Distance 8.9 miles
Gain 3,900 feet
Why it’s grand This 9-mile hike is among the best single-day samplers of the White Mountains, and a good warmup for the classic Presidential Traverse (backpacker.com/pres). You’ll tag three summits, cross alpine terrain, and pass three waterfalls as you traverse 1.7 miles of Franconia Ridge.
Do it From the Lafayette Place trailhead, ascend via the steep Falling Waters Trail, and come down via the Greenleaf and Old Bridle Trails.
(photo credit; Backpacker)
Test driving my Scarpa GTX's
Built with the same award-winning chassis as the Spark, the Spark GTX puts SCARPA’s Mountain Minimal philosophy into a trail shoe that tackles inclement weather and shoulder-season running. When wet weather comes around, the Spark’s Gore-Tex® uppers are built to handle mud, slush and wet conditions that are often associated with sloppy trails and winter running. The low-profile lugged tread pattern is designed for optimal traction, maximum stability, and uses a design that sheds mud, snow and gravel.
On the drive home;
Rescuing a cranky chelydra serpentina (snapping turtle) from becoming roadkill.
Great use for a kayak paddle.....
Snapping turtles have "fierce" dispositions; however, when encountered in the water, they usually slip quietly away from any disturbance. Snapping turtles have evolved the ability to snap because unlike other turtles, they are too large to hide in their own shells when confronted. Snapping is their defense mechanism. However, these turtles rarely bite humans; they usually flee when threatened.
The snapper is an aquatic ambush hunter, capturing its prey with its beak-like jaws. (wikipedia)
