Another hot, sultry day in the forecast and I was looking for another short hike. A quick review of the 52 With a View list to see what I needed and decided to hike Mount Potash. This is a four mile round trip hike and I would get and early start to try and beat the heat.
I was not the only one getting an early start. When I pulled into the trailhead parking lot there were several cars ahead of me. My welcoming committee was waiting when I arrived. Mosquitoes were swarming around the windows taunting me to get out. I had a welcoming gift for them, my new Thermacell mosquito repeller. I hadn't used it yet and thought this hike would be a good test.
When I got out of the car I was covered in mosquitoes. I fired up the Thermacell while I was getting ready. I put the device in the side order of my pack and hit the trail quickly. It takes several minutes for the Thermacell to heat up so I was well on my way before I stopped to make some adjustments. I wasn't sure if it was working or there just wasn't any flying, biting insects along this section of trail.
The water was very low in the Downes Brook and it was an easy crossing. The trail is an easy, gradual climb but the heat and humidity was thick even with my early start of 6:30. I got to the first views along the trail and being in the direct sunshine was very hot so I kept moving.
The last section to the summit is steep ledge and would probably be quite slippery if wet. Didn't have to worry about that today and I walked up over them without a problem. There was no doubt about where the summit was located, there was an X painted on the granite summit. I was the first and only one up there this morning.
I took off my pack and started to walk around the summit to take some photos. The black flies started to swarm and bite. When I went back to my pack where I had the Thermacell there were no bugs around. I sat there to relax and cool off before starting back down...bug free!
I spent about a half hour on the summit enjoying the views before starting my descent. It wasn't long before I saw my first hiker of the day and there would be many more as I made my way down. It was a pleasant hike back down to the parking lot.
Hikers were still arriving and I was very glad that I got an early start because it was really heating up by now. It was also nice to have had the summit to myself and I found the Thermacell Repeller to work very well!
The heat wave is expected to go on for another several days so I will be checking the 52 With a View list and looking for some more short hikes until the heat and humidity passes.
Enjoy the photos and video!
Just before sunrise driving through Jackson
Just after sunrise on the Bear Notch Road
The GRIDMAN hiketh
Heading up the trail
Easy water crossing
Downes Brook
The trail crosses a logging road
Gonna need to find another tree for this blaze
Trailside burl
Lots of lady slippers blooming along the trail
Trail follows ledge slabs
A view of Mount Passaconaway from the trail
View under a scorching sun
Underside of a mushroom
Stubborn tree
Nice views along this section of trail
Another view from the trail
Open ledges along the trail
Very hot on these open ledges
Climbing ledges toward the summit
Going straight up
Unidentified wildflower
X marks the spot at the summit
Mount Passaconaway
Mount Whiteface
East Sleeper
Tripyramids
Steep ledges on Mount Passaconaway
Mount Chocorua
Gnarly mushroom
Lady Slipper
Spider web in the middle of the trail with a big spider at face level
White admiral butterfly
The parking lot is in sight
Heading home
The Thermacell Mosquito Repeller worked well keeping the black flies and mosquitoes away
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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