Waterville Valley Day-Hike

Saturday, November 5, 2022 - I was planning on doing TWO of the Terrifying 25 today - "North Slide" (below North Tripyramid) and "South Slide" (below South Peak):

So after my Bible Study ended at 9 AM, I headed North:

I figured that I would be at the Trailhead at 11. Well, I didn't leave at 9 - more like 9:25. And the drive took longer than I expected - so I was up in Waterville Valley a little past Noon

The hike I was planning is listed at "7 hours". I'm pretty good, so I figured probably 6-and-1/2 hours. But, since the sun goes down early and IT IS DARK AT 5, I would still have 1-and-1/2 hours IN THE DARK. I HATE HIKING IN THE DARK - there's nothing to see!

So I cancelled for today.

Well, I figured that since I was already up here, it would be a good idea to drive to the trailhead, just to make sure I know where it is:

It turns out that the Parking Area is big, and it is PACKED on a warm Saturday in early November. I parked and got out to see the map:

Well, it was only 12:30, and I was here (according to the map), so I figured I would just put on my hiking boots and wander up The Trail, just to see whet it looks like. Well, it looks PRETTY NICE:

I passed some nice streams:

(that is the biker that passed me when I was on the bridge):

A few minutes later I came to "Big Pines Path", which is a nice 0.2 mile trail up to Mad River:

At 1:11 I was at the intersection with "Kettle's Path" (which goes up to "The Scaur"). I looked at the map and I thought "Hey, I can do that loop!":

"Kettle's Path" is a nice trail through the woods:

At 1:41 I was at the side-trail going up to "The Scaur":

I can only guess that "The Scaur" is a rock-outcropping with a GREAT VIEW - I am right:

Yes, that's the Waterville Valley Ski Area.

Back down at The Trail, I headed east on "Irene's Path" to "The Flume":

At the 3-mile mark on today's hike:

5 minutes later is a nice view looking north:

Looking upstream at "The Flume":

and looking downstream ("Avalanche Brook"/"Flume Brook"):

At the 4-mile mark, a few minutes before intersection with "Livermore Trail":

22 minutes later, at the 5-mile mark, on "Livermore Trail" with views of North Tripyramid and Middle Tripyramid:

Really nice trail heading home, next to a babbling brook, and a really cool split-rock:

I finished at 4:15 (still with some sunlight)- wasn't that a great off-the-cuff hike! 8.82 miles in 3:37

Um - pretty nice view going home through Concord, NH:

Thank You God for this wonderful "Waterville Valley" Day!

For my listening pleasure today:

various artists - Warren Miller - Higher Ground, 2005 soundtrack:

I tracked down the songs, and made my own soundtrack. I loved the music-in-the-movie; unfortunately, the music does not stand up on its own. DELETE.

various artists - Voices, 2005:

A very nice collection of 17 songs by 17 women, including Dido, Sade, Destiny's Child and Martina McBride.

various artists - Curves Cardio - Vol 22 - Latin Music, 2005:

I really like the 3 tracks I have: "Gloria Medley", "Calypso Bananero", and "Mamasita".

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Experience - Live, 1966-1969 (9 songs pulled from the 4-cd set):

Counting Crows - 2021/10/09 Boston, MA:

Um, YES, Wendy and I were there!!!

Counting Crows - Somewhere Under Wonderland, 2014

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about visiting Art Museums and National Parks (and hiking in the Rockies)
hyperlink: dixonheadingwest
http://dixonheadingwest.blogspot.com/

Knife-Edge at Katahdin with Ardath

Monday, October 10, 2022 - Last spring Ardath, having moved to Maine a year ago, said that she would really like to hike Knife-Edge up on Katahdin (when she did Baxter Peak with Tad a few years ago, they went up-and-down the west side). Having hiked Knife-Edge myself (read blog here), I thought that sounded great, and something we could do together. The best time would be right after I get back from my Road-Trip, so this summer I made arrangements for Monday, October 10. So Sunday I left Manchester right after lunch, was in Portland 2 hours later, hopped into Ardath's car (free entry to Baxter State Park with Maine plates) and we got up to Millinocket at 6:

