Just now returned from a fantastic winter adventure in the White Mountains, NH. Perfect weather and trail conditions allowed me to hike a substantial loop up high -- first ascending to a summit, then hiking a section of the ridge (hiking up and over other peaks), and ending by descending from the last peak. A great day of hiking with amazing views! #FootpathFriday #snowshoeing #mountains

#nature #photography #landscape #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #hiking #winter #snow

In the spirit of the snow/wind storm that I am currently experiencing here in SE Massachusetts, I am sharing some pics from last week’s hike in the White #Mountains, NH illustrating the large amount of snow that was there. (Upper left) trail junction 2/3 up the mountain; (Upper right) same spot last June; (Lower left) alpine zone near final ascent; (Lower right) halfway down. #MountainMonday #hiking #snow

#photography #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #nature #landscape #winter

This was my view looking up the trail on my ascent up peak #3 of my hike on the ridge last week in the White Mountains, NH. Clear skies with great views to the horizon plus perfect trail conditions made for a wonderful adventure. #FootpathFriday #hiking #mountains

#nature #photography #winter #snowshoeing #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #NewHampshire

When I hiked recently on this mountain ridge, the evidence of harsh weather from previous storms was clear. Features were covered with rime ice, like ghosts frozen (literally!) in time from strong winds and cold temps in those storms, supercooling the droplets from the fog/low-clouds and freezing onto the feature in interesting patterns. So eerie and unique! #MountainMonday #hiking #winter

#nature #photography #landscape #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #PhotoMonday #mountains

From my hike last month in the White Mountains, NH. I was halfway up to the summit and the bright overhead sun was casting beautiful shadows. Much of this snow has since melted as we approach spring. #FootpathFriday #hiking #mountains

#nature #photography #landscape #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #snow

@TimKStanton beautiful! Looks lovely in black and white (no doubt in color too).

Those are some densely packed trees. Usually if I see a stand like that I can assume it was logged not too long ago, replanted, but never thinned. Do you think this is similar or a different cause?

@intrepidhero
Thanks!

Yup-- you got it right on the logging (see below link). This area was logged heavily until a century ago when it was declared a protected national forest. In fact, I took this photo not far from an abandoned logging road that I camped on a couple of years ago. The level road made for good camping in an otherwise steep area. The old logging road is 1,300' above the trailhead, indicating how extensive the logging was.

https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/the-legislation-that-saved-the-white-mountain-region/

@TimKStanton interesting! Thanks for the rabbit hole.

@TimKStanton

I like how it illustrates the challenge of photographing landscapes with snow, sometimes in the same day. The blue of the sky suddenly transfers to the snow. Really nice!

@SensitiveSyl
Thank you! Indeed, it is a great challenge photographing snow. The snow has so many interesting and beautiful "micro" features that sometime get washed out from the default settings on my phone. I find myself regularly making adjustments with the "shadow" and "contrast" edit functions to take the image back to something that realistically showcases the beautiful features. πŸ˜€ ❄️

@TimKStanton

I agree! I also turn to black and white when there is too much contrast, as it helps with shadows and textures πŸ˜‰

@SensitiveSyl
I've got a great candidate image from this hike for a black and white--- the bare trees were casting long distinct shadows onto the textured snow just before the sun dropped behind the nearby mountain range. Stay tuned....
@TimKStanton Very cool texture!
@jerzone
Couldn't get enough of that rime ice! πŸ˜€ 🧊
@TimKStanton I started building some up on this morning's ride! ';^)
@TimKStanton In October 1978 I visited Mount Washington. And this is wat it looked like! Incredible but beautiful.
@saarmuller
Indeed! And the Mt Washington observatory regularly posts photos of the rime ice formations that they have up there-- all so beautiful!
@TimKStanton beautiful sculptures of wind and ice!
@silberspur
Mother Nature is a great artist!
@TimKStanton that's really a nice view! Thanks so much for this. I'm just seeing grey and light rain
@hikingdude
Thanks, Franz! This was my view after having been above the treeline for several hours on the mountain ridge and I was descending back into the forested part of the trail.
It has been quite the winter up in these mountains. Lots of snowfall and no periods of rain or freeze/thaw cycle, making for great conditions for winter mountaineering. πŸ˜€β„οΈβ›°οΈ
@TimKStanton
Hiked Mt. Washington one summer & ski team used to run from peak to peak in Franconia Notch in Fall training 60 years ago.
@stevewfolds
There were a couple of runners out on the ridge last week. They were having a great time!
@TimKStanton ohhh take me there, Tim. Please
@hikingdude
Wish I could, Franz! It was as wonderful as it looks. After the major hike up to the first summit from the trailhead (3,500 ft (1,100m) elevation gain), I hiked up three more peaks, including this oneβ€” once I was up on the ridge, these subsequent peaks were all easy, but still equally picturesque. A great day in the mountains!
@TimKStanton Just a little wind...
@jerzone
Yeah, crazy how windy it gets up there. It was 30 mph (50 km/h) the last time I was up on the ridge. Couldn’t see to the other side of the summit.
@TimKStanton Terrific sight and photo. And thanks for the great Alt Text.
@CiaraNi
Thank you! It was an amazing day up on the ridge. Beautiful views not only of distant mountains, but also of nearby features such as the cairns. I took pics of a number of these cairnsβ€” all with unique patterns of rime ice.
@TimKStanton I can feel the fresh air and the light even through the screen. I vaguely knew of 'rime frost', but not how it comes about. It was interesting to see and learn.
@TimKStanton ah man! I'm jealous!
I'm trying tomorrow - but with very high degree of avalanche warnings and rising temperatures I might have to change plans in the morning
@hikingdude
Yeah, you