My 33rd (Mount Jefferson) 4,000 footer!

This is what I call "The Northeast Group" (the Presidential Range on the left/center, and the Carter-Moriah Range on the right). Today's hike (Tuesday, July 7, 2015) - Mount Jefferson - is in the purple circle:

x's through Mounts Willey, Field and Tom means that I did them (last July); and I've done Jackson, Webster, Moriah, Adams, and Madison earlier this summer.

It is easy to get to the trailhead - up 93, through Franconia Notch, right onto 3 North, south/east on 302, and just before the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch, take a left on Mount Clinton Rd (3.6 miles), then Jefferson Notch Road for 3.2 miles to the Mount Jefferson Parking Lot:


Mount Clinton Road:


then Jefferson Notch Road goes up right next to beautiful Jefferson Brook!


Unlike last week, there is only one path leading up from the Mount Jefferson Parking Lot - the Caps Ridge Trail - and Mount Jefferson is "only" 2.4 miles from the trailhead


To quote the AMC White Mountain Guide, "This is the highest trailhead on a public through-road in the White Mountains, making it possible to ascend Mt. Jefferson with much less elevation gain than on any trail to a Presidentail peak over 5,000 feet"

However, it also says, "Caps Ridge Trail is steep and rough with numerous ledges that require rock scrambling and are slippery when wet, and the upper part is very exposed to weather."

SOUNDS GREAT!!

The first mile is a good hike in the woods:


At one mile there is a really nice granite outcrop, with great views:






Shortly thereafter, the trail got a little steep and rough:


You can just see the red dots (shirts) on the trail ahead:


and then my view back down at them after I climbed past them (they were having lunch)

Looks beautiful - can't wait to get to the top!

The top is in the clouds!

but I got my selfie:

The wind was HOWLING, but it was really cool being up there!

view down the backside


Because it was only 1 o'clock, I decided to follow the white-rock cairns down Castle Trail, and then take The Link to get back to the Caps Ridge Trail:

to quote Sting and The Police
"Giant Steps are what you take
Walking on the Moon"

I wound up on the most beautiful ridge/hike that I have been on - the Castellated Ridge, with its two "Castles" (rock upcropings [if that is a word?]), plus the beautiful Castle Ravine just to the north:




And my last big view before heading back down below the treeline:


It is pretty cool down where I meet The Link:

but The Link is a trail that is kind-of-unfinished:


There are a couple of clearings with wonderful views:

I'm straddling a stream that got my head all wet.


Back down to the trailhead, and down the road by 4! Oh, then I had to stop for a swim in the Jefferson Brook - it was GREAT!! Thank you God for a Great Day!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 (left Manchester-by-the-Sea at 7:00 AM, home at 9:30 PM)
179 miles -- Boston to 93 North, then northeast on 3, then 115, then 2 (3 hours)
7.23 miles -- hiking (4 hours 26 minutes)
5 1/2 hours -- to get home (via libraries in Mass. and dinner from Jimmy's in Reading)

Continuing to listen to all my songs, in alphabetical order. I listened to 100 songs in the G's

starting with
Gloria's Step-take 3 1961 Bill Evans The Complete Live at the Village Vanguard 1961 [Disc 3]
through
The Golden Floor 2008 Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns


(don't worry, I won't give you the WHOLE LIST
but it can be accessed here
highlights include

20 songs starting with the word "Go"

29 songs starting with "God"
highlights include:
4 versions of "God Bless The Child" (Blood, Sweat & Tears [1969]; Chris Botti & Paula Cole [2007]; Richie Havens [1993]; and Stanley Turrentine [1963])
"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys [Sounds of Summer, 1966]
2 versions of "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face" by Coldplay [studio from "A Rush Of Blood To The Head"; and live "Coldplay Live 2003")]

16 minutes of Pat Metheny Group live playing "Goin' Ahead/As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls" (Travels (live)(2 cds) 1983)

3 versions of "Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad" by the Grateful Dead:
Europe '72 Vol. 2 (2 cds) [1972]
Dozin' At The Knick [Live] (3 cds) [1990]
Hundred Year Hall (Live) (2 cds) [1972]

The Rolling Stones doing their longest song - 11:15 - "Going Home" from Aftermath [1966]

3 versions of "Going To California" by the Grateful Dead:
Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won (Disc 1) [1972]
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV [1971]
London Philharmonic Orchestra - Kashmir: The Symphonic Led Zepplin [1997]

2 versions of "Golden" by My Morning Jacket [studio from "It Still Moves"; and live "Okonokos [Live] (2 cds)")]