Friday, August 25, 2017

RLBH, August 24, 2017, Kitchmakin Hill

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT
TRIP DATE:         August 24, 2017   
TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   
WAS TRIP CANCELLED: No
MEETING TIME:  5;45 PM FOR A 6 PM Start
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):  16
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS)  2 HR, 39 MIN
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     470
DIFFICULTY:        C                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)
LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz. Paul Brookes
CO-LEADER NAME(S):Cathy Garry,
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:Chickatawbut Overlook
CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    no         TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:
WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Nice evening hike up and down the hills
OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

RLBH, August 17, 2017, Chickatawbut

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT
TRIP DATE:         August 17, 2017   
TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   
WAS TRIP CANCELLED: No
MEETING TIME:  5;45 PM FOR A 6 PM Start
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):  25
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS)  2 HR, 23 MIN
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     465
DIFFICULTY:        C                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)
LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz. Joe Keogh
CO-LEADER NAME(S):Cathy Garry, Bill Cannon
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:parking lot Rt 28 where the Skyline crosses
CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    no         TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:
WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Nice evening hike
OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Mt. Isolation Hike 8-19-17

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE:    8-19-17
                                   
TRIP LOCATION:      Mt. Isolation  
           
MEETING TIME:      7:30 am at termination for car spotting, 8 am start at trailhead
              
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):        10  
          
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):   11 hrs. 38 min. (book time 8 hr 43 min)

LENGTH IN MILES:   13.3
 
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 3200 ft

DIFFICULTY:      A                             (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):    Len Ulbricht
 
CO-LEADER NAME(S):     Eva Borsody Das
      
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Ellis Falls parking area (day fee 0.8 miles south of Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      Yes                   TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 15 min

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?     Yes
   
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Took Glen Boulder Trail to Davis Path to Mt. Isolation. Then backtracked to Davis Path to Isolation trail to Rocky Branch trail. Hiked out Rocky Branch trail to spotted cars at parking area 3.8 mi. south of Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.

Glen Boulder trail: Rocky trail with steep scrambling section just below Glen Boulder
Davis Path: Ridgeline trail partly above treelike, partly forested, and partly wet rocks, roots and mud
Isolation trail: Wet rocks, roots and boot sucking mud all the way and five water crossings
Rocky Branch trail: Wet rocks, roots and boot sucking mud for the first third, remainder dry and forested. Modest elevation change.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Temps in 60's, partial sun, humid, some fog and high clouds

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) Great views all around above treeline from Glen Boulder to and on Davis Path. Experienced wet and puddled trails in forested areas from previous day's rain.
Treacherous footing due to wet rocks, roots and boot sucking mud on Isolation trail and low lying portions of Davis Path and Rocky Branch. Several slips and falls contributed to one hiker's twisted ankle and another's bruised and swollen check bone and black eye.
There are five water crossings on Isolation trail that we were able to rock hop without changing into water crossing footwear despite previous day's rain. If level of water in Rocky Branch River is a concern, recommend checking at Saco Ranger Station (33 Kancamagus Why Conway, NH), Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and Saco River water gauge at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uy?site no=010642505 (discharge rate 110 cu ft/sec when we crossed).

THIS RUGGED PHYSICALLY DEMANDING HIKE REQUIRED ALMOST 12 HOURS TO COMPLETE, FINISHING IN DUSK LIGHT. RECOMMEND A 7 AM OR EARLIER START. ALTERNATELY, CONSIDER A SNOWSHOE ROUND TRIP ON THE ROCKY BRANCH TRAIL TO AVOID ROCKS, ROOTS, MUD AND 3200 FEET OF ELEVATION GAIN.


IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Mt. Everett and Mt. Race Hike 8-6-17

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE:  8-6-17
                                      
TRIP LOCATION:   Mt. Everett and Mt. Race, Berkshires, Sheffield, MA
                 
MEETING TIME:  8:45 am
                  
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):   8
                 
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):   6 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES:  8 mi.
  
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 1800 ft.

DIFFICULTY:        B                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):  Jeannine Audet
    
CO-LEADER NAME(S):    Len Ulbricht
        
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Pull-off area on Route 41

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?   No
      
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
 Race Brook Falls to AT north to Mt. Everett, backtrack on AT south to Mt. Race. Some mud, good trail conditions, stream crossings were easy.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Sunny, clear in the 60's

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)
Trail followed brook through campsite. Nice views on AT north just past Mt. Everett, good view of Mt. Everett and Catskills from Mt. Race.


IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Friday, August 11, 2017

RLBH, August 10, 2017, Great Cedar Swamp

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT
TRIP DATE:         August 10, 2017   
TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   
WAS TRIP CANCELLED: No
MEETING TIME:  5;45 PM FOR A 6 PM Start
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):  15
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS)  2 HR, 11 MIN
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     400
DIFFICULTY:        C                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)
LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz. Joe Keogh
CO-LEADER NAME(S):Cathy Garry, Bill Cannon
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:parking lot Bernie & Phyl’s, Wood Rd, Braintree
CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    no         TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:
WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 72 to start, and very muggy, minimal bugs
OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) The Swamp part was crossable on logs alongside the fence without getting our feet wet.
IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Friday, August 4, 2017

RLBH. August 3, 2017, Brookwood Farm

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT
TRIP DATE:         August 3, 2017   
TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   
WAS TRIP CANCELLED: No
MEETING TIME:  5;45 PM FOR A 6 PM Start
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):  26
TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS)  2 HR, 15 MIN
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     650
DIFFICULTY:        C                          (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)
LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz. Joe Keogh
CO-LEADER NAME(S):Cathy Garry, Bill Cannon
TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:parking lot Brookwood Farm
AR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    no         TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:
WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:
WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 80 to start, and very muggy
OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.