Mt Washington & The Dry River Valley
Looking Down Stream From Foot Bridge
Remarkably we left Portland just about on time on Saturday morning, and about two hours later we were at the trailhead packs on and ready to go. Our first day was supposed to be our longest day. We made the bridge in good time, stopped had a snack, a peek at the map, and some photos. I knew that after the bridge the “trip” really began. We Donned our packs and set off.
Looking Down Stream From Foot Bridge # 2
Looking Upstream From Foot Bridge
(if you would like you can view / purchase this photo on my website)
Looking Upstream From Foot Bridge # 2
The trail narrowed, and started to climb following the river bed. Up and down following the river crossing many small tributaries and springs (the muddy / wet part). Yes, I am a rather big person, but I like to stay active, I walk every day and hike, kayak / canoe, backpack any chance I can, but when we started to come across the blowdowns they slowed me right up. By 5pm we were beat, and we had made 3/4 of our planned day, but we stopped for the night after finding a suitable spot. At this point we knew that we would not be able to finish our intended trip, so at dinner we planned a loop trip on some of the more used trails to ease the trip a bit and to make the most of our time that we had left, but it all depended on the second river crossing.
First Night's Camp
First Night's Camp # 2
After a sleepless night for both of us due to the fast loud river (all night long you could hear the current shifting rocks about like marbles), we had coffee, confirmed our route, and broke camp. We headed up the river on the trail, it looked like we had gotten through most of the blowdowns, and we got to a river crossing. We crossed it, and we where on the trail again, thinking wow that was pretty sweet, but we soon realized that that was just a tributary, because after scurrying down a steep trail, we met the second river crossing.
View From First Night's Camp
A fine Morning
Immediately my hiking partner said no it is not crossable, (for him anyway) I knew that is wasn’t either, it was fast and deep, but we did some scouting and still it looked iffy at best, and we both realized that it was a risk that was not worth taking. I was so bummed, there had to be a way, because we had three groups of hikers go past us the previous day and they all where following the same route as us, though while breaking camp earlier my hiking partner said that he saw one couple heading back down trail, maybe they did not cross (too bad we did not talk to them, I do not think they even saw our camp). Bummed out we filled up on water and had a bite to eat and turned around to head out. we knew that the trail was going to be down hill, but neither of us really wanted to do it because it had a few funky sections to scramble down (turned out to be fine). but we did not have a choice, so we turned around, but we also knew that there was a good possibility of making the trail head by dark if we wanted.
Spring Flow
After recrossing the little tributary we had to climb out of the river valley, on the way up I noticed my left boot felt different, but I did not really think anything of it, but at the top I heard “flap flap”, and that is when I noticed that the sole of my boot was coming off. I called up the trail to my buddy that I had a problem, and I sat down to assess the situation. After: not having enough sleep, not being able to cross the river, now my boots where falling apart in front of my eyes, I had a few choice words.
My Poor Boots
After closing my eyes and meditating for a few moments, I had some water, and reached for the duct tape, I realized that this was not a life threatening situation being that it was spring and not in the middle of winter, it was just a major inconvenience that had potential to go bad. After about 50 feet the tape came off, so we had to stop again.
My Poor Boots # 2
I carry some duct tape, but not nearly enough to do any major boot repair especially when dealing with rough, wet, muddy trails, so out came a knife and some parachute cord. At this point the whole front half of the sole had come unbonded with the heel starting to come off. So we tied some parachute cord right in the middle of my boot to hold the hard plastic shank in place and to keep the heel half in place for as long as possible, then we cut the front part of the sole completely off so that it would not trip me up. A Little further down the trail, the shank punched right through the bottom of the toe box of my boot. Eventually the back part of the sole came off so I had hardly any traction other than what the shank and the few wraps of parachute cord was able to provide. This made for some slow going especially on the loose stuff, and bare / wet rocks. Thankfully it was down hill which made the blowdowns a lot easier, but it made the tricky spots even more trickier.
Second Night's Camp
We covered much ground, and now we realized that we could have made the trail head by dark, but we are glad that we did not, because we camped at a great designated campsite the second night. That night we had a good dinner (the dehydrated backpacking meals have gotten a lot better recently, which is great news, and some are even organic), and a fire I usually do not have a fire that is why I carry a stove, and a lot of the time I am too tired to deal with one, but this was a great spot, and it had a well used fire ring so we made a quick fire and listened to the river flow. The next morning we had some coffee and broke camp, within two hours we where at the trail head.
A fine Little Fire
(if you would like you can view / purchase this photo on my website)
Tending The Fire # 1
Looking back now a few days later it was a good thing that we were not able to cross the river, because it made it that much easier to make it back out, because who knows where my boot would have given out if we crossed. Passed the second river crossing heading to lake of the clouds I believe we would have hit some snow, and that could have been very bad, not to mention we would have been further up.
Tending The Fire # 3
Tending The Fire # 2
If my boots completely broke down (i.e. shank broke / came out) I could have worn my cheap o sandals which I bring as camp shoes, or if I have to cross a river. I was strongly against using my sandals especially with a pack on and with the trail conditions (maybe if they where my Tevas or my Keens I would have tried it). Yes, they would have provided the needed traction, but not the support, and I did not want to risk a twisted ankle.
Ready For A Cup Of Coffee
I was kind of surprised that the soles came apart, because before the trip I cleaned and conditioned them, in doing so I looked them over pretty good. In all reality I am not too surprised, because they were over 12 or more years old. The one thing the kinda got me though is that right before this trip I got pair of really good insoles and they cost $15 or so, but before I tossed the boots I grabbed them, the left one is a little beat up but it is still usable, and now regular shoes feel great, but not I am looking for a good pair of backpacking boots.
Coffee By The River
Some Of The Many Trillium
(if you would like you can view / purchase this photo on my website)
Since I have some trouble with my knee I hike with poles, but I have been hiking with poles for along time even when my knee was not a bother, because I feel that they are helpful. Yes, they can get in the way at times, but I was so thankful that I had them on this trip with only one good boot to walk out on.
Lower Part Of The Trail
Mt Washington & The Dry River Valley # 2
(if you would like you can view / purchase this photo on my website)
A few notable things: It is incredible to see huge change in the season even with a slight change in elevation the best way to see this is to look at the first nights campsite, and then look at the second nights site. Moose amaze me we saw so much scat at times in some of the craziest spots, well crazy for me at least because I think of them as low land dwellers, though I am apparently wrong. Speaking of moose we saw the largest print that I have ever seen. We also came across a large cat track that was very neat see. As like every year black flies think I am very tasty, but I do have to use more bug spray even though I don’t like to, though this natural stuff that I brought worked really well.
Mt Washington & The Dry River Valley # 3
My Poor Boots Back At The Trail Head
(notice the other boot was starting as well)
(notice the other boot was starting as well)
We are going to try this trip later in the year when the water goes down, but until then we are already in the planning stages for our next trip so if any one has some trails to recommend here in New England please let me know. And oh ya I am looking for some good backpacking boot recommendations too.
