Mt Adams Saturday August 27th, 2016

Another early wake up and departure.  On the road by 4:30 from Quincy MA.  I was on the trail at 8:10.  I had been looking at the AMC White Mountain Guide online planning which route to take.  Sometimes planning the route and poring over the maps is a big part of the fun.  I finally settled on going up Valley Way from Appalachia and then cutting over the Scar Trail to the Airline trail to change things up.  I also wanted to check out the views from Durand Scar.  Steve Smith, co-author of the White Mountain Guide has recommended the trail in his blog.  I highly recommend Steve Smith's blog Mountain Wandering. There is a wealth of good information there about the trails and peaks in White Mountains and beyond. Click here to check it out.

Interesting Waterfalls along Falls Way at the beginning of the hike from Appalachia.

Neat up look to John Quincy Adams and Adams from Durand Scar, an interesting side route as advertised.

Down look through Snyder Brook Valley from the same spot.

I loved the mossy corridor of the Scar Trail.  I am continually fascinated by the varying shades of green when you trek through a mossy corridor on the mountainside.

This little guy had built a wonderfully symmetrical web between two trees on the Scar trail.

Cool Mushrooms along the trail.

after connecting with the Airline trail and some more climbing I broke out above the tree line.  The views from up there just never get old.

A view across King Ravine to the upper reaches of Nowell Ridge.

A view of the "Knife's Edge" of Durand Ridge from higher up on the Airline trail.  Such a picturesque ridge.

 Mr. Madison with the Madison Spring Hit nestled below.

Another perspective on Durand Ridge.

 A hiker coming up out of the gateway of the King Ravine trail.

 A different glimpse of Madison looking even more sharply Pyramidal.

As one makes their way up the Airline trail towards Mt. Adams, one cannot help but keep stopping to turn around and take in the vast panoramas.

 At the summit of Adams.  Some 4500 ft of elevation from the trailhead.  A cardio workout for sure!

The views from the Summit are top notch and worth every ache and pain along the way.

 The massive hulk of Mt. Washington.

I decided to come down Lowe's path to Thunderstorm Junction and loop around to Madison Hut via the Gulfside trail.  There is a giant Cairn marking Thunderstorm junction.

The views along the Gulfside trail are expansive and ruggedly beautiful.

Hikers making their way along the Gulfside trail with endlessly beautiful views all along the way.

  A couple more perspectives of Durand Ridge.

Evening shadows encroaching and putting Madison in the spotlight.

 Interesting highlights on Madison.

Darkness caught up with me with about 1.5 miles left on my Valley Way walkout, so it was headlamp hiking the rest of the way.  It was a fantastic day to be above tree line on the Northern Presidentials on a hike that could be repeated time and again and still inspire and thrill.