Terrifying 25: Table Rock Climbing Trail

Friday, August 30, 2024 - Wendy and Ellie are seeing a play in Lakewood, Maine, and spending the night. That gives me a great opportunity to bag "the Farthest-away" trail in the Terrifying 25 list: "Table Rock Climbing Trail" in Dixville Notch.

On the map:
Yellow = "Required", have not climbed
Blue = "Optional", have not climbed
Green = "Have Climbed"

I have climbed 14 of them:

It being Friday, I did my Step-class at The MAC, then showered-shaved-and-shined and headed down the road (about 10:30). It is just about a 4-hour-drive to get up to Dixville Notch, but it is a beautiful day for a drive (you know it is WAY UP THERE when Google Maps sends you through Maine to a hike in New Hampshire):

Near Dixville Notch I crossed over 35,000 miles on my new Subaru Crosstrek (purchased at the end of January 2024):

At 2:49 I was able to locate Table Rock Climbing Trail #57:

I left my hiking poles in the car because the trail goes STRAIGHT UP:

It was hand-climbing, but only for 0.2 miles:

22 minutes after starting, I reached the top:

You then follow this cross-trail to the right, out onto the "rocky perch" (don't worry - I didn't go all the way to the end):

There are some BEAUTIFUL VIEWS from the Ridge - looking west down at Lake Gloriette and "The Balsams", and then looking east down at New Hampshire Highway 26:

I made my way back down The Trail:

I hiked 0.46 miles in 47 minutes:

I then started my journey home, seeing beauty on the Androscoggin River:

I stopped for a minute at Umbagog Lake State Park:

Then, in Grafton Notch State Park, I stopped at Screw Auger Falls. I had been here in 2016 when I hiked my first 4,000-footer in Maine (read that blog here):

Headed back down the road - nice and easy. Got gas, and home at 8:25 - 428 miles today. Thank You God for this wonderful ADVENTURE DAY!

For my listening pleasure today:

various - Harvard Radio - Jazz Spectrum - this is where I start my weekdays, from 5 AM to 1 PM:

Miles Davis - Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 1965 (disc 1), recorded 1965, released 1995, last heard 8/31/2021 - Disc 1: December 22, 1965 — first set:

1. "If I Were a Bell"
2. "Stella by Starlight"
3. "Walkin'"
4. "I Fall in Love Too Easily"
5. "The Theme"

Pink Floyd - Ummagumma (2 cds), 1969 4th double-album, last heard 10/06/2016 - some of this is garbage, but some of it is wonderful. The double-album allows them to explore their space, and make some good music here and there:

James Gang - Yer' Album, 1969 debut album, last heard 9/23/2016 - very good rock n' roll:

Coldplay - X&Y, 2005 3rd album, last heard 9/23/2016:

Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball, 2012 album, last heard 9/23/2016 - this has the studio version of "Land of Hope and Dreams":

Greg Lake - Works, Volume 1 (Side 2), 1977 5th studio album, last heard 9/22/2016
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Works, Volume 1 (Side 4), 1977 5th studio album, last heard 9/22/2016

Works, Volume 1 was a double-album, with each member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer taking one album side, and the 4th side being all 3 together. Keith Emerson's side (Side 1) was a piano concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra - I didn't like it at the time - maybe I'll give it another listen one of these days. Side 2 is Greg Lake's 5 songs - I think his voice is wonderful, and I like this stuff. Side 3 is drummer Carl Palmer's "contribution", and I found it to be a bunch of junk (once again, maybe I'll give it another listen one of these days). Side 4 is the band performing 2 songs ("Fanfare for the Common Man" [by Aaron Copland] and "Pirates" [sounds like something from Gilbert and Sullivan]). 47 years on down the road, it all sounds a bit pompous (well, maybe A LOT POMPOUS).

I still remember pulling into the parking lot for the 110 Nationals in Holland Michigan in August 1977 - Boom Boxes were playing all kinds of "get psyched" music, including "Fanfare for the Common Man" by ELP. VERY COOL

I saw Keith Emerson and Greg Lake perform at the Lynn Auditorium on April 11, 2010. Very good and intimate show!

Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead, 1970 5th album, last heard 9/22/2016 - I remember being a Senior at St. Paul's hearing this album. I had heard of The Dead, of course, but I hadn't really heard any of their music. I thought "With a name like 'The Grateful Dead', it is probably some LOUD JARRING ACID ROCK." Imagine my surprise when I heard This Album!

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/