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/