Moosilauke and Mt. Jim (TW72 for Sage) - September 15, 2015

Gorge Brook Trail, Beaver Brook Trail, Asquam Ridge Trail, Al Merrill Loop Trail.  

We originally planned on hiking last Sunday, but Tuesday's forecast was more optimistic, so we delayed.  We are glad we did!  We experienced the most beautiful, albeit windy, day.

We began on Gorge Brook Trail, the relatively easy way up.

At the halfway point

At the halfway point

First view

Almost there

The summit is there in the fog somewhere...

Summit!

The wind was howling and trying to push us over.  It was fun -- layers were essential, though.

The clouds were rushing at us, then enveloping us, then flying by us.

We took shelter in one of the old stone foundations whenever we wanted to get out of the wind.

The summit sign became visible as the clouds momentarily cleared...

A group of three were celebrating the woman's 48th NH4K.  Her name is Roxanne -- it was lovely to meet her and her crew.

Fun in the wind and clouds

 Eventually, we descended along Beaver Brook Trail toward Asquam Ridge Trail.  We walked through the clouds as they danced around us.  It was beautiful.

A brief, clear moment...

Roxanne had given the girls beautiful pinwheels.  They held them while I took the photograph below.

We bid goodbye to the beautiful sky and reentered the trees.

Entering Asquam Ridge Trail

Sage needed Mt. Jim for her Trailwrights list.  Mt. Jim is on Asquam Ridge Trail, but there is no cairn (that we could see, anyway).  We therefore took a bunch of photos on all the high bits along this portion of the trail.

We did see a herd path that kind of ended on a bump in the woods...maybe this is the true summit?

Then it was down, down, down.  Quite a pleasant walk, actually.

We were back at the car around 12:30.

Good times.