View Full Version : Reporting Into Base Camp
This thread is for members of the community to report on our doings and dones – sharing pics and experiences on recent hikes and outings, interesting finds from out on trail or nearby, mental and physical prep for hikes, short and long, quick mentions of planned upcoming outings. I expect and intend that, like most of Whiteblaze, this thread will focus mostly on A.T.-related activities, but if people want to share plans, pics or experiences from other places, that’s fine with me.
All White-Blazers are welcome here – young and old, newbie and old pro, weekender and 2000-miler, speedster and slow-poke, those who know a lot, a little or in between. The most important thing, aside from the sharing itself, is an attitude of mutual support.
In that spirit, thank you for checking out this thread - look forward to enjoying your plans, dreams and experiences. Welcome!
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I will kick off the festivities by sharing some pics from my hike of my old favorite, Bear Mountain in Salisbury, CT, the scene of my first hike on the A.T. almost 7 years ago. The idea last Saturday, on a last minute, unplanned trip – my eight trip to Connecticut’s highest peak – was to get a quick, pretty hike in and, I hoped, to gather up wild blueberries a-plenty from the mountain’s upper reaches. I’d heard from recent passers-through that there were lots of blueberries on Race and Everett, and it was my hope that Bear would, too.
I got a late start from the Undermountain trailhead on Route 44. A few years ago, when I first started hiking on a regular basis, Bear was an arduous trek – it felt really steep. That was accentuated by the 80+ F heat and high humidity when my friend and I did the hike three years ago in July. We were huffing and puffing and sweating buckets when we got to the scrubby, rocky upper mile. The blueberries helped a lot.
By now, Bear has become easy, but it's still a familiar friend, and the views were just as beautiful now as then, though it was a bit hazy – great views to neighboring Taconics and the Housy Valley, faint hints of the Gunks to the southwest, but little or nothing in the Catskills direction.
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I always enjoy the rough micaceous schist of the summit cone, which had great traction on this dry day. That was welcome after some recent hikes in the Whites where slippery, wet rocks and roots predominated. After slogging and carefully picking my way up and down Moosilauke’s and Eisenhower’s slopes in the Whites, something easier was welcome.
The one down note – almost no blueberries! My best guess is that the blueberry bushes on Bear, which looked a bit sickly, were somehow hit harder than their neighbors on Everett and Race by last year's hot, dry summer. Looking and looking, I gathered up maybe a total of 15 blueberries above 2000’, where most of the bushes are. Bummer! (Somebody told me the other day that there were plenty of blueberries on the Paradise Lane side trail. I just missed them!)
But the hike was a beauty, and it was nice to get out. Hope you enjoy the pics.
Slo-go'en
08-15-2013, 17:41
I went up Carter Dome last week. 24 of 48 NH 4Ks now completed. Only one left in Maine to do (Abraham) but all of Vermont is done. I really should make an effort to complete the 4,000 footers. Maybe I'll do North Twin this weekend - how hard could it be?
Then start on New Englands highest 100. That only adds another 36 peaks, but I've already done a lot of those too. The one's I haven't done are probably all the ones with out official trails to the top of.
Anyway, here's the view off of Carter Dome:
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T.S.Kobzol
08-15-2013, 18:12
Abraham is a beauty. You will love it.
I am now on my way to acadia np. Planning a 30 mile paddle ti and around Swan island on Saturday, with a shorter paddle tomorrow to the porcupines. Hiking the Bold Coast trail on sunday. Life is good.
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Slo:
Beautiful pic from the Dome. It's one of the 48 that's called to me particularly from the beginning. Your pic only adds to that. Did you do Mt. Hight, too?
TSK:
Where's the Bold Coast? Part of Maine?
I've had to stay close to home lately, but have been getting a lot of gym time in and am losing weight and gaining conditioning. I'm down about 22 lbs since early May and ami amidst a good push right now in that regard, feeling a bit of momentum. Not up to my best condition of last year, but not far off.
