We started up the Falling Waters Trail, the recommended route, a 2.8 mile hike that gains 3550 or so feet of elevation.
And the trail lived up to its name.
With many waterfalls.
And several stream crossings.
We had met a couple of hikers the day prior, while doing a short warmup hike, who told us that we were lucky as this is the dry season, and often the stream is just a trickle.
It was very pretty.
And very rocky. Nothing like the flat sandy trails in our neck of the woods.
And it was hot and humid. When we woke it was cool at our campsite. But that did not last.
We decided to go north to escape the heat and humidity of the New Jersey summer. Alas, it followed us. My clothes were soaked with sweat by the time we reached Little Haystack, at the end of the Falling Waters Trail.
Pretty yet visibly humid.
We took our time and stopped whenever something caught our eye ...
... like this slug ...
... these berries (very christmasy) ...
... and the many mushrooms along the way.
We continued upward, reaching the Alpine Zone. Where it seems you can fly drones, you just can't land them. Curious.
Eventually we reached the top where we were treated to fantastic views of ...
... fog (or was it clouds?).
There were a surprising number of people on the trail, although Patty selected the campsite so we didn't need to worry about parking, which fills up quickly. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
It was windy at the top, our sweat soaked clothes making it a bit chilly, so on went the rain jackets. And we headed on down (up?) the trail.
The Franconia Ridge Trail, the second leg of the loop. We'd summit two peaks, Lafayette and Lincoln, and be cheated of the sometimes fantastic views on each.
I never noticed what a giant Patty is.
The jackets came off shortly after this shot, as we heated up as we got moving.
A slight break in the clouds. That white 'line' center left in the image is the exit of the interstate for our campground. Yep. that's where we started.
This Dark-eyed Junco accompanied us for a short bit (where the rock meets the foliage in the center of the image).
That ridge in the clouds it the third leg of the trial, the Old Bridle Path. We've some distance to go yet.
We made it to the Old Bridle Path, where sat a spell and chatted with a couple of hikers coming up the trail, who were covid refugees from Arizona currently staying with one of their parents in Point Pleasant, NJ.
Sure, now that we're heading down it starts to clear.
Again we took it slow, stopping to smell the fungi as the saying goes.
Really, this couldn't have happened when we were at the top?
After a stop at the AMC's Greenleaf Hut to refill our water bladders and enjoy a cup of coffee, we continued on, and after 8.7 miles we made it back to that sign. Note may change of shirts. This one was soaked as well.
Fortunately the campsite had dryers (and washers). And showers.
This hike was worth it, albeit a bit of a slog at times. And I did not eat enough along the trail, and was out of energy for the last couple of miles. If I'm gonna keep doing this I've got to get in better shape.
And training hikes around our place in flatland don't quite cut it. I think I need to build a mountain out by the back pond ...
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