Mt Cardigan again

[John P]

With a weather forecast of around 80F for October 10, I thought another trip to Mt Cardigan would be a good thing to do. (See last year's report, http://freerangenaturism.com/forum/index.php?topic=1025.0) As before, I went up the Duke's Ski Trail, to avoid encounters with other hikers, but came back down the regular trail, assuming that late in the day, nobody would be coming up. This proved to be a successful plan. It was actually a pretty warm climb, and I was exhausted by the time I got to the top, and never recovered for the rest of the walk.

The car thermometer was still saying 75 when I drove off at sunset, so I took the risk of going to a nearby state park on a lake. I thought there might be a closed gate and "No entry" signs, but in fact it was open but unattended, with a few people left on the beach. The last ones obligingly departed as the light faded, and I went back to the car for a towel and had a very pleasant swim. You can't expect warm water in the second week of October, but I thought it was still a delightful swim. Just what a weary body needed!

The pictures are thumbnails.         
               
               
               

	At the AMC lodge there was a helicopter picking up supplies to fly up to the high cabin, that they rent to visitors. I remarked to one of the ground crew, “I bet this is costing a bundle”, and he replied, “Oh yes”.		Here's the old Volvo that drove the rope tow. It and I are a year rustier than we were last year.		This is the machinery that pulled the cable. It involved a drive shaft from the car via universal joints, and a lot of V-belts.
	Finished the climb up through the woods onto the rocks of Mt Firescrew, and feeling pretty well-worked.		My lunch spot on Firescrew, which is a sub-peak of Cardigan. I could have dined on the main peak, but it was late, and I expected to find people on the summit (which proved to be true) but here I was all alone.		Entering the woods on the way down, enjoying the last mountain view.
	This should have shown a magical view of sunlight coming through golden foliage and a carpet of crimson leaves on the ground. But the camera just didn't catch it properly.		My final stop, at Wellington State Park on Newfound Lake. I went hoping to sneak a swim, and succeeded, but that's when the camera battery died.

               

[jbeegoode]

Still green leaves! I thought that they would have progressed, digressed much more by now. What do I know? Passing through that country on a tour into Maine and back 37years ago after a series of Grateful Dead shows at Madison Square Garden around Oct. 12th, I think. They used to time their fall shows to the leaves and go visit them after.

Do I have it wrong?

I have also used that strategy to get the most nude use out of the trails. It usually works, but for once, or twice. Best weekdays. Once I discovered that people like to walk the area with their dogs around sunset. A couple of times an unplanned fool with bad timing heading out and likely to be surprised and walking back in the dark. Once, two women with children and no water heading out late.

Anyway, that surely looks like a wonderful playground. "By the shores of gotchigoobee,"  or something like that. "Running Bear, love little...."
jbee

[eyesup]

Nice pics John.  I always enjoy being at the peak naked.

“On the shores of Gitche Gumee”, is a line from, “The Song of Hiawatha” by Longfellow.

“Runnin’ Bear . . . loved little White Dove . . . “ was a pop tune in the ‘60’s.
That’s one I haven’t heard in a lifetime. Been a long time and things start overlappin’.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I thought it was the mid-fifties. Come to find out it was the cusp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P615vAhkUlU

Jbee