July 4, 2008
Today is a big day. Yes, it's the birthday of America, but it is also an important hiking day for Ed Hawkins. He will be completing his 50th loop of the White Mountains 4000 footers, a feat that may never be matched. He is heading up an AMC hike today with Becca Munroe to Mount Isolation. Since this hike will be going into a wilderness area, the group size is limited to 10. In an effort to keep the group size down, I headed out an hour before the group. I'll make a side trip over to Mount Davis and then double back to Isolation to meet and congratulate Ed. Since I wasn't hiking with anyone, I decided to bring my four-legged hiking partner Madison along. She's already climbed this 4000 footer, but doesn't mind doing it again. Maddie and I headed up the Rocky Branch Trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
About 2.5 miles into the hike, I entered the wilderness area.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
At about 3000 feet, I reached the spot where Ed likes to do a bushwhack. The bushwhack doesn't really save any time, but cuts off .5 miles and several water crossings which can be quite helpful especially in winter. I had never hiked the section of trail from here to the junction with the Isolation Trail, so I decided to stay on the trail. Once I reached the junction I turned left instead of right to stop at Rocky Branch Shelter #2.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Madison cools off in Rocky Branch.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I made my way up to Davis Path which I followed up to Mount Isolation. Once I reached the spur trail to the top, I ditched my pack, and headed over to Mount Davis. I reached the summit of Mount Davis. I was here once before in the fog which was why I decided to return here. Come to find out, I wasn't on the true summit. The terrain dips slightly before going back up to a slightly higher spot. I'm usually a stickler for going to the top, but this peak isn't on any lists so I decided not to head over. The trail ends, and I couldn't see an easy route over. Maybe another time. Here's the view of Mount Washington from Davis.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here's Madison on the false summit. Considering the trail ends here and there is a fairly good size cairn, I bet most people claim this as the summit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here's a 360° view from the top of Mount Davis.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I headed back to Isolation, picked up my pack, and headed up the spur trail to the 4003' summit. At the top I met a hiker named Andrew.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Come to find out, Andrew has been following along on my website and recognized me. He's been working on the 4000 footers, and I think he said this was #39 for him. Just 9 to go. Way to go Andrew!! Keep up the good work. Andrew had a long hike out, so he headed back while I waited for Ed and company.
Here's a view of the southern Prezies from Isolation. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
About 10 minutes or so later, I was met by Ed and company. I was glad to see such a good turnout. I got to see Jim, Becca, Steve, Sarah, Gary, and Alberta. There were also several hikers who I had never met before. Here's Ed as he nears the summit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ed on the summit of Isolation, completing his 50th loop of the White Mountain 4000 footers.
Since it was the 4th of July, Jim brought a flag to the summit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That's 50 x 48 or 2400 four-thousand footers. And that's "just" his complete loops. Some of the peaks he has hiked many more times, and this doesn't count the 4000 footers in Maine and Vermont. Congratulations Ed!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ There would be a tailgate party at the end of the day. I didn't want to miss that either so Maddie and I headed off for another bonus peak. It was such a beautiful day that I couldn't resist a walk above treeline so I headed over to Boott Spur.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Leaving the wilderness area
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I reached the 5500' summit of Boott Spur where I found that someone made a seat out of rocks.
It was actually quite comfortable.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here's Washington from Boott Spur. If I had a couple more hours I'd go bag 'George' again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here's a 360° view.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Maddie takes a break.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As I looked down to Route 16, I thought of the 3 mile road walk that would end today's hike.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I went by Glen Boulder. I was here once last year. I'm amazed that it continues to stay in place.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I ducked below treeline, made the steep climb down to Route 16, and jogged down the road for three miles. Here's today's track.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When I got back to the truck I saw Gary and Alberta.
About 10 minutes later Ed arrived with the rest of the group. We celebrated Ed's official completion of his 50th loop.
| 