In Portland, we switched into Ardath's car, giving me the passenger seat (with the best views):

We pulled into Millinocket just as the sun was going down. Checked into the Appalachian Trail Lodge, put our stuff away, and went up the road for dinner at the Sawmill Bar & Grill:

In the morning, there was a chill in the air:

When we checked-in last night, the guy said that there was ice and snow up on Knife Edge, and that instead of going straight up-and-down, we should go up via Chimney Pond Trail / Saddle Trail, and once up there, determine if we want to deal with Knife Edge:

We got coffee-and-muffins at the Katahdin General Store and headed north:

We stopped for pictures at Lower Togue Pond (looking east) and Upper Togue Pond (looking west):

We reached The Gate at 6:45, and got through at 7. Up the next 8 miles of dirt road to Roaring Brook Campground, park, and off we go hiking at 7:42

It is a beautiful day hiking up alongside Roaring Brook:

We are in the woods on the way up, with only an occasional "Viewpoint":

Going past Basin Ponds at 8:56

20 minutes later we are up at Chimney Pond:

And then we headed up Saddle Trail, with our first taste of snow:

Once you get above the tree-line, the VIEWS ARE GREAT (it also gets a little steep):

We reached the top of the ridge at 11:15

So I said to the guy - "Great, what do you do up here?":

There still is a ways to go to get to Baxter Peak - Just follow Blue Blazes, or Cairns, and walked-on snow:

One foot in front of the other, and we reached Baxter Peak at 12:12

We got down out of the wind and had lunch, and looked at the view (that's Knife Edge over Ardath's shoulder)

Looking east at Pamola Peak, with South Turner Mountain and (a glimpse of) Katahdin Lake in the distance:

Looking back west at the AT hikers coming up:

Once again, can you "find the hikers"?

After lunch, it is time to tackle Knife Edge. Starts out easy enough:

(Sure glad the sun has melted the tops of the rocks).

Ardath is in front, so this is looking back at me:

Looking south, at the United States of America:

Looking north, down at Chimney Pond:

The Blue Blazes keep us company up here - not like there are any "alternate routes":

It is a bit more hairy up here than I remember:

That trail that looks like it "goes around Pamola" is not a valid trail - the Blue Blazes go straight up the back-side of Pamola:

10 minutes later (2:15 PM) we were at the top of Pamola:

WOW - THAT MILE FROM BAXTER TO PAMOLA TOOK 2 HOURS!!!

Looking back at what we did:

Going forward, this IS NOT AN EASY HIKE DOWN:

Cool view looking off to my left (north):

An hour later we were down at the "tree-line":

Down in the woods, the "trail" is still not very good - this is HARD HIKING:

Good job signing-in, and then out at 5:01

Today's hike is 9.65 miles, in 9 hours 23 minutes:

Six years ago, I did Knife Edge - 10.12 miles in 7 hours 12 minutes (read that blog here). It was early August, and sunny and calm up on The Edge, so that might have been the difference.

A nice drive home:

Ardath drove 2 hours to our dinner in Orono, then I drove for an hour, and Ardath took the last hour to Portland. Big hugs, and I got in my car and drove the 2 hours home, getting to bed at midnight. WOW - THANK YOU GOD for this WONDERFUL Adventure!!

Music this trip - going up to Portland:

Led Zeppelin - "Listen to this, Eddie (cd 3-of-3)", 1977 live bootleg album:

Jackson Browne -"The Next Voice You Hear", 1997 greatest hits album:

Monday drive:

Greta Van Fleet - "Anthem of the Peaceful Army", 218 debut album:

great Monday Night Football game:

Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin I", 1969 debut album:

I can't think of a better album to finish this hiking adventure!

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about visiting Art Museums and National Parks (and hiking in the Rockies)
hyperlink: dixonheadingwest
http://dixonheadingwest.blogspot.com/