November 13, 2010
With another stellar forecast I couldn't resist returning to the Presidential Range. I will be hiking a lot of new trails today. Madison and I started at 7:00 a.m. We began on the Castle Trail and then took the Israel Ridge Trail. I reached The Link Trail where the two trails coexist for a very short segment. The trails then split. Now I was on my first new section of trail as I continued on the Israel Ridge Trail.
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There were several neat ladders on this trail.
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The trail came right up to but did not cross this stream.
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A couple minutes later the trail did cross it.
With recent snowmelt, this was a slightly tricky crossing.
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More ladders
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I reached the junction with the Emerald Trail. I would return to this spot later in the day.
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Part way up the Emerald Trail was a short spur trail to Emerald Bluff.
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Madison on Emerald Bluff
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This was a gem of a spot with a great view looking up to Mount Jefferson.
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Then I had a long drop down into the ravine. I hated to lose all that elevation but wanted to red-line these trails. Here's a sign at the bottom of the Emerald Trail.
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I was now on the Castle Ravine Trail.
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After repeating a small section of the trail that I had done before, I was on a new trail again. I went across an area where all the trees were destroyed. Seeing I was at the bottom of the ravine I'm assuming this was the result of an avalanche.
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The trail went under Roof Rock.
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Entering the Alpine Zone.
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I had a steep climb up Castle Ravine.
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I turned around for an awesome view to the north.
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Almost to the top of the ravine.
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I stopped for a break just below Edmands Col.
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I then took The Cornice part way around Mount Jefferson
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Looking back to Sam Adams and Adams 4, subpeaks of Mount Adams.
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I reached the Caps Ridge Trail and began my final push to the summit.
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Looking over toward Washington.
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This was definitely the long way to Mount Jefferson. It took me 5 hours to get there.
Mount Washington from the summit of Mount Jefferson.
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On to Mount Adams
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But first I had to head back down to Edmands Col.
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I reached the col and began the walk over to Adams. On the way I passed the Israel Ridge Path. I would head down that way in a bit.
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I reached the summit of Adams. Here's the view looking down to Mount Madison.
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I turned around and retraced my steps for the next .9 miles before heading down another section of the Israel Ridge Path.
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I reached the junction with the Perch Path.
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I dropped my pack here and hiked down to the junction with the Emerald Trail which I had passed earlier. This completed my last section of the Israel Ridge Path. I hiked back up to the Perch Path.
The sign stated it was 100 yards to The Perch but it seemed a lot further.
Tent site next to The Perch.
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The Perch Privy
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The Perch
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I passed the junction with the Randolph Path.
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Another great view.
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The trail ended when I reach the Gray Knob Trail.
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I took this trail down to Lowe's Path.
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A great spot called The Quay
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The Quay Path was a tiny little trail that I did a quick out and back on.
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I continued down Lowe's Path until I reached the Cabin-Cascades Trail.
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This one mile trail followed the contour of the mountain.
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I reached the Israel Ridge Path and the final 2.5 miles were a repeat from this morning. I needed my headlamp for the last 45 minutes or so. I finished about 5:50 p.m.
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