An icy return to Pack Monadnock...
Last edited Mon Dec 15, 2014, 09:58 AM - Edit history (1)
...and this time, getting and early start on the day's hiking so I could make it out to North Pack Monadnock as well.
I wasn't expecting much in terms of scenery on this hike, not compared to what I'd seen when I posted this a few weeks ago: Hiking up Pack Monadnock after the snowstorm
There had been no significant snow since the big Thanksgiving Eve storm, and a lot of rain and relatively warmer temperatures — at least right where I live, some 25 miles away from these small mountains. I was expecting bare tree branches, mud, ice, and maybe a few lingering patches of snow.
Much to my surprise, the start of the hike looked almost like just what I'd seen two weeks ago. The snow on the ground was more packed down and not nearly so deep, but the tree branches were surprisingly once again frosted with snow. What had been a mere flurry at home the day before obviously had more impact here.
As I climbed, however, what I saw was not the aftermath of moderate snow, but an ice storm. If the same conditions had happened at lower altitudes power would have been out all over the place. There were a lot of bent and broken branches, a few trees down, and areas where the trees were leaning into the trail so far it was difficult to see where the trail was going.
(Edit: high-res images here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/128363647%40N08/sets/72157649762206922/
To make sure I'd be done with my hike before sundown, I started climbing early (early by my lax Saturday morning standards — around 11:10) and brought my lunch with me. After reaching the top of Pack Monadnock a little before noon, I found this inviting place to sit down to eat.
To see the panorama below in much better detail, go here: http://www.dermandar.com/p/dyNuPg
Choose the 2048p mode and full screen for best results.
A few sections of the trail were blocked and obscured by branches bent well down into the trail. In a couple of places I had to crawl under branches on my hands and knees.
With sun and blue sky this scene is much less ominous looking than it was when I passed this way earlier in the same hike.
Interesting wispy, spiky bits of fine frost. I'm guessing these spikes formed so that they were hanging down, then got turned sideways as the branch bent under the weight of the ice. (Picture after the next picture is a highlight from the next picture.)
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Amazing, wonderful, beautiful!
You must have burned some prodigious calories that day. These are astonishing.
I LOVED the panorama shot.
Thank you for sharing your artistry.
It was a 7.2 mile hike, up one side of Pack Monadnock, down the other side to hit the top of North Pack Monadnock, then back again. It took about 3:40, but that includes time I spent taking pictures, eating lunch, stopping for a small snack, etc.
I only ate 700 calories while hiking, so I was way out ahead in that department.
The good news is that (as of just about an hour ago) my phone dried out enough to fully recover. My snow pants are great at keeping moisture out, so my phone was safe from ice and snow, but the pockets, it turns out, don't do a damn thing to repel sweat from within -- and I was sweating more than enough to get the pocket with my phone in it a bit soggy.
Along the way the built-in speaker stopped working. Something got mucked up so the phone thought an imaginary pair of headphones was plugged in. The phone stayed messed up all evening until I checked it once more before going to bed (to bed but not to sleep -- I should be sleeping now instead of being on DU!).
Guess I can cancel that "Genius Bar" appointment now. 
Oh, and I'm happy you enjoyed the pictures.
and these are so beautiful, specially at this time of year. Thank You! 
