Day 6 - Solo on the Israel Ridge Path

(This page is photo intensive, please be patient while it loads)

Because of Sue's injury, she sent me of on a hike of my own on day 6. I elected the Israel Ridge Path, which I thought seemed reasonable for a day hike up above treeline and back.

	A digital enlargement of the upper section of the trail. You can see its "S" shape at the lowest red mark, a steep tree lined section at the middle red mark, and a large boulder at the highest mark that was my highest position on the trail.

A view of the Israel Ridge; the path goes diagonally left behind the ridge on the left, then crosses near the gash on the left of the main ridge, then proceeds almost straight along the right edge of the ridge to the treeline; at that point, the altitude is about 4500 feet, the distance a little over four miles

A solo hike, especially above treeline, is a more serious endeavor than one where your partner can offer help in the event of injury or trouble. So I resolved that I would be careful, and that I would set a firm deadline for turning back, so that I would not be hiking in darkness.

The trail starts at the edge of and crosses through private property. The thick plants were we with dew, but it was sunny and before long I was in the woods.

Before long I has a momentary frission as if I were lost. The path seemed to cross the river, but the river seemed uncrossable. There was no sign or blaze. I elected to stay on the current side of the river and see if I could find a better or marked crossing. Fortunately, I did.

Balancing across the stones above the rushing mountain-fed water with a 30 pound pack (lots of water, food, extra clothes, first aid kit...) was a challenge. I carefully used a thick branch from the shore, but I also had to watch that the water wouldn't tear it from my hand, and that the bottom would not suddenly deepen. But twenty feet later, I was on the far shore, my first obstacle dispatched.

From here, for the next mile or so, the path was smooth and shallow. I had plenty of time to get my rhythm and for my legs to go from anarobic to aerobic. My schedule was tight, and I realized that I had to keep a pace, so I tried to walk swiftly and yet conserve energy for later. I reached the trail junction, where the Castle Trail headed for Castle Ridge, and the Israel Ridge headed for its next stream crossing. I used the camera timer to snap an image of myself on the trail...

I next had to cross a wide, rushing stream with two separate branches. The hiss of water over rock was a constant companion for this part of the hike.

After the second crossing, the trail parallels the stream before branching right to ascend along the half height contour of that ridge.	Though steepening, the trail is still soft and easy to walk. It leads through birches, hardwoods and some conifers.

A rest at the intersection with The Link was welcome. The temperature and humidity had risen, and I was soaked with sweat. Keeping hydrated required frequent stops, and dried apricots supplied an enduring fructose charge that avoided a sugar high and crash.

Not long afterward, the trail came back toward the stream - now a steep cascade across boulders and slabs. I stopped at the first slab and took a photo. The cascade is far left in the frame. A narrow iron-choked rivulet runs from a small pool to join it.

The next approach was the steep cascade crossing. I took a shot from the edge (not shown) and then repacked the camera for the crossing. This was the most unnerving crossing I made, since the cascade made a quick 45 degree descent down about twenty feet, and it would be foolish to ignore the potential injury that could result from a simple slip. I found a sturdy branch on my side of the cascade and then used it for support against the powerful flow.

That crossing went safely, though I avoided the more direct path for one that seemed safer. Once on the other side. I left behind the branch for my return. Then the trail steepened drastically. Soon I met my first and only fellow traveler of the day, a Canadian woman descending from The Perch shelter. We conversed for a little while, and then continued in our separate directions.

It was so rough that the uninitiated might not even realize it was a trail. In the picture, the trail leads up over the large rocks to an even larger boulder. The boulder turned out to be a formidable obstacle. About eight feet high, its one climbable section perched over a narrow deep dirt ravine choked with sharp branches and stones. And, unfortunately, I had to climb it with twenty-plus pounds of pack. When I finished, I sat on the edge, breathing a sigh of relief.

A view of the Castle Ridge, one of the steepest and roughest trails on this side of the White Mountains	The trail became rockier as I closed on treeline. This is the section of trail marked by the middle red mark in the enlargement at the top of the page.
Looking back to where the trail emerges above treeline. A perfect day, only a few hundred feet below the clouds.	Looking down along the ridge. A ravine wall landslide is visible to the far left. The short bushes (called krummholz) are trees that would be fifty to eighty feet tall in the valley. Some are one hundred to one hundred fifty years old.

I took a half hour to eat and rehydrate. Then it was time for more pictures.

The view toward the last ridgecrest. The area above treeline is littered with rocks and boulders.	Where the trail continues on... to the left is the boulder seen at the third red mark on the enlargement at the top of this page.

Hiking up is only half the trip. As I rested in the cool breeze (summit temperatures are 20 degrees lower than in the valley), I watched the clouds marching over the summit behind me and dissapating over the valley. But there was a more ominous buildup of clouds behind them. I was still pushing my self imposed time limit, and I was tired. So it was time to leave.

The hike down was as steep and difficult as the ascent. The boulder was a problem on the descent, but I used a sling and carabiner to lower the pack and then I was able to climb down more easily. The cascade crossing was easier on replay, and I left the branch on the other side for the next traveller.

I only had one bad moment, close to the second stream crossing, where I nearly twisted my ankle. But I recovered and made it back in plenty of time. Sue found me resting on my pack, reading.