Glen BoulderAnother hike, this time in Pinkham Notch. A short one -- Glen Boulder was the destination via the Direttissima and Glen Boulder trail. Glen Boulder seemingly hangs on the edge of the treeline on the southeast side of Mount Washington.
Waterfalls on the Direttissima.
The view to the south of Pinkham Notch from a cliff on the Direttissima.
The recent rains left a lot of water running of the mountainside in streams. Since the leaves are off the trees, the lower-angled sun sparkled and glared in the trailside water.
Glen Boulder up on the ridgeline.
Looking north up Pinkham Notch with a shoulder of Mount Washington o the left and the Wildcat Ski area in the center.
Clouds over the Gulf of Slides. After we reached Glen Boulder, clouds rolled in from the west and a light wind came dropped the temperature. During our descent the wind blew the clouds away.
Looking south down the Notch again, this time at the end of the day. Too soon the trail is back within earshot of the highway. Late Fall
This kind of color is gone now. With all that red, the hydrant blends in to the scenery. (This was published in last week's Bridgton News.)
Morning light colors the hills around North Kearsarge.
Stormy sunset.
There are still isolated colorful leaves: maple leaves - birch bark. Baldface #2Part 2 From the top of South Baldface, we returned back down to the top of the Ledges and then took Slippery Brook Trail over to the Knob and down.
More food for the hungry hiker: wintergreen berries. There were a lot of these before the trail reached the Knob.
Looking back to South Baldface.
From the Knob looking at Eastman.
Way in the distant haze it looks like Mount Chocorua.
Dropping off the Knob and back into the trees.
Eastman again.
An old stone wall hidden back in the woods. Imagine, it was once farmland here.
Back near the bottom: Emerald Pool. It is a very popular swimming spot in the summer. The water is very, ah, invigorating.
A view of South Baldface from the road near the trailhead. The shelter is in between the hill capped with conifers and the base of the Ledges (above the "o"). South Baldface summit is in the middle, and the Knob (looking very high from this perspective) is just to the left. (Click on the road link to see the Google Street View.) I hope you enjoyed the views. Baldface #1There has been so much colorful foliage to enjoy this fall that I have not had time to share. The color was brilliant this year and the brightest colors held on unusually long. The passing of a cold front this past weekend has brought an end to much of that now. That is how the hike depicted in the next two posts allowed us to see beautiful foliage even though we went a little late in the season. We climbed South Baldface in North Chatham, NH via the Baldface Circle Trail over the Ledges and descended over the Knob down Slippery Brook Trail. Part 1
Green at lower elevations changing to more and more color at the shelter just before the ledges.
The ledges begin. Historically, granite slabs were cut here to be used for foundations and dragged down with oxen. For climbing, it is like going up giant steps. And more interesting if the ledge is wet.
The mountains in the background from left to right: West Royce, East Royce, down to Evans Notch, Caribou in the distance, and Speckled on the far right.
It is like surfing granite.
Because overcast skies did not make for interesting backgrounds, many of these photos show details instead of sweeping panoramas.
Blueberry plants and grass. Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton is behind the scrub trees.
The top of the ledges looking up to the summit of South Baldface.
Blueberries (well past good flavor) and cranberries (a nice snack). There were still many berries on the bushes. It must have been great back in August.
The summit (Mount Washington hiding in the clouds).
It looks like there may have been a little snow on Mount Washington.
Evans Notch and Caribou.
White Horse Ledge and Cathedral Ledge with North Conway, NH in the valley below.
View to the east. Pine Hill was mentioned in my last post. We hiked it a few weeks ago. To be continued. Autumn redsThis is what I have been seeing since the last post.
View from the "Airstrip" at the Stone House (White Mountain National Forest). The Stone House is private property which the owners graciously allow hikers and walkers to enjoy.
The next photos are from a short hike, Pine Hill, in the White Mountain National Forest again.
Blueberry plant leaves and reindeer moss.
Scarlet blueberry plant leaves on the ledges of Pine Hill.
And then a foggy morning.
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