M
mryan
Guest
Date(s) Hiked: May 22, 2004 (saturday)
Trails(s) Hiked: Blueberry Ledge
Total Distance: 8 miles (roughly)
Difficulty: moderate(but made a little more difficult because of the cold and rain)
Conditions: cold, persistent rain, slippery
Special Required Equipment: raingear of course and lots of dry clothes
Trip Report:
The four of us arrived early--7am. As we pulled into the trailhead, what had been an infrequent drizzle turned into a steady rain and would remain that way for the entirety of the hike. After discussing whether or not it was smart to go, we finally set off in full rain gear.
The going was slow up Blueberry Ledge thanks in equal parts to the rain and to the fact that this was our first hike of the season. Well, actually longer than that. I hadn't hike in two years due to a major constraint on my time(re:new job) and a lingering knee injury(re:tendonitis). Anyway, we trudged on through the bottom portion which, for the most part, is flat and easy.
After a half hour, the climb suddenly turns steeper and remains that way until the summit ledges. We stopped and drank some water upon reaching the first in a series of fairly steep granitic outcroppings. On clear days, these are good places to stop, turn around, and enjoy the spectacular views but on this day there was nothing to be seen. We were completely socked in.
From this point on we saw only one other party of hikers. Because of the rain, they informed us, they were taking some loop in order to avoid the summit of whiteface. The more we ascended, the colder it got. We were all freezing. Climbing over the ledges near the top proved treacherous in the cold and rain. It was slippery and my hands, numb from the cold, were weak and barely able to cling onto even the largest hand holds.
We made it though, stopping at the top only briefly. We decided that we'd eat back at the car. We flew down the mountain, arriving at the car in less than four hours after we had left. Good hike.
Trails(s) Hiked: Blueberry Ledge
Total Distance: 8 miles (roughly)
Difficulty: moderate(but made a little more difficult because of the cold and rain)
Conditions: cold, persistent rain, slippery
Special Required Equipment: raingear of course and lots of dry clothes
Trip Report:
The four of us arrived early--7am. As we pulled into the trailhead, what had been an infrequent drizzle turned into a steady rain and would remain that way for the entirety of the hike. After discussing whether or not it was smart to go, we finally set off in full rain gear.
The going was slow up Blueberry Ledge thanks in equal parts to the rain and to the fact that this was our first hike of the season. Well, actually longer than that. I hadn't hike in two years due to a major constraint on my time(re:new job) and a lingering knee injury(re:tendonitis). Anyway, we trudged on through the bottom portion which, for the most part, is flat and easy.
After a half hour, the climb suddenly turns steeper and remains that way until the summit ledges. We stopped and drank some water upon reaching the first in a series of fairly steep granitic outcroppings. On clear days, these are good places to stop, turn around, and enjoy the spectacular views but on this day there was nothing to be seen. We were completely socked in.
From this point on we saw only one other party of hikers. Because of the rain, they informed us, they were taking some loop in order to avoid the summit of whiteface. The more we ascended, the colder it got. We were all freezing. Climbing over the ledges near the top proved treacherous in the cold and rain. It was slippery and my hands, numb from the cold, were weak and barely able to cling onto even the largest hand holds.
We made it though, stopping at the top only briefly. We decided that we'd eat back at the car. We flew down the mountain, arriving at the car in less than four hours after we had left. Good hike.
