Avalon, Field & Tom 7/22/12

"The Deceiving Three" (pictures)

It was to be a partly cloudy day, cool to start with rising humidity so I planned a hike to fit the weather conditions. Yes, I planned the hike this time! Scott had been wanting to hike Field and Tom for a while and I  said we would hold off on these for a lack-luster day as the views are not all that great. The hike should be easy. Low mileage and the peaks were just over 4000 feet. No problem! We parked at the train station and began our day. We crossed the train tracks and climbed through some wet sections of trail, well not really. It has been so dry even up here that the water was all but dried up every where you go. Even the river that was  washed into the trail from Hurricane Irene was down to a trickle. The river stones now a part of a small portion of the trail making a unique spot.

After a steep climb we took a left onto Avalon trail. The hike was steep and rocky. Phew, this peak sure made us work. But the view at the top was so worth it! I didn't realize the view from this peak! You could see the Presidential range, the Notch and the Willey range from the "rock spired" summit. Spectacular! We sat here for a good 10 minutes in the cooling breeze and looking down at the bustling Highland Center below. Scott pointed out my truck too, it's always fun to see your vehicle as a tiny spec below!

Rested and ready to get number 32 and 33 of the 48/4000 footers we climbed back down and onto Avalon trail. We passed several people as we made another steep climb with some moderate pitches. We couldn't believe how many we saw who had no gear with them what-so-ever. Not even water! What the hell are people thinking!? Or not thinking I should say. With all the reports of unprepared people getting lost and injured on the mountains and these idiots still don't heed the warnings!

Anyway, back to the hike. We will return to that subject shortly! We finished the difficult push to the top of Mt. Field and found the cairn marking the summit. There was a view cut that overlooked Avalon and the Presidentials which was clouded in now. We took a much needed break and took a few pictures. A hiker came through and after checking the view buzzed past us headed down what he thought was the trail to Willey. It dead-ends around the corner to a tent-site. He came back around and again went down another false trail. He swung back around puzzled and exclaimed "where am I going!?" I pointed straight ahead beyond the cairn and said "the trail is that way!" "And to think I've been here before" he quipped. We got a good chuckle out of it.

Re-fueled we packed up and began the moderate climb down to A-Z trail. We passed several people on their way up to Field. We connected onto Tom Spur trail and made an easy climb to a clearing and followed a trail left to the summit cairn. We continued down an obscure path to find a blow down area with good views to the North of the Twins and over to a fabulous view of the North side of Carrigain and it's notch flanked by it's surrounding peaks. We found a wood bench in the trees and sat down to have our lunch. We were not alone however. A Southern Red-backed Vole (I think) was scurrying up and down the trail and around the cairn, apparently looking for food scraps.

Lunch consumed we made the journey back down. Again passing people with little or no gear or food. What -the-hell! I sure hope people needing rescue who are not prepared get fined. Your in the White Mountains on a freekin' 4000 footer! Anything can happen at any moment! And with the threat of thunder storms in the forecast you better believe if you broke your leg or got lost (and it happens on any mountain and even to those who are experienced hikers), you'll be wishing you had rain gear, food and water with you! We were getting so aggravated seeing all these ill-prepared people!!

It was a steep climb down! These peaks sure make you work for them no matter what side you tackle them from! We were happy to scratch two more peaks off the 4k list. Slowly but surely we will complete them in due time. It is fun seeing all the different mountains and trails. We will definitely be making a return to Avalon in the future!

Table Mt. 7/8/12

"Two Strikes, Table a Home Run!" (pictures)

Our White Mountain parking pass having been expired for a couple weeks now, we thought we would drive up to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and get a new pass. We were not sure what we wanted to hike yet and I was thinking Huntington Ravine. When we arrived the weather conditions were not what we had expected. It was cool and winds were strong. We really didn't have the proper gear for these conditions. After checking the conditions inside and getting our pass we sat in the truck mulling over what to do. I was rep-remanded for not being diligent as I used to be with this stuff. I used to have the hike all picked out the night before and the times all set, etc. I really have to get back on track with this, sitting around trying to figure out what to hike really kills the hiking mood!

At this point I set my sights for something on the easier side. We got turned back a couple years ago from a thunderstorm on Stairs Mt. so I thought we'd give that another try. We drove to Jericho Rd. and came to a gate. This was odd. Perhaps they closed the rest of the road to vehicles? There was but one car parked...this was odd too as there are a bunch of camping areas on Dry River trail. I spotted a sign on a tree and jumped out to read it. Turns out the Southern section of Dry River trail was closed from the Irene flooding. Well that figures, strike two. Guess we weren't meant to hike today!

Now what!? Again I opened my map and tried one last time to find a hike. I had eyed Table Mt. before off Bear Notch road and it was nearby. So we decided to make this our last attempt. We parked in the small parking area and began our hike. The trail was rather pleasant, making a gradual climb. We passed several boulders and an attractive cascade. I climbed down the steep banking to get some pictures.

The last half mile of this 2 mile hike began with switch backs and became steep with loose gravel and ledge. Views quickly opened up towards the Sandwich range. We found the summit area then headed back to the large ledge to have our lunch. The weather was fabulous and the view unique and wonderful. We looked directly South at Chocorua, Passaconaway was front and center with Square Ledge in view and the ridge that runs up that side of the mountain. Other mountains of note were Paugus, the Tripyramids, the Moat range and I think Crawford.

We didn't see any people until our hike down. It was a fabulous little hike with a great view for the minimum effort! If only this trail was accessible in the winter...it would be a great snow shoe hike!