Mount Isolation – 4005′

One of the farthest away White Mountains 4000 feet.  14.6mi, 3600 elevation change via the Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, and Davis Path.  Some people do it as a long day-hike.  We did it as a short backpack.  The things I liked the most about this hike:

  • Weather was great, the views at the top where even greater.  There was a lot of wind at the top, as expected, but otherwise a clear day.  No rain, snow or hail (like other times — we guess it is because Lina was not with us).
  • Our first 4k this year.  We haven’t been hiking too much.
  • Adriana’s feet has healed — at least enough to hike one of these.
  • We found an official campsite that was not documented in our maps.  And was conveniently located at the time we got tired, with an unexpected water source.

Photos on the usual place.

Map:

Profile:

Other Links on Mt Isolation:

2007 Hikes – Almost Forgotten

I had the custom of keeping track of my hikes.  Recently I have not been hiking as much as I would have liked, and I have had much less time to keep track of what I hike.  I was browsing through my New England 4000 scorecard and I noticed that I had not entered 2007 hikes.  Fortunately, I was able to keep record of some of this by keeping photos and maps.  (Great thing photos record the date and time now).  4k Scorecard updated to reflect changes.

White Mountain Hikes:

Mt. Madison(photos) – September 9th, 2007

We climbed through the Air Line trail. This is marginally more difficult than the Valley Way, but has dramatically better views. It is a bit more exposed, however, and not the easiest one on inclement weather. It brings you to the Madison Spring Hut first, half a mile before the summit, but a great place to catch your breath, buy some snacks or warm up with the soup they make at noon.

The day was very cloudy, and by the time we reached the summit it had already started raining. Visibility was around 50 feet at best, and from there until the time we where able to get below the tree line (about two hours and a half later) it was a slippery, cold, wet way down through Watson Path (RMC). Once under tree cover it was a good day. On a sunny day, it is probably a great view of the northern part of the forest from the mostly exposed Watson Path.  Few more than 7mi.

Photos / Maps.

Hale and Zealand Falls – September 16, 2007

Great loop that ends in a very short road walk (less than a mile and very worth).  We did Mt. Hale, which does not have any views at all and the fire tower is long gone.  To reward ourselves in some other way than the traditional view, we went to the Zealand Falls Hut where we got the bottomless $2 soup (I love it), and enjoyed the Falls — which are a lot prettier than the view less Hale.

Photos / Maps.

Hancock – Sept 02, 2007

Fairly easy, in/out hike with a nice loop at the end where most of the elevation and interest remains.  A campsite close to the start of the road that could be great for people starting to hike but who want to get away from the car-camping campsites.

Photos / Maps.

The Wildcats – Sept 23. 2007

Out of the Pinkham Notch area, and walking almost all the way to Carter Notch… but we turned back to our car the same way we went in – about 7 hours of a very, very steep climb, and ten a steady ride.  Could have been combined into a great backpacking trip, but we where short on time that weekend.  Interesting Ski area on the top – we have never tried it for downhill skiing.  Photos/Maps.

Mt. Jackson – Sept 29, 2007

End of season hike (for us).  Terrain is interesting but nothing out of the ordinary – strong hikers don’t have any issue.  A little over 6 miles day hike.  Mt. Webster views tend to be a lot prettier than Jackson’s, and we did it even if Webster was not on my peak bagging list.  Very windy day.  We couldn’t stay too long at Jackson’s summit.  The hike is close enough to Pinkham notch that if you stay in that area you may want to combine the trip with other day hikes.  Photos / Maps.

Other Hikes of Interest:

Catskills:

  • Sugarloaf – May 27, 2007
  • Windham – May 28, 2007

Nancy Pond – October 21, 2007

End of season hike to see the fall foliage.

Photos / Maps.

New England 4,000 Footer Scorecard

A simple entry to keep track of our progress in the White Mountains (New Hampshire) 4,000 Footers.

On the table in this posting you will find the 48 goal Mountains and the date on which they where accomplished as well as who was with us (keeping track of the climbs for them).  Click on the date for more information about that day’s adventure.  Related to my Adirondacks 46s Scorecard.

