Saturday, May 4
Summits: Engine Hill, Isolation
Start/Finish: Rocky Branch North TH
Miles: 10.95
Elevation gain/loss: 3530′
After hiking Carrigan, I headed over to Rocky Branch. There were 3 cars in the parking lot and while I saw footprints, I never saw anyone else. I started just before noon, and was hopeful that it would be easier and more successful than my attempt in April during very high water. Sadly, it was much more difficult, though I did make the summit.
The trail was soggy open ground until 2600′ and then I needed to put on my spikes. The trail was very wet, with a ton of moving water. Very often, the trail itself was the stream. I had planned to follow the summer route, thinking the bushwhack would be flooded and muddy. I passed by the Engine Hill bushwhack turnoff and quickly found myself in total misery. The trail hadn’t been packed down in that direction, so it was very unstable. I’d left my snowshoes in the car for the first time this season and it was the first time I’d needed them in a month. I was postholing to my thighs and waist every 6-12 steps, falling onto uneven rocks and 2′ icy water, or narrowly avoiding impalement on tree branches just under the snow. I tried bushwhacking and it was only marginally better.
Back on the trail, I nearly wrenched my knees several times and my legs were bleeding from countless cuts and scrapes. I was ready to not be where I was, because I kept thinking – I still have to go back. I decided I’d rather try my luck with the bushwhacks going forward – f*ck the summer routes for now. I was delighted to find the Iso Express bushwhack in decent shape – the footprints from a few weeks back were still present, making it easier to follow the meandering trail. I postholed only a few times and felt much better about my prospects. I made the socked in summit, and then headed back along Iso Express. From there, I followed tracks back along the Engine Hill bushwhack. It was soggy here and there, but easier than December and overall, I had very few problems with postholing.
Once I got back to the trail, it was smooth sailing back down to the car. It was a bit of a rough start, but it ended well enough that I was in good spirits!
