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We soon passed through the lines of trees which I
always refer to as the "spruce hedge" because that is what it reminded me of
the first time I climbed Mt Moosilauke. After this point, the wind died down
and I had more time to examine the rime buildup on the rocks and trees. I find
rime rather interesting. Looking something like frost, rime always forms into
the wind as tiny droplets of water, already at or below the freezing point,
are blown across a solid object such as a rock, tree, sign, or building. The
firs and spruces high up in the mountains really get plastered with rime when
a freezing fog is blowing, which is fairly often in fall, winter, and spring.
We soon passed the Glencliff Trail junction again.
Although I had never been there, I decided against stopping at the nearby
south summit as I was hoping to get back home as early as possible. Perhaps
another time I can climb the Glencliff Trail and stop there.
On the way back down, the sky had cleared up
even more and the distant peaks to the southeast were more prominent in the
afternoon sun. I'm not sure, but they may have been part of the Sandwich
Range, possibly the Osceolas.
Except for stopping to remove my gloves and hood,
the trip back via the same route was fairly uneventful. We crossed back over
the Baker River and were soon looking back up at the mountain from the rear
lawn of the Ravine Lodge. Since the wisps of fog were still blowing across the
summits, I had to wait for just the right shot. The picture I took of the
south summit came out better than the one of the main summit.
Before leaving, I looked up at the rear of the
lodge, remembering the two times we've stayed there. The dining hall windows
have a good view of the mountain, as does a small porch on one side (the other
side has a porch too, but I think it's only accessible to the staff from the
kitchen). During its operating season, there's almost always activity in the
dining hall or down in the library area, where many hiking groups seem to
gather before their trips. |
Back in the trees. I
always refer to this section as the "spruce hedge" because that is what it
reminded me of the first time I climbed Mt Moosilauke back in 1998. |
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Closeup of rime on rocks.
Rime always forms into the wind as tiny droplets of water, already at or below
freezing, are blown across a solid object such as a rock, tree, sign, or
building. |
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