The A.T. in Shenandoah National Park (Northern Section)

Date of Hike: 11/27/10

US 522 to Elkwallow Wayside: 20 miles
Elevation gain of 4,300 feet

Trip Report:
- Over Thanksgiving weekend I was in Arlington Virginia with my parents visiting my brother and his wife. On Saturday we had the whole day to kill and with great weather forecast it made for the perfect opportunity to head to Shenandoah National Park with my dad and dog Mr. Smackers to do a long day hike on the Appalachian Trail.
- My father and brother back in 2000 spent the month of May hiking southbound on the A.T. starting in Harper's Ferry and still had the old guide books and maps. After looking over everything we decided I'd start hiking at the US-522 trailhead and head south into the park while my dad and Mr. Smackers would enter Skyline Drive when the gates opened and head to Elkwallow Wayside and start hiking north.
- On trail at 6:45am, ran into my dad and Smack-Face at 11am a few tenths of a mile from Gravel Springs Gap, finished at 1pm.  Weather in the mid 30's to low 40's, wind gust around 20mph, very good visibility of 50 plus miles.
- I made good time....for the whole day! Unlike most of the hiking I'm used to on the A.T. in the White Mountains the trail in Shenandoah was very pleasant on my feet, reminding me of the Amphibranch below Mount Adams!
- There wasn't really much to see for the first 10 miles or so, the highlight was the Tom Floyd Wayside Hut which was the nicest lean-to I've ever come across.
- I ran into my dad and Mr. Smackers a little past the Gravel Springs Gap where they were taking a break.  I fed Smack-Brains crab apples that I had picked up below Compton Peak.
- The best views of the day was from North Marshall Mountain and Hog back mountain from the "launching area" for hang gliders...now that I think of it the best views where from Skyline Drive while driving!  There where outlooks every half mile or so along the drive which where great and probably be awesome during foliage.
- The hike was pretty fun, there wer not many people on the trail and I bet it'd be much better in the spring running into all the thru-hikers and chatting it up with them.  Shenandoah National Park is pretty picturesque, very well maintained, and cool place with trails made for some serious speed hiking!

Pictures:

Skyline Drive and the Hogbacks

 Appalchian Trail

 View of Browntown from Hogback



Mount Cabot - The Bulge - The Horn

Date of Hike: 11/14/10

Mount Cabot Trail: 3.9 miles
Kilkenny Ridge/Horn Spur Path: 2.8 miles
Mount Cabot Trail: 3.9 miles
Total Miles: 10.7 (4,000 feet elevation gain)
Click here for trail descriptions page

Trip Report:
- On Sunday I was invited along to hike up Mount Cabot and over to The Bulge and The Horn, by Scott, his brother Chris, and their friend Dave (Click here for their hiking blog Two Brother's Hike!)
- What made this hike even better was that we had access to the Mount Cabot Trail which has had it's lower section closed off by local land owners since the 1990's.
- We got on the trail by 8am and made our way up to the Kilkenny Ridge.  The trail up to the ridge is in pretty rough shape over eroded, wet, and muddy old logging roads.
- Once the Mount Cabot Trail joined in with the Kilkenny Ridge Trail we hiked up to the Bunnell Rock outlook where we got our first really good views of the day before we continued on to the Cabot cabin.
- The Cabot cabin is a pretty small and odd looking thing and doesn't look to comfortable but there are good views from the cabin and a right near it where the old fire tower used to be.
- After a break we headed over to the wooded summit of Mount Cabot and then continued on over The Bulge and to The Horn.
- Views from the open summit of The Horn were incredible!  You could see over to the Presidential Range, west to Vermont, and well into Maine to the north.
- The Hike back out went pretty quickly except for the part where we lost the trail for a couple of minutes.  About ten minutes after crossing the Bunnell Brook we ended up dropping to low off the trail and had to bushwhack our way back up to it.
- We made it back to the trailhead shortly after 3pm, it was a great day with perfect weather and a pleasure to hike with Scott, Chris, and Dave, thanks guys!

Pictures: Click here for all pictures

Cabot Cabin

 View to the east over to the

Presidential Range from The Horn

 Hiking down the Mount Cabot Trail



Northern Presidentials

Date of Hike: 11/13/10

Valley Way/Watson Path: 3.9 miles
Osgood Trail: .5 miles
Gulfside/Airline: 2.5 miles
Mount Jefferson Loop: .4 miles
Castle Trail: 5.0 miles
Presidential Range Rail Trail: 3.0 miles
Total Miles: 15.3 (5,800 elevation gain)
Click here for trail descriptions page

