get into Maine, the flattish NH approach is kind of overgrown in spots, full of spider webs if you're the first one that day..

Jay

yvon

07-25-2010, 06:42 PM

After vacation, I am back on this side of the Atlantic, I see you have been busy Jay. :)

TheHikers

07-30-2010, 03:43 PM

Jay H

07-30-2010, 04:26 PM

I don't know how many times we have climbed Chocorua, but we never tire of it. The way the bare cone protrudes above the landscape is always impressive.I think we have tried every trail on the mountain, my favorite is the Hammond

Can definitely see why and since I did it on a weekday it was fairly quiet.

A very/most distinctive peak to, like Mt Washington, but without the summit stuff... :)

I'll have to remember the Hammond trail next time... thanks!

Jay