Cosmo
01-23-2006, 22:40
Sunday, decided to get out from in front of the TV (no more Patriots this year). Took a short 3 mile hike to Mt Greylock via the Cheshire Harbor Trail. Because of our weird weather this “winter”, snow was not something to worry about. Where the terrain was relatively flat, the trail was a river of ice with enough rocks and dirt sticking out to maintain some forward motion—bring the hiking poles. On the sloped sections lower down, there was water in abundance—kind of a weird early spring feeling.
As it got higher the running water began to become scarce until by the time I got to the AT at Rockwell Rd., the trail was covered with sugar snow, well chewed up with foot prints.
Because of the recent warm weather and rain, there was not enough snow for snowmobiles to make it to the summit. It was the first time I’d ever been up there with no vehicles around. A slight breeze was moderated by lots of sunshine and a clear blue sky. Wachuset and Monadnock were clearly visible on the horizon—but no glimpse of the theoretically visible Prudential Tower in Boston. A few hikers wandered around the summit area and (in contrast to most days up there) it was a peaceful place to be—until a cellpone rang out. You could hear his side of the conversation 50 yards away—and his description of his personal life was something no one should have to suffer through...I suspect he had the summit to himself within 10 minutes.
Coming down, I decided to take Summit Road to the trail junction. The road is perched on the edge of the mountain, and it’s a great view that you really can’t take in from a car.
Snow today will probably bring the sleds back to the summit again.
Cosmo
As it got higher the running water began to become scarce until by the time I got to the AT at Rockwell Rd., the trail was covered with sugar snow, well chewed up with foot prints.
Because of the recent warm weather and rain, there was not enough snow for snowmobiles to make it to the summit. It was the first time I’d ever been up there with no vehicles around. A slight breeze was moderated by lots of sunshine and a clear blue sky. Wachuset and Monadnock were clearly visible on the horizon—but no glimpse of the theoretically visible Prudential Tower in Boston. A few hikers wandered around the summit area and (in contrast to most days up there) it was a peaceful place to be—until a cellpone rang out. You could hear his side of the conversation 50 yards away—and his description of his personal life was something no one should have to suffer through...I suspect he had the summit to himself within 10 minutes.
Coming down, I decided to take Summit Road to the trail junction. The road is perched on the edge of the mountain, and it’s a great view that you really can’t take in from a car.
Snow today will probably bring the sleds back to the summit again.
Cosmo