Authored by: MarkS on Monday, October 16 2006 @ 01:42 PM

Cool. That's dedication. The one drawback to hiking in the dark is that you can't see the sights, but seeing sunrise from on top of a mountain is always delightful. Sunsets too. Where is Mt. Liberty?

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Authored by: DanZ on Monday, October 16 2006 @ 03:48 PM

Franconia Ridge in Franconia Notch - the view looks down on Rte 93 across from The Old Man of the Mountain, who is no longer there (crashed a year ago).

THIS picture is of the main part of the ridge, although the pic I posted is on a tall peak off to the right in the linked photo.

The problem of "seeing the sights" is relatively undefinable when you think about it. This is actually a favorite topic of hikers. I've been on Franconia Ridge about 8 times in the last 18 months alone - 6 times in the winter. I've probably hike the ridge almost 15 times overall. Last winter I went up in tremendously wintery weather w/ visibility of about 10 feet, temperatures around -5deg and winds howling steady at 40mph. A week later, it was blue skies 25deg and no wind - almost t-shirt weather. If I had to choose one of those to miss, which one? If you accept that I have both the gear, committment, experience and wherewithall and enjoyment of year-round hiking which would be the bigger loss? Similarly, while hiking in the dark means you don't see 'the sights', i hit the summit of Mt. Flume about an hour and a half before sunrise. It's a steep, rocky summit w/ BIG cliff faces and rocky outcrops. I got up there, and thanks to the 3rd quarter moon, turned of my headlamp as I explored around. The eerie twilight, bright stars and milky way, tiny lights in the valley below, crips air, sense of the enormity of the mountains and drama of the dimly lit scene - now THAT was something that a day hiker would truly miss.

I can even do one better. I did this exact same hike last august, but when I hit the summit of Flume, the sky was overcast and it was pitch-black. I couldn't see a damned thing except the rocks underfoot lit by my headlamp and black valley (I could still see the tiny lights below) and the enormity of the mountains was, in some ways, even more impressive ... almost oppressive. Furthermore, the problem of scrambling on sheer cliffs in the dark was totally thrilling. So who is missing what? The day hiker? The night hiker? The winter hiker?

Last but not least, is the problem of "seen one tree, you've seen them all". It sounds jaded to the ear, but the truth is that I hike in the white mountains so much that it's the EXCEPTIONS that count, not the routine. Events are as much (if not more) fun as sights. I startled a bull moose two weeks ago. THAT was cool. The same birch grove would've disappeared my memories had the moose not charged through it right in front of me. Now I'll never forget it.

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Authored by: MarkS on Monday, October 16 2006 @ 04:18 PM

I don't doubt that night time can be a beautiful time to be out. On a moonlit night the sights can be terrific. One of my favorite/scary times was rappelling by moonlight in Keene Valley after rock climbing late in the day. Good thing I had my headlight and gloves. I'm primarily a day hiker, plodding along and taking photos along the way.

I was thinking that overall, in a heavily wooded area, it might be harder to "see the sights" out beyond the trees in the immediate area. Hiking and being outdoors is a multifacetted experience. There are the physical demands of the hike and the terrain as well as the emotional and spiritual aspects of being in the woods. For me one of the larger aspects is the visual. Being a photog, I place a great emphasis on the visual. Sometimes you have to leave early in order to get where you are going.

That said, I've left at two, or three in the morning to go hiking, or shooting, in order to get the sunrise in my photos.

It's been a long time since I've been hiking, I should get out once before the weather gets too cold, or trails close. Bear Mountain isn't too far away and I've been meaning to go...

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Authored by: DanZ on Monday, October 16 2006 @ 05:05 PM

mmmm, winter.......

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