Hiked by: Tim, Debi and Valerie on June 8, 2008 via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
Conditions: Hot, humid - bright sun - very little breeze until we got above the hut. Blackflies were out.
We left the parking area around 9AM. The days was already steamy and in the high 60's. At the edge of the parking lot we found these flowers. We're fairly certain that the first one is American Speedwell. The second one is not a great picture... it seems that these flowers always get washed out when we try to photograph them. We always called them forget-me-nots, but now think they may be Bluets. They are very tiny and tinged light blue around the edges. Tim and Debi are ready to head up the trail.
Along the first two miles of the trip, we crossed the brook(s) a few times and followed along it for quite a while. We stopped at Gem Pool for some refreshments and a break.
After the Gem Pool, the trail got steep and we quickly came upon the side-trail to the gorge. Tim climbed way down into the gorge to get this picture of the entire waterfall.
From the gorge to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the trail becomes much more open. We crossed the brook probably six more times. As you can see, the sun was full out and we started to feel a little crispy. The views behind us were amazing. At one point, there was a little snow in the trail, but it was more of a novelty for a snowball thrown in 85-degree-heat rather than a hiking problem.
Debi and Tim at the hut looking awfully serious. Mount Monroe looms just 0.3 miles away. Mount Washington looks close, but is still 1.4 miles.
We had all three cameras going on the way up Mt Monroe. Here we've got some Diapensia, Alpine Azalea and Lapland Rosebay.
Views back towards the lakes and the hut as we ascend Mt Monroe. Debi and Valerie at the summit! And the last photo is a look down the Crawford Path towards the Southern Presidentials (Franklin, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson).
As we started back down, this Blackpoll Warbler stood up and let Tim get some pictures of him. The trip down was slow to Gem Pool, and then quicker after that. The last two pictures give a good indication of the trail above the gorge. It's very steep and very rocky. Below the Gem Pool, we picked up the pace. We finished the trip in just under 7 hours for 7 miles.
On the way home, we saw the bear on the slopes of Cannon again!