We wandered around Indian Ridge and Baker's Meadow to snag the other two in the area as well.

"Peaceful Easy Feeling [north]"
"Peaceful Easy Feeling [south]"

Great job, Kris!

The black flies, though, did their best to thwart our hike.  Unlike last week where the skeeters were out in force, this week it was those pesky little black varmints.  However we've seen worse, and simply moving along the trail and swatting the ornery buggers was enough to keep us from going nuts.

We started at the Shepley Hill Conservation Land parking lot on Sand Hill Road in Groton, MA.  From there we took the Nashua River Rail Trail a short distance, stopping for a few photos along the way, then we made our way down a trail to the Nashua River.

The day was in the 60s, sunny, with a light breeze now and then to blow the skeeters away.  While we were down near the river, Your Webmaster was wishing he had a kayak!  It was a perfect kayaking day.  But it was also a nice day for a walk in the woods and to grab a few pictures.

This is what I got.

I'd give it a 4.

Carolyn's Trail leads into the woods along the northeast side of North Pack, and it was there we noticed a lot of fallen lumber.

Near the trailhead they seem to be cutting down some of the larger trees.  There were some that seemed freshly cut, say within the past week.  However these trees seemed to have succumbed to a rough winter.  There was a tremendous amount of snow in the area, so that may have caused some of the fallen trees.

Tim, Kathy, Randy and Chaos (in orange) at the trail head

An hour and 45 minutes later, the ravine broke in to view. All packs became lighter point.

The crowd at Hermit Hut – milling above the treeline. The bowl is 45 minutes from here. Kathy soaking up some sun, Tim readies another roll of digital film.

Tuckerman Ravine from the hut

Dodge’s Drop and Hillman’s Highway up on Boot Spur were skiable today but not on the itinerary.

Dodge's Drop

Dodge's Closer Up

After a check of the conditions,

we determined to NOT sit under ice outcroppings. We headed up to the bowl with a stop to check out the Cutler River waterfalling over the Little Headwall. The Forest Service suggested that we not fall in as the river dove under snow and rock from here and emerges in Conway. Yes, that’s the ski trail down just on the other side. The waterfall is big, and noisy – even Chaos stopped to look!

Finally, in the bowl, these serious faces are speed searching for a comfortable rock. Competition is fierce but Kathy and Tim elbow front row seating for big air ski jumping.

Put on the sun screen and sunglasses – its 60 degrees in the bowl, very little wind, cloudless, and mirrorlike snow on three sides. There were about 400 people in the bowl, cheering the best falls and best jumps.

Randy headed up Left Gully for a couple runs. This is what 70 stories of stairmaster in ski boots looks like.

A view of the bowl – about 1/3 the way up. The infamous headwall is on the right. Two kids skied the rock cliffs in the middle to full hooting applause. The slope on the left is called the “Chute”. It’s been described by a famous headwaller as “like skiing over the edge of a cue ball”. It starts as a blue square but keeps getting steeper until you can’t see over the edge. When you get to 45 or 50 degrees the rocks come into view like racing gates (extreme upper left).

A view from the top of Left Gully, looking down the slope.

Looking North, over the ravine. That’s the Mount Washington cone on the far left.

And looking east over the valley at Wildcat ski area – still open.

Wildcat across the valley

That’s where this reporter’s camera fainted.

Two runs later we rounded up Chaos – who had made friends with all 400 visitors. Kathy shared some Peppermint Patties – which never tasted better – cold on hot day over the snow!