Trip Report:
- With unseasonably warm temperatures over the past couple of days and a forecast of mid 40's with light wind and abundant sunshine it was time to head up to the Northern Presidential Range and do a long loop hike of Mount Madison, Adams, and Jefferson!
- On trail at 6:15am, Madison summit 8:45am, Adams 9:50am, Jefferson 11:15am, finished 3pm.  Crystal Clear skies, temps starting in the low 30's warming up fast into the mid to high 40's, light wind, 100 mile plus visibility.
- The hike up the Valley way to the Watson Path was business as usual (very boring).  There was no snow or ice but of course once I stepped on the Watson Path that all changed within a couple of tenths of a mile and as soon as I crossed the Snyder Brook I put on my microspikes.
- The Watson Path gets pretty steep and with all the warm day time temps the snow and ice starts to melt then refreezes overnight making for some tedious hiking in a few spots.
- Once I popped up above treeline the hiking became alot more fun and except for the final push to the summit on ice and frozen over snow it was easier than the steep mile stretch up through the woods.
- Views from Mount Madison's summit were spectacular as I had the whole summit to myself!
- The hike down to the Madison Spring Hut went pretty fast as I maneuvered around some minor icy sections.  As I approached  the hut I noticed two workers on the roof of the hut continuing to do renovations.
- The hike up to Mount Adams via Airline was the usual slog over the knee hammering rocks but the views from the top were well worth the effort.
- From the summit of Adams to the Jefferson Loop Trail I removed my microspikes for the most of the hike.  I finally ran into another hiker just before descending into the Edmands Col.  She had come up the Caps Ridge to Jefferson then headed north to Adams and now was heading all the way to Washington!
- The short but steep ascent up Jefferson was great as the snow field on the eastern slope of Jefferson has reappeared and will be hanging out from now until next June!
- There were about a dozen people on the summit of Jefferson who had come up the Caps Ridge Trail enjoying the unlimited views from the summit.
- After warming up, refueling, and taking in the views I contemplated heading to Washington but then decided it would be best to head down the Castle Trai and back to the car.
- The hike down over the Castellated Ridge over the castles was pretty kick ass and once past the trail junction for The Link the Castle Trail becomes incredible easy except for the water crossing where I just said screw it and walked through the Israel River.
- Now I had the pleasure of walking the flat and pretty boring Presidential Range Rail Trail back to Appalachia where I was hoping to see a moose but of course I didn't.  When I arrived at the parking lot I was pretty exhausted and shocked to see about twenty five cars in the lot which was about twenty four more than when I had arrived!
- You don't get days like this in November so I was pretty thrilled to get in such a great hike!

Pictures: Click here for all pictures

Mahoosuc Range

 Madison Springs Hut and Mount Madison

Mount Clay, Washington, and Monroe

 View of Mount Madison from

Castle Trail Parking Lot



Socked in on the Southern Presidentials

Date of Hike: 11/7/10

Edmands Path: 2.9 miles
Mount Eisenhower Loop: .8 miles
Crawford Path: 1.2 miles
Webster Cliff Trail: 2.6 miles
Webster-Jackson Trail: 2.6 miles
Route 302/Mt. Clinton Road: 2.4 miles
Total Miles: 12.5 (3,750 elevation gain)
Click here for trail descriptions page

Trip Report:
- After a long and tiring hike on Saturday and with a promising forecast for Sunday I was hoping to head up Mount Eisenhower via the Edmands Path and turn north up to Monroe and Washington then head down the Jewell or Cog Tracks and hoof it back to my car. However the Presidential Range had other ideas for my hike!
- I was on the trail at 8am and although the Edmands Path has moderate grades I had an awful time trying to hike at my usual pace.  What made things worse was the Mount Washington Observatory forecast of "in the clear under increasingly cloudy skies" was missing the part about the big time undercast as my hike up the Edmands Path was in the clouds.
- Once I popped up above treeline and hit the Crawford Path/Eisenhower Loop I was greeted with a steady 30 mph wind out of the north, views of a couple hundred feet, and full winter conditions with microspikes on my boots.
- As I headed up the Eisenhower Loop I knew I would be changing plans.  Washington was in the clear but how far above the undercast it was I had no idea and knowing that there was a good chance I wouldn't have ran into anyone from Eisenhower to Lakes of the Clouds and heading two miles strait into the wind with low visibility was not a smart thing to do on a solo hike.  So I played it safe (or wimped out) and decided to head over to Pierce and Jackson for the day.
- Eisenhower summit at 9:45am, Pierce 10:35am, Jackson 12pm, finished 2:30pm.  Temps in the mid twenty's to low 30's, 30 plus mph wind out of the north, totally socked in views, snow and ice!
- Once I descended from Eisenhower I was shielded from the wind and started to warm up.  The trail between Eisenhower and Pierce ranged from icy, frozen mud, couple inches of snow, and rocks with ice where the microspikes came in really handy.
- I figured I'd start to run into people when I was around Pierce or descending to Mizpah Hut but still I saw no one!  When I arrived at Mizpah Hut I took a few pics and made a new friend (click here)!
- The hike over to Jackson was more fun than it normally is with all the snow and ice especially the section over the bog bridges through the alpine meadow.  With the low visibility and snow everywhere it made for a very eire and cool feeling.
- The finally climb up to Mount Jackson over the steep ledges was alot of fun but it became very cold once I was out in the open.  The wind was still a constant 30 mph out of the north with some really big gusts approaching 40 mph.
- I finally ran into people hiking up while descending from Mount Jackson.  I took a break at the Webster-Jackson fork junction to eat some food, shed layers, and remove my microspikes.  While zoning out I was startled by a guy coming up the trail asking if I had seen any "Yaks".  I thought I misheard him and he really said "tracks" but no he repeated "yaks".  I have no idea what he was talking about other than animals so I said "I saw Yax Tracks but no animal or people tracks!"...he said "mmm no yaks" and happily went on his way!
- The road walk back to the car on Mount Clinton Road went really fast.  I passed by two hunters with their hounds about to head into the woods and I was stunned to see more than a half dozen cars and a big group of people at the Edmands Path trailhead when I finished, there was not one car when I arrived this morning.
- Eventhough there wasn't a view to be had it was still a real fun hike in the Presidential Range and for better or worse from now until late April it'll pretty much be all snow and ice in the White Mountains!

