June 30, 2007 Hike #1
Today, I have two hikes planned. The first is a loop hike of Mounts Flume and Liberty. The second is the Hancocks. Here's the track from hike #1.
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I parked at the Flume Visitor Center before starting off with Madison at 7:30 am. The trail starts off on a nice paved path which is shared with bicyclists. I then reached Whitehouse Bridge where the Appalachian Trail intersects. I went across the bridge and began going up Liberty Spring Trail.
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Stone Staircase
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I then came to a trail junction. Decision time. Do I go up to Liberty first or Flume first? I've been up the Liberty Spring Trail (Appalachian Trail). It's steep, but the Flume Slide Trail looks even steeper. I would rather go up the steeper trail than go down it, so we took a right.
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After a couple miles of minor ups and downs, the trail started getting steep.
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Madison lays down
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My first viewpoint
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The trail got even steeper, but after some determination and some scrambling, I reached the next trail junction.
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The trail opened up, and I got a great view of Liberty.
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Looking southwest to Mount Moosilauke.
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Such great views, and I'm not even at the top yet.
Has anyone seen Madison?
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Almost to the summit
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Madison on the 4328' summit of Mount Flume
This was my 43rd 4000 footers of the Whites. Just 5 to go.
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Looking west to Owl's Head and the Bonds
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Looking north to Lincoln and Lafayette
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Looking west to Moosilauke
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View to the southeast
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Madison and I only stayed about 10 minutes on the summit. Time to drop back into the trees and head towards Liberty.
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Heading above treeline.
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Looking back to Flume
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Here's a very well constructed cairn.
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Madison and I reached the 4459' summit. I've been on this summit before, but not in June so it works toward my grid. This was a new peak for Madison though. We spent 30 minutes enjoying the summit. We were fortunate to have both summits to ourselves today. As great as the view was from Flume, I think the view from Liberty is a little better.
Looking toward Owl's Head and the Bonds
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That's Mount Carrigain way in the back.
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Looking over to Mount Cannon. Cannon Ball (NE Peak) is the bump on the far left.
Cannon is a 4000 footer. Cannon Ball is not, but is high enough to qualify for the New England Hundred Highest. I bagged both summits last week.
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Mount Garfield
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Madison with Mount Lincoln in the background
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The view to the south
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Madison naps on the summit
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I didn't want to leave the summit, but if I want to get down in time to do my second hike, then I better get going.
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Time to start the steep descent
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There were lots of stone staircases to assist.
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I believe I was the first one to summit these mountains today. I saw no on the way up, but on the way down I went by a steady stream of hikers. Madison was a big hit.
"Is that a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?" one hiker asked.
"Yes, she is. But she's mixed with something," I said.
"I love these dogs. I've only seen one before. She's beautiful"
"Thanks!"
Maddie and I made it back to the car about 1:15 pm.
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