Hiking in the White Mountains

Lowe’s Bald Spot is a little, ledgy knob with an excellent 360 degree view. As a warm-up hike, from the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center we follow the Appalachian Trail on Old Jackson Road to the Mt. Washington Auto Road and the Madison Gulf Trail for 2 miles.

    
On our way to Lowe’s Bald Spot                                                    Mts. Adams and Madison

Mt. Tecumseh (4003 ft.) is the highest summit that forms the west wall of the Waterville Valley. An extensive system of local trails is maintained in this valley. From the Greeley Ponds Trail, a short, steep trail leads to Scaur rock outlook with views north, south and west.

 
Waterville Valley Ski Area

Mt Washington Auto Road

On a weather perfect day with an 80 mile view from the top, we drive the Mt Washington Auto Road to the summit of Mt. Washington. This 7.6 mile, then gravel road, was opened in 1861 as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road. 

https://mt-washington.com/history

  

Along the Mt Washington Auto Road

 

Everyone wears a mask                                 Down into the Great Gulf Wilderness

 

Flags on the 48

Flags on the 48 is a September 11 Memorial Hike to place an American flag on the top of each of the 48 peaks over 4000 foot in the White Mountains. Our peak of chose for this occasion is Mt. Jackson (4062 ft). With a square, ledgy summit, very steep sides, and a flat top this peak affords the finest view of the Southern peaks. On this very demanding 8 mile hike, we scramble up 2600 feet to the top and circle on the Appalachian Trail to the rocky Crawford Path for our descent.

      
At the start                                                At the top with the flag

   
View of Mt Washington                                     Busy day for Flags on the 48 

https://www.flagsonthe48.org/

 

The Greeley Ponds Trail from the Kancamagus Highway is an old favorite of our hiking group. Damaged several years ago when the Mad River flooded the area, bridges along the trail are currently being replaced by the US Forest Service. This past summer has been very dry throughout the northeast and any small wet areas on this trail were easy to pass through.

    
Greely Pond                                                   Pitcher plants

   
Rebuilding bridges

Has Jim taken a swim in the river?

 

Now it’s time to go back to NJ for a few days before departing to the NY Finger Lakes region.

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