Rank Name Elev Date With Whom?
1 Washington 6288 July 3, 2006 Jose, Adriana, Lina
2 Adams 5774 July 3, 2006 Jose, Adriana, Lina
3 Jefferson 5712 July 1, 2006 Jose, Adriana, Lina
4 Monroe 5384* July 3, 2006 Jose, Adriana, Lina
5 Madison 5367 September 9, 2007 Jose, Adriana Photos / Maps.
6 Lafayette 5260* September 03, 2006 Jose, Adriana and Lina
7 Lincoln 5089 September 03, 2006 Jose, Adriana and Lina
8 South Twin 4902 - -
9 Carter Dome 4832 - -
10 Moosilauke 4802 August 28, 2005 Jose, Adriana
11 Eisenhower 4780* June 20, 2004 Jose, Adriana, Eric, Zoey, Quique
12 North Twin 4761 - -
13 Carrigain 4700* -July 15 2006 Adriana
14 Bond 4698 - -
15 Middle Carter 4610* - -
16 West Bond 4540* - -
17 Garfield 4500* - -
18 Liberty 4459 September 02, 2006 Adriana, Lina
19 South Carter 4430* - -
20 Wildcat 4422 September 23, 2007 Jose, Adriana. Photos/Maps.
21 Hancock 4420* September 02, 2007 Jose, Adriana Photos / Maps.
22 South Kinsman 4358 September 10, 2005 Jose, Adriana
23 Field 4340* June 25,2006 Jose, Adriana
24 Osceola 4340* October 9, 2004 Jose, Adriana
25 Flume 4328 September 02, 2006 Jose, Adriana and Lina
26 South Hancock 4319 September 02, 2007 Jose, Adriana
27 Pierce 4310 June 20, 2004 Jose, Adriana, Eric, Zoey, Quique
28 North Kinsman 4293 September 10, 2005 Jose, Adriana
29 Willey 4285 June 25, 2006 Jose, Adriana
30 Bondcliff 4265 - -
31 Zealand 4260* - -
32 North Tripyramid 4180* June 12, 2005 Jose, Adriana, Lina, Gabor
33 Cabot 4170* - -
34 East Osceola 4156 October 9, 2004 Jose, Adriana
35 Middle Tripyramid 4140* June 12, 2003 Jose, Adriana, Lina, Gabor
36 Cannon 4100* October 11,2003 Jose, Adriana
37 Hale 4054 September 16, 2007 Jose, Adriana Photos / Maps.
38 Jackson 4052 September 27, 2008 Jose, Adriana.  Photos / Maps.
39 Tom 4051 June 25, 2006 Jose, Adriana
40 Wildcat, D Peak 4050* September 23, 2007 Jose, Adriana. Photos/Maps.
41 Moriah 4049 August 23, 2003 Jose, Adriana, Eydie, Eric, Zoey
42 Passaconaway 4043 July 3, 2005 Jose, Adriana, Lina, Gabor, Tamas
43 Owl’s Head 4025 - -
44 Galehead 4024 - -
45 Whiteface 4020* July 3, 2005 Jose, Adriana, Lina, Gabor, Tamas, Eydie, Eric, Zoey
46 Waumbek 4006 - -
47 Isolation 4004 August 31, 2008 Jose and Adriana.  Photos.
48 Tecumseh 4003 June 11, 2005 Jose, Adriana, Lina, Gabor

Vermont 4,000 Footers

Vermont 4,000 Footers  
Rank Name Elev Date With Whom?
2 Mt. Abraham 4,006
2 Camel’s Hump 4,083
2 Mt. Ellen 4,083
2 Killington Peak 4,235
2 Mt. Mansfield, the Chin 4,393
Maine 4,000 Footers  
Rank Name Elev Date With Whom?
2 Mt. Abraham 4,050
3 Bigelow Mtn., Avery Peak 4,090
4 Bigelow Mtn., West Peak 4,145
5 Crocker Mtn. 4,228
6 Crocker Mtn., South Peak 4,050
7 Katahdin, Baxter Peak 5,268
8 Katahdin, Hamlin Peak 4,756
9 North Brother 4,151
10 Old Speck Mtn. 4,170
11 Redington 4,010
12 Saddleback Mtn. 4,120
13 Saddleback Mtn., the Horn 4,041
14 Spaulding 4,010
15 Sugarloaf Mtn. 4,250

Other interesting links:

Mount Washington (6,288ft)

——– On a Wonderful Day

On Monday July 3rd, 2006 we climbed Mount Washington in the New Hampshire’s White Mountains as an expression and celebration of Freedom (it was the day preceeding the 4th of July – Independence Day).

We started the hike at the base of the Mount Washington Cog Railway ($5 parking fee) and climbed the Amoonoosuc Trail which crisscrosses the ravine with the same name. Along the 2.1 mile way up to the Lake of the Clouds we get to enjoy the beautiful falls of this ravine, worth the trip on their own. The trail is excellently maintained, and the carefully relocated rocks make for great steps for a good portion of the way. It was a lot easier than we expected, yet not for beginners.

At the Hut we had a hearty lunch consisting of split pea soup ($2), bottomless lemonade ($1), all you can eat baked goods ($1), and decaffeinated coffee/tea ($1). A great deal at 5,000 feet for $5 – considering we didn’t had to carry it up. We enjoyed the hut for about two hours before continuing our ascent of Mt. Washington via the Crawford Path. The Lake of The Clouds itself is a pretty sight, although we didn’t shared the joy of the Scandinavian people who where bathing on it.

The Crawford Path gets you to Mount Washington in about an hour through a very good and defined trail that has been softened for more than a century of adventurers and adventurers-wanna-be like us.

The summit of Mount Washington has the usual pile of rocks with the sign – great for taking the picture. Try to ignore the road, the weather station, the antennae, and the visitor’s center with two gift shops, one museum and two eateries. You may use the post office to send yourself a note from there. We quickly entered it and exited it before climbing down through the same Crawford’s Path to the Hut and deciding that it was such a nice day that it would be a pity not to do another high peak.

From the Hut we climbed up the nearby Mount Monroe to add another New Hampshire Peak tour list, since the hike only added about half an hour (roundtrip) to our adventure. We descended via the same trail we climbed it, through the Hut, and down the same Amoonoosuc Trail trail that we used for our ascent.

By the time we descended it was already getting dark, and on our way back we noticed the locals setting themselves up with their pickups on the sides of the road to enjoy the Mount Washington Hotel firework celebration. We ate in a local eatery that almost rushed us out of it to go and see the fireworks before heading back to the hotel for a solid night of sleep.

Photos are in the usual place. (send e-mail if you need to get the link)