71>71 Jefferson June 23, 2014

Caps Ridge!  This trail is high on my favorites list.  A walk in the woods is nice --- but being above treeline puts me in a mood I'm not able to experience anywhere else..  Caps Ridge Trail gets me up out of the woods quickly.  And then I get to scramble over rock and ledge looking for a hand hold here and there ------ oh yes, I'm a real mountaineer!  It's short enough so that none of it feels tedious --- and the summit cone, even with it's boulder hopping, seems easier than the middle.  Yes, Caps Ridge has a lot going for it.
I was up there today with the intent (and hope) of finding the alpine flowers on Montecello Lawn in heavy bloom.  I make a loop over to Gulfside and then Cornice back to Caps Ridge.  This route keeps me above treeline a bit longer and gets me off some of the boulders and down into the grasses and sedges where there is soil enough for the alpines.  A few more days of warmer weather should pop out some patches of color.  There was little today.
There was sunshine and warm temperatures and a comfortable breeze and only a few bugs --- a stellar day!  (But, speaking of "bugs," ------- can anyone reading this tell me the name of the gigantic flies that appear to guard the summit rock on Jefferson?  They look like a cross between a Horse Fly, Yellow Jacket and Vampire Bat!  I didn't linger long at the actual summit for fear of bodily harm!)

I've posted photos of this hike before and other posters, on a number of hiking forums, have very good recent pictures of this same hike.  I'll try not to repeat their great work.  But for the non-hikers reading this, here are a few photos to give a flavor of the day:

Jefferson summit

Not sure why I think bog bridges are so photogenic.  But I can't pass up a picture of one!

A unique bunch of pot holes are in a ledge along the trail miles from any brook.

Straight ahead

over these.

Washington  summit across Montecello Lawn

Bunch Berry

Clintonia

Mountain Cranberry

Cinquefoil

Blueberry

And the Mosses with fruiting sporangia are interesting

Club Moss

The decent.

71>71 North Carter June 12, 2014

Today's hike up North Carter was mostly in the rain ----- and there is a story behind that.
Anyone with an observant eye reading these posts may have noticed that all my hikes have been in good weather --- some in stunningly beautiful weather!  That has been by design.  Being retired, I can pick my days --- and why not pick the very best?
Yet, it happened that the only day this week I could be away was Thursday.  The weather forecast for Thursday did not look good. My first thought was to can it.  Really, why get wet when I don't have to?
But on the other hand ---------- why not?  Life, after all, is not all sunshine.  I've been out in the rain before.  I've been soaked through before.  I've put up with boots full of water and rain dripping off my nose before.  Damn, I've been missing some real life experiences by picking only sunny days for my hikes!  Book the hike for Thursday come hell or high water.  So I did.
Up at 5:00 am to a steady drizzle.  The drive over to Pinkham Notch in a heavier rain.  Throwing the pack on my back at the Imp Trailhead in a mist.  A steadier rain and wet brush along the trail through most of the hike up.  Windy and cold at the summit ledge.  Drier on the hike down but more rain on the short road walk between South and North Imp Trail heads and all the way home.  I was wet but not soaked through nor at all uncomfortable.
The hike was a bit more challenging than some others.  I spent a lot of time concerning myself with foot placement --- wet is slippery!  I was reminded that Vibram soles are not magic --- their lugs need nubs to grab hold of.  Smooth rubber on smooth rock, with a film of water in between is to be avoided.  And especially, do not let an instep land on a sloping wet root ----- disaster on a stick!
My gear had to be organized differently compared to a sunny day too.  The camera spent most of it's time tied up in a plastic bag ----- so there are fewer photos of this hike to post.  That's too bad --- I would have liked to have shared more of this experience with you.

Madison & Adams from The Imp face

Looking down on a nearly vertical Imp Brook from The Imp face.

on the ridge

North Carter summit

Washington form South Imp Trail