Pictures: Click here for all pics

View from Mount Eisenhower Summit

 Crawford Path

 View from Mount Pierce Summit

Alpine Meadow on Webster Cliff Trail 

Zealand & the Bonds - Out n' Back!

Date of Hike: 11/6/10

Zealand Trail: 2.8 miles
Twinway / Zealand Spur: 4.4 miles
Boldcliff / West Bond Spur Trail: 6.0 miles
Twinway: 4.2 miles
Zealand Trail: 2.8 miles
Total Miles: 20.2 (5,100 elevation gain)
Click here for trail descriptions page

Trip Report:
- After my last two trips with friends it was time to head back up to the White Mountains for a much needed solo hike and what better hike to do than an out-and-back of Zealand, West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff Mountains!
- On trail at 7am, Zealand 9:30am, West Bond 10:45am, Bond 11:15am, Bondcliff 11:50am, finished 4:30pm. Temps in the high 20’s low 30’s, no wind, in the clouds up to 4,500 feet, in and out of the clouds with undercast above making for unique views.
- It was still pretty dark when I hit the trail but since the Zealand Trail is pretty tame it wasn’t a problem and I made good time eventhough the trail was a wet and muddy mess with a few spots dusted in snow.
- I stopped in at the Zealand Falls Hut around 8am and it was packed with a couple of parents and two dozen “tweeners” cooking up pancakes. I received odd looks from the kids as I was re-organizing my gear to get ready for the ascent. The parents offered me money and beer to carry their kids back to the parking lot ($2 a piece)! Apparently the heavy rains from the day before made for hellish flooded spots on the Zealand Trail.
- The hike up the Twinway was in rougher shape than I expected, chopped up frozen snow and ice making for slow going until I wisely put on my microspikes and zoomed up with no problems at all.
- It was very cold and the views were socked in and I thought the day was going to be short lived as I was planning on turning around at the Bondcliff Trail junction if the clouds didn’t move out and as I got closer and closer to treeline I was still in a grey depressing viewless trek.
- However once I reached the Alpine Zone I was welcomed with hiking above, in, and out of the clouds with kick ass views!
- I was making really good time (and warming up pretty good) when I reached the summit of West Bond and had some pretty cool views. After leaving West Bond I ran into the first hiker of the day, which was nice as I was starting to think I was all alone up there!
- Next stop was Mount Bond where I enjoyed incredible views of Mount Washington in a sea of white undercast as well as West Bond, Lincoln, Lafayette, and South Twin popping up above the clouds as well.
- I headed down to Bondcliff hoping the clouds would clear below 4,500 feet, unfortunately that did not happen as it stayed socked in. I came across a hiker doing a two day Pemi traverse, he was headed for the Garfield Ridge Campsite. I refueled and warmed up on Bondcliff and while I was relaxing I saw a dog about 30 feet away emerge from the clouds check me out from afar and then disappear back into the clouds, I heard his or her owner but couldn’t see them!
- The hike back up to Mount Bond was sluggish as I hit my first wall of the day, but luckily once I popped back up out of the clouds I was re-energized from the views from Mount Bond where I came across two more hikers who had hiked in through the awful conditions the day before and stayed at the Guyot campsite.
- The hike back to the Twinway junction was a pain as the snow is all chopped up in places. There was a couple at the Twinway/Bondcliff Trail junction heading over to Guyot who had hiked in the day before to the Thirteen Falls Tentsite who said the water crossings deep in the Pemi Wilderness were pretty sketchy the previous day.
- Now I entered back into the clouds and started the long slog back to the car without any views. Along the Way I ran into “Big” Earl and Sue, who I have ran into before on a previous hike or two. They were doing the Zealand-Bonds Traverse out to Lincoln Woods. Hopefully the views were still opened up above 4,500 feet for them so they could get a pretty cool sunset!
- On the way out I stopped in at Zealand hut to take a quick break, unlike this morning there wasn’t a soul around and it was wicked quiet!
- The last couple of miles was rough as I was starting to feel tired and cold but it’s relatively flat so it went by fast. It started to snow very lightly as I reached the car making for a perfect ending to a pretty awesome hike!

Pictures: Click here for all pictures

Clouds over Bondcliff

 View from West Bond Summit

 West Bond with Lincoln

and Lafayette in the Distance

 Mount Washington

 Liberty and Flume

 West Bond from Guyot

 Bondcliff Trail