Showing posts with label Appalachian trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Appalachian trail. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Thoreau Falls - Solo Hike

hike, ethan pond, tlc book tours, appalachian trail, national geographic topographic map guides, la sportiva, ultra raptors, mountain runners, trip report
Thoreau Falls


Thoreau Falls – Solo Hike
Trails:  Zealand, Ethan Pond Trail/Appalachian Trail, Thoreau Falls
Miles:  9.4 Roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy side of moderate
Danger: Low

Finally a good (hiking shoe) day! I was waiting for that window of opportunity to get back out and hike a section of the Appalachian Trial, and today seemed the perfect day! I received the National Geographic Appalachian Trail Map #1511 (Hanover to Monte Carlo Topographical Map Guide) to review. After looking through the map, I decided on a 9.4 mile hike to the beautiful Thoreau Falls. Two weeks earlier I attempted to hike to Thoreau Falls but 2.5 miles into my hike, the top of my foot started to hurt, so I turned back. A good thing since the pain became worse and I couldn’t wait to get my boots off once back at my truck. I carefully took my boots off (with lots of swearing) and threw them in my backseat (with more swearing).  I did return the boots…Vasque Talus Ultra…to REI. I was disappointed since I really wanted to like/love these boots. But they really didn’t fit right and I needed hiking footwear that was much more flexible for my feet. I ended up purchasing a pair of La Sportiva Ultra Raptors. These mountain runners are a cool bright blue and with its lightweight, breathable uppers and stick-to-rock-soles, I was on my way! Yup, happy feet and a great hike! And I just want to give a shout-out to the 4 AT Thru-Hikers I met on my way out; Hey Indiana Jones, Patches, Yoda and Bill Nye...great chatting with you and safe hiking to the Katahdin summit!

Enjoy my photos taken along the hike as well as my review of the National Geographic Appalachian Trail Topographic map guide.


Along the Zealand Trail

At the junction of the Ethan Pond and Zealand trails

Here we go along the Appalachian Trail through the Zealand Notch!

Wooded Area (7)

Split Rock







Approaching the talus field

The trail comes into the wide opening with spectacular views! 
Looking (north) back at Zeacliff and Mt. Hale


Whitewall Brook

Looking up Whitewall Mountain and its talus field!
I loved this section as it reminded me of Canon Mountain
and its highly visible talus field from I-93 in the Franconia Notch!

A bit of fun rock scrambling as the trail crosses the talus!

Zeacliff Trail junction

A couple of hikers making their way down the Zeacliff Trail through the notch!

Trail follows a gradual curve out of the notch and into a wooded area
I thought that this section here was the prettiest! (3)



At the Thoreau Falls trail junction

Into the Pemigewasset Wilderness

and the final 0.25 mile to follow the Thoreau Falls Trail to the top of the falls



What a view!


What I like about the Appalachian Trail Topographic Map Guide by National Geographic
- Water resistant, tear resistant and lightweight
- Highlights the Appalachian Trail making it easy/fast to find on the map
Features resupply locations, key points of interest, safety guidelines, local contact info, area history and more.
- Trail profile at bottom of each page that show distances between shelters, camping areas and trail access points.
- Although held together by two staples, the map does lays flat.
Overall, this map is very easy to use and carry. I'll continue to use it for all my day hikes along the Appalachian Trail!






About Appalachian Trail Topographic Map Guides
National Geographic’s 13 all-new Appalachian Trail Topographic Map Guides cover the iconic trail mile-by-mile from Georgia to Maine, in a unique booklet format that’s backcountry durable—lightweight, waterproof, and tear-resistant. Printed in the USA, these innovative maps are rapidly becoming essential tools for everyone from day trekkers to thru hikers. Each guide includes detailed topographic maps at a scale of 1 inch = 1 mile, with each page centered on the trail, overlapping with adjacent pages so there is little chance of getting lost. Helpful trail profiles show the distance between shelters, camping areas, and trail access points. The front pages of the guides feature resupply locations, key points of interest, safety guidelines, local contact information, and more. Proceeds from the purchase of a National Geographic map help support the Society’s vital exploration, conservation, scientific research, and education programs.


Purchase Links

Monday, August 3, 2015

Carter Dome - Solo Hike

Shaka from the summit!


Carter Dome
Elevation: 4,832ft
Mt. Hight - Elevation: 4,675ft
Duration: 7 hours (includes stops along the trail and at both summits)
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook, Carter Dome, Zeta Pass, Carter-Moriah Trail/Appalachian Trail
Elevation Gain:  3,350 ft
Distance: 10.2 miles roundtrip
My 4000+ Peak #33
Listed 4000+: #9
Difficulty: Easy to Moderately Strenuous

What a beautiful day to bag #33! I got to the parking lot at the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead and it was just about filled. I had been along this trail when I hiked into the Carter Notch hut back in 2013. There was snow and the trail was easy to hike. Today it was a bit cool as I started off from the parking lot. But as I got onto the Carter Dome trail, it was warming up. At the Zeta pass it started cooling off all the way to the Carter Dome summit. 

I had originally planned to hike up to Mt. Hight first. But when talking to two couples with their 4 kids on their way down from the Carter Notch hut, they told me that they had descended the trail from the Mt. Hight summit and it was rocky and super steep. If you know me, you know that I don't have any problems with steep, rocky trails. But if you know me really well, you know that I like to make things easy on myself! ;) 

So instead of hiking the steep Carter-Moariah trail to the bare summit of Hight, I continued on the gradual Carter Dome trail to the Carter Dome summit. On the way I stopped at the Black Angel trail junction and spoke to "Camo". He was counting hikers that were on the Black Angel trail. I spent 40 minutes at the Carter Dome summit, taking photos, eating lunch and talking with some other day hikers as well as 4 AT Thru Hikers. Afterwards, I headed to the Mt. Hight summit taking the Carter-Moriah trail....this was such an easy hike in this direction! I spent 20 minutes at the Mt. Hight summit taking photos and quickly taking in water and a snack. I really found it hard to leave with the views and the cool breezes on this summit. On my way down the steep trail from the summit, I was just so snap-happy I hadn't come up this trail. If I had to ascend Hight via this steep trail, I'd say this hike was "very strenuous". On my way down I passed 10 folks making their way up. 

Once back on the Carter Dome and Nineteen Mile Brook trails, I ran when I could. Near the trailhead the temps were annoying...warmer and definitely more humid. But the humidity was bearable and didn't affect my asthma. I met more folks and dogs on the trails as well.....that made 60 people and 4 dogs for the day! Enjoyed this hike and can't wait to get back for South Carter, The Wildcats as well as a night's stay at the Carter Notch Hut!

Enjoy some photos I took along the way....

 Along the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail



Along the Carter Dome trail



"Camo" keeping count of hikers along the Black Angel trail




Just before the summit there is a little path that leads

to an outlook. Don't forget to check it out!


Here are the 4 AT Thru Hikers
Left photo: "Forward" with his Super Mario backpack!
Middle photo: A married couple from Vermont and "Georgia" check out the map
Right photo: Off they go!

Carter Dome Summit

Carter Dome Summit

Mt. Washington from the Mt. Hight summit

Carter Dome from the Mt. Hight summit

Not certain but I think that's South Carter behind me

Hiker ahead of me on the steep Carter-Moriah trail from the
Mt. Hight summit. Some sections, although vertical, are still a scramble.

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Check out my YouTube channel at:  Hawaii Girl Adventures I will eventually be phasing out blog posts and be posting videos of my climbing, h...