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menature@maine.maine.edu Nature report from backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, June 20-27, 1997
by Frank Wihbey, Editor
E-mail :
menature@maine.maine.edu
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Friday, June 20 - Thursday, June 27, 1997. I hiked a 45 mile section of the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, from Gorham to Crawford Notch, including the Carter-Moriah-Wildcat and Presidential mountain ranges. The elevation ranged from 700 feet at the Androscoggin River in Gorham to 6288 feet at Mount Washington, but most of this section is 3000 feet and above. It was an opportunity to spend long amounts of time in the subalpine (spruce-fir, scrub forest/krummholz), and alpine habitats -- areas that I am usually only able to visit for a couple of hours when climbing a single mountain.
The last of the winter snow was just disappearing during the time of the hike. All streams, including intermittent springs, were full and very cold. Alpine flowers were beginning their short, rapid season of blooming. Although there was a lovely display in many areas, it is late this year and probably peaked after I finished the trip. There was less wind than is usual in the White Mountains, which allowed airborne insects to travel very high up. A snowbank remained on the Trail at the summit of Carter Dome (4832'), so I had the rare privilege of tramping on snow while shooing away black flies! Several times I traveled between late spring and late winter regimes as I changed altitude. The 13 mile stretch from Mt. Madison to Mt. Pierce is almost entirely above treeline. Snow was absent there, except in some deep ravines and crevices. Fortunately, thunderstorms were few and brief during my time in this range noted for its beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes but also its dangerous weather.
The Field Guide to the New EnglandAlpine Summits, by Nancy G. Slack and Allison W. Bell (Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club, 1995) was very helpful in identifying my observations and in appreciating the natural history of the area. It is also applicable to the alpine zones of Maine's mountains.
Alpine plants in flower: Alpine
azalea, bog laurel, cotton sedge, diapensia, Lapland rosebay,
mountain cranberry.
Amphibians seen: American toad (all altitudes up to
treeline), Eastern garter snake (Saco River bank).
Birds identified by sight: Boreal chickadee, Canada (gray)
jay, Spruce grouse.
Birds identified by sound: American pipit, slate-colored
junco, white-throated sparrow.
Forest floor wildflowers in bloom at lower altitudes: pink
lady slipper, blue bead lily, starflower.
Insects (all altitudes): beetles, black flies,
butterflies, dragonflies, mosquitoes, wasps, water striders.
Mammals seen: moose, long-tailed weasel (a liftetime first
for me -- seeing this wary animal!), red squirrels, chipmunks.