Rice Fields (Also way overdue!)

Although I have long since graduated, I decided that it would be a good time to use one of the nice perks that I'm offered as a university employee and take a class for fun.  This semester, I picked a freshman-level digital photography class and have been having a blast.  For one of our assignments, we were asked to submit photographs highlighting the importance of using light to your advantage.  As luck would have it, Casey and I picked a day with fascinating weather for a hike right as this assignment was in session.  It led to some neat photos.

Rice fields used to be a much longer, much more challenging hike, but at some point in the last several years, the AT was rerouted and the parking coordinates changed.  As a result, the hike is now only about 5 miles round trip and quite a nice little jaunt to the top.

AT Marker as the trail clears to the "overlook" (not so much to overlook on this day!)

Midway up the trail

Spider web

Another web

More foggy trail

Casey at the top in front of the "views"

Beehive Trail, Maine

This might just have been the most terrifying hike of my life.  At only 2 miles, it was "easy" in terms of the cardiac workout provided.  And yet, I thought I might have a heart attack.  The sign at the bottom encouraged would-be-hikers to consider whether they had a fear of heights, and if so, to perhaps consider an alternative route. 

"Pshaw," I thought.  "I'll be fine.  I'm not that afraid of heights."

Cue about .6 miles later when I was clinging to the side of a cliff face, physically shaking, and weighing my options for escape from the cliff.  A helicopter wouldn't be able to get me there, I reasoned.  And going down sounded far worse than going up.  So up I climbed.  Cursing and trembling, and gripping the iron bars with white knuckles, but climbing none-the-less.  This torture only lasted for .2 miles or so, thank the lord.  And fortunately, the top was a very pretty sight.

I think if you asked Casey, he would tell you it was an amazing hike.  Me?  Apparently I do have a fear of heights.  I may not be returning to hike the Precipice.

That trail is about 18 inches - 24 inches wide.  And this was the non-scary part.  But the views!

Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire

Wow.  What can I say?  This hike both kicked my butt and was one of my favorite all-time hiking experiences.  We hiked up via the Falling Water trail and then cut along the Franconia Ridge trail and then the Old Bridle Path back down.  I was extremely glad that we hiked it this way.  It allowed for an upward scramble up the steepest portion of the hike (hiking down the slippery rocks would have been concerning).  It also let us see some beautiful views while on the way down the trail on the other side.

 

Franconia Ridge Trail - take a look at the people in the photo to give you perspective!

At the summit of Mt. Lafayette

Falling Water Trail on the way up

Casey at falling water trail

Franconia Ridge Trail again

Mount Mansfield, Vermont

Casey and I returned from a roadtrip to the Northeast a few weeks ago and I'm now getting around to posting the photos.  We did Mount Mansfield while traveling through Vermont and spent the following night in the adorable town of Stowe.  Stowe was by far one of our favorite stops of the trip and this hike was an enjoyable one as well.  Not half as tough as Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire, it still afforded some magnificent views, and much of the hike was above the treeline.

We took the CCC road (including Eagle's cut trail) to Sunset Ridge Trail to Long Trail and then back via Halfway house trail to the CCC road.  I was glad that we took the Sunset Ridge Trail up - it afforded wonderful views.

emerging from the treeline

wooden paths near the summit

Casey at the summit

Kelly's Knob

I haven't been to Kelly's Knob in years.  However, with the spring weather setting in, Casey and I decided that it was time to get hiking again.  This time, we headed to the trails with some of his coworkers. 

The first notable adventure of the day was that my parking coordinates were sorely off (apologies to those of you who have used them previously).  We drove an extra .8 miles before k-turning around on the narrow mountain road and heading back to the true coordinates.  I've since updated them on this blog.  After a minor fiasco of finding our whole party, we embarked on the hike.  It was just as I remembered it.  Painfully steep for the first several tenths of a mile and then a nice stroll of a ridge hike along a rocky ridge line.  Overall, just a nice place to be.  This particular Saturday was fairly quiet, although we did share the lookout rock with one other group.

The view

our group at the rock

campsite just a few feet from the overlook rock