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On the way up to Mt Pierce, I met the Naumann
Tentsite caretaker who was working on clearing drainages along that
steep portion of the Webster Cliff Trail above the hut. I explained to
her how overgrown the Mt Clinton Trail was. She had never been down
there yet, but said that she might head down for a look sometime, and
maybe cut down a few blowdowns if I didn't mind. I said that I didn't.
She could cut down all the blowdowns she wanted.
I don't know about the Alpine Garden, but the
shrubs and flowers along the Webster Cliff Trail were in full bloom, and
I stopped to take a pictures of some Lapland rosebay and Labrador tea,
both of them evergreen shrubs related to the rhododendron. About 3/4 of
the way up the steep section, there's a nice lookout to the south toward
Mts Jackson and Webster, and even Carrigain in the distance.
After reaching Mt Pierce, the weather was so
nice, that I stopped to rest and admire the views a bit longer than I
usually do. Mts Eisenhower, Clay, and Monroe jutted out from the long
Southern Presidential ridge, which the Crawford Path follows on its way
to the summit of Mt Washington.
I could have stayed there much longer. In
fact, had it been a legal campsite, it would have been a great spot to
watch the stars and lights on Mt Washington at night.
But all good things must come to an end, and
I still had a long downhill trek in front of me, followed by a 3-hour
drive home, so I reluctantly turned away from the warm sunny view to
head down the Crawford Path and into the cooler woods.
I took a short
break at the junction where the Crawford Path and Mizpah Cutoff meet, and
then continued quickly down to the Highland Center. After returning the
borrowed loppers and hard hat, I was on my way home, but glad that I had
managed to accomplish something on this trip.
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Lapland
rosebay. This dwarf alpine shrub is generally no more than 12
inches tall. It's a type of rhododendron. |
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