Blue Ridge #90-Blue Mountain Lkae Quad

[peak_bgr]

We did this on sunday to finish off the Blue Ridges, it was Me, Brian and, Alan jumping in to get the dirt on this one. Well there was no dirt. I think it had to be one of the most open bushwhacks if not the most open bushwhack yet. We followed the Wilson Pond Trail from the North to the last brook crossing before the pond. After leaving the trail we soon come upon a herd path that lead around the ledges of the hill, but soon ended. On the other side of the hill it got a little marshy and wet, probobly left over from the rain on Saturday. Generally still not much of a fight. The closer we got to the actual ridge the more open it got. All the way up the ridge to the first small bump was wide open hardwoods. Over the other side of the bump was about 50-75 feet descent of really thick evergreens then it opened up to a green moss covered valley. Then it was a guick steep climb of the 50' to again a very open hardwood forest.

The next section to another small bump just below the steep part of the ridge was very open. We found ourselves constantly in fields of ferns. The steep section is very quick infact very easy. At the base of it we found a deer path (well worn) that lead us around to the right of it and to a very nice view. From there it was again very open hardwoods, now well over 3000'.

Once on the top ridge we decided to avoid the lower bump, it looks to be very thick and riddled with down fall. We skirted it to the left and stayed on the flat all the way to the true summit. The woods up there were more of a dead forest under the canopy, but yes very open. The summit had alot of blowdown scattered but the actual top was accessable. Small views over toward Panther and Buell but that was about it. That was #88 for me and Brian.

When I got home I looked for scratches and found none, wierd huh?

The ridge from this side looks nasty. If the blowdown near the summit ridge of this one had any say on the matter.