T.S.Kobzol
08-15-2013, 19:29
BCT is near Machias...almost on the border with Canada. Now is the best time to go....blueberries
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HikerMom58
08-15-2013, 19:33
https://sphotos-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s403x403/1175234_10153156070450523_1616497076_n.jpg
Katahdin, 47.5 miles away
I wanted to share this pic... he's "one of our own" Josh Calhoun... aka Rash. He's almost there!! :)
T.S.Kobzol
08-15-2013, 19:42
Go Rash! Been reading his journal from the beginning.
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Drybones
08-15-2013, 19:47
The Foothills Trail is one of my favorites.
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Drybones
08-15-2013, 20:04
I am planning to start back at Pearisburg, VA 10/6/13 or 10/7/13 and go to Harper's Ferry ......if the knees will cooperate...looking forward to hiking with the trees in color.
Slo-go'en
08-15-2013, 20:42
Slo:
Beautiful pic from the Dome. It's one of the 48 that's called to me particularly from the beginning. Your pic only adds to that. Did you do Mt. Hight, too?
No, I took the AT around, which I learned later was a mistake, as Hight has the better vista. But I was running late and as it was, I just made it back to the road as the sun was going behind Howker ridge on Madison.
Speaking of Howker ridge, that's a neat way to go up Madison. Difficult, but rewarding.
Another Kevin
08-15-2013, 22:23
It's not the AT - sorry! - but I had a great day trip on the northern Catskill escarpment on Sunday. That place has magnificent views. Trip report and lots more pics at http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2013/08/windham-high-peak-2013-08-11.html.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9514503839_e9bb893412_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/9514503839/)
View north from Burnt Knob (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/9514503839/) by ke9tv (http://www.flickr.com/people/ke9tv/), on Flickr
Nice idea for a thread!
Last Sundays hike from Two Medicine to Pitamakin Pass:
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HikerMom58
08-15-2013, 23:59
Nice idea for a thread!
Last Sundays hike from Two Medicine to Pitamakin Pass:
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I agree it's a great idea for a thread... love it!! Your hike looks amazing!! :)
Drybones:
I can see why you love the Foothills Trail - beautiful pics. The waterfalls are amazing.
AK:
I still haven't gotten to the Catskills for a hike. Maybe this fall. That escarpment especially interests me, as does Kaaterskill High falls and some of the higher peaks.
Marta and KB:
Thanks so much! Your pics are nice, Marta - that place looks astoundingly pretty. GNP?
I went up Carter Dome last week. 24 of 48 NH 4Ks now completed. Only one left in Maine to do (Abraham) but all of Vermont is done. I really should make an effort to complete the 4,000 footers. Maybe I'll do North Twin this weekend - how hard could it be?
I hear North Twin is pretty arduous. I'm looking forward to hiking the Twins and Bonds. Beautiful place.
Speaking of such things, Slo, what has been your favorite White 4K so far? Have you done any of them multiple times? What non-4K Whites do you like?
Slo-go'en
08-16-2013, 03:05
I hear North Twin is pretty arduous. I'm looking forward to hiking the Twins and Bonds. Beautiful place.
Speaking of such things, Slo, what has been your favorite White 4K so far? Have you done any of them multiple times? What non-4K Whites do you like?
Well, seeing I was RMC Gray Knob caretaker for 10 continues months, plus all the trips before and since, I'd have to say Mt Adams. I've lost count of how many times I've been to the top of that one. Near-by Madison and Jefferson are also high on the list.
For a non-4K, The ledges on Owlshead (Mt Martha) at 3263 feet. This is in Jefferson, off RT 115 and has an exceptional view to the east of the Presidental range all lined up from Crawford Notch to Gorham. A very good vantage point for fall foliage viewing, which will be coming up in another month. The trial up there is part of the Cohus trail.
hikerboy57
08-16-2013, 08:25
No, I took the AT around, which I learned later was a mistake, as Hight has the better vista. But I was running late and as it was, I just made it back to the road as the sun was going behind Howker ridge on Madison.
