Copy/Repost Hike

On Saturday morning (September 11) at about 8:40AM, Andrew and I had pre-arranged to meet up at the Rocky Peak Ridge / Bald Peak Trailhead off of Rt. 9 in New Russia in order to place a car...just in case we, as a group, felt like doing the whole traverse across the ridge.  We drove back over to the main trailhead for Giant Mountain, just east of Chapel Pond on Rt. 73.  We arrived here just about at 9AM.  The other individual (Kevin), who had signed up, was not here yet.  We waited until 9:20 and decided that we would start up without him (it turned out that he had difficulty getting to the hike due to detours around bridges that were out).

It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the reaching up into the 70's with almost no wind.  The climb up to the ridge was a moderate grade with a number of switchbacks allowing for a pretty good pace.  Not too long into the hike we reached the first of many wonderful views into the Great Range and the Dix Wilderness.  We continued on and quickly found the “Washbowl”, a beautiful mountain pond below the Nubble.  We reached the Nubble and continued up the ridge to the summit of Giant Mountain.  It was about 12:30PM when we finally got to the summit.  Here we had lunch with the crowds of others that had decided to get out hiking on such a beautiful day.  The summit ledge provided sweeping views into the peaks and wilderness areas to the south and west.

After lunch we descended off the peak back to the junction with the Rocky Ridge Trail and started the long...and in places steep...descent into the col between Giant and Rocky Ridge Peak.  It was moderately steep, but the fact that the trail descended across a lot of smooth granite slab, it was difficult to get a good footing in spots.  Also it was a deep col with approximately 800 feet of elevation loss before reascending the Rocky Ridge Peak, which was more of a moderate grade up.  We reached this open summit at about 2:30PM.  We stayed for a short time to chat with some of the other hikers, rest and take in the views.  In addition to the wonderful views to the south, it also provided for an amazing view back to Giant with its many rock slides.

After a short break we pressed on with the intent to traverse the entire ridge (we had placed a car at the end of the ridge earlier so this could always be an option).  Descending off of Rocky Ridge we soon came to Marie Louise Pond, a spectactular heart-shaped mountain pond nestled between the peaks.  Here we stopped briefly, so that Andrew could filter some additional water for the long hike that still lay ahead.  The ridge trail from here goes up and down a number of sub peaks until it ultimately reached the open rocky summit of Bald Peak.  Once again we took a short break and continued on, since it was clear by this time, that we might be coming back down in the dark (it was 5:30PM with still another 4 miles to go).  It was moderately steep over smooth granite slab down off of Bald Peak with the Blueberry Cobbles still between us and the car.  We had to go over the first of these and there was a trail by-pass around the second.  On the way off of this peak it was now very clear that we would be coming off the last portion of the trail in the dark...and we did.  Luckily both Andrew and I had our headlamps and didn't have too much of a problem.  We made it back to the car at 8:15PM and rode back around to pick up the other car at Chapel Pond.

Afterwards we went back to Andrews camp for dinner and to spend the night.  While I put up my tent, Andrew started dinner.  He made a wonderful steak and pasta dish, which we both enjoyed before hitting the hay.

A huge THANK YOU goes to Andrew for coming along on the hike, for suggesting and enduring the traverse and for his hospitality at his campsite that evening.  It was truly a spectacular day and hike.

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