November 22, 2009 Hike #1
Things are looking great for my November Grid. After getting the Twins, Galehead, and Garfield yesterday (no entry) that brought my November Grid total to 43 making it my top month. If all goes well I'll finish November by the end of the week. Today I'm climbing Pierce and Eisenhower. It should be a short day and leave me time for some additional hiking in the area. Madison and I hit the trail at 8:30 a.m.
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Up we headed to the junction with the Mizpah Cut-off.
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Despite all the times I've been to Mount Pierce, all the times I've been to the Mizpah Hut, and all the times I've been on the Crawford Path, I've never done this small .7 mile section of trail. Well it has eluded me long enough. I decided to take this trail which would add .4 miles to my route to the top. It was your average run-of-the-mill White Mountains Trail with lots of rocks.
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I reached the other end of the cut-off.
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Heading by Mizpah Hut which is closed until the spring.
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On the way to Pierce
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Madison on the summit of Pierce
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On to Eisenhower
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Nearing the summit of Eisenhower
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Looking north to Washington from the summit of Eisenhower.
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It was such a nice day part of me wanted to continue on to Washington, but there were other trails I wanted to hit today. Madison and I began the trip back.
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Heading back to Pierce
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After returning to Pierce we heading back down the Crawford Path.
Near the bottom I stopped at Gibbs Falls.
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Rather than head right back to the Highland Center I crossed the bridge.
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Right after the bridge there is a trail junction. I headed up to Crawford Cliff.
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Neither my map nor the sign stated the distance but my GPS track was between .3 and .4 miles for this spur trail.
I went by a sign for "The Pool".
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It really wasn't much, but here's "The Pool".
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The trail was quite steep after this. Up, up, up I headed until I came out at this rock.
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I looked around pretty thoroughly but did not see the trail continue anywhere. I guess this is the end of the line. There was a nice view but my pictures didn't come out that great since I was looking directly into the sun.
Looking down to Saco Lake, Crawford Depot, and the Highland Center.
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Looking over to Mount Willey in the background. Mount Willard is the smaller mountain in front of it. I plan to climb that next. I'll be approaching from the right side so it looks like I'll have a pretty gentle climb.
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Down Madison and I headed finishing at 2:00 p.m. Now for hike #2.
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