Speaking of Howker ridge, that's a neat way to go up Madison. Difficult, but rewarding.
the howker ridge traill folows the ridgeline up madison over sevn false summits. i took it down from madison 3 years ago
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/8/4/8/1/camerashotsmine2_007.jpg
two of the howks
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/8/4/8/1/dsc00700.jpg
it was a beautiful trail, glad i didnt take it up.
HikerMom58
08-16-2013, 08:41
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/p480x480/999181_10200886267851668_1760531386_n.jpg
Here's one of ChinMusic's recent pics.. Looking back at Mt Madison. First clear skies in two days.
Drybones:
Marta and KB:
Thanks so much! Your pics are nice, Marta - that place looks astoundingly pretty. GNP?
Yep, The Crown of the Continent, Glacier NP. This is part of the CDT route through the Park, but I was just day hiking.
Sailing_Faith
08-16-2013, 09:20
Just back from doing a bunch of blue blazes in SNP. Van needs some TLC right now, but headed back out this weekend... Max patch? Hot springs? We will see.
Going to drive out west in a couple weeks, Grand Canyon, Colorado, then back home to watch some of the Americas Cup.... Where next?
Deer Hunter
08-16-2013, 10:08
I went up Carter Dome last week. 24 of 48 NH 4Ks now completed. Only one left in Maine to do (Abraham) but all of Vermont is done. I really should make an effort to complete the 4,000 footers. Maybe I'll do North Twin this weekend - how hard could it be?
Then start on New Englands highest 100. That only adds another 36 peaks, but I've already done a lot of those too. The one's I haven't done are probably all the ones with out official trails to the top of.
Anyway, here's the view off of Carter Dome:
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Nice picture.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23457&d=1376602778 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23457&d=1376602778)
Deer Hunter
08-16-2013, 10:16
The Foothills Trail is one of my favorites.
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I like this.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23458&d=1376610163 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=23458&d=1376610163)
Deer Hunter
08-16-2013, 10:18
I am planning to start back at Pearisburg, VA 10/6/13 or 10/7/13 and go to Harper's Ferry ......if the knees will cooperate...looking forward to hiking with the trees in color.
If you need a resupply into either Buena Vista or Glasgow, I will be glad to help ya out. :)
Deer Hunter
08-16-2013, 10:20
It's not the AT - sorry! - but I had a great day trip on the northern Catskill escarpment on Sunday. That place has magnificent views. Trip report and lots more pics at http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2013/08/windham-high-peak-2013-08-11.html.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9514503839_e9bb893412_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/9514503839/)
View north from Burnt Knob (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke9tv/9514503839/) by ke9tv (http://www.flickr.com/people/ke9tv/), on Flickr
Nice contrast of colors. Beautiful.
Mrs Mags and I did a last minute stroll (hike is too strong of a word :) ) in the Boulder foothills yesterday evening. Touch of fall is in the air. Only had my iPhone on me, but still like the pic.
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Deer Hunter
08-16-2013, 10:40
Yep, The Crown of the Continent, Glacier NP. This is part of the CDT route through the Park, but I was just day hiking.
Nice place. Visited it myself a few years ago.
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Alligator
08-16-2013, 11:06
This thread was not constructed as advised. Users can set preconditions for groups participation, but in the main forums, access is pretty much set to open for everybody and is generally only limited when behavior is an issue.
We are not interested in setting threads up as miniforums. We have provided the Groups area for that sort of thing.
Thanks.
Nice pictures, everyone. Do we take pictures to remember our hikes? Or hike in order to get pictures of the beautiful places? Sometimes it's a tossup.
Speaking of which...time to take off for a three-day weekend of hiking. Have a good weekend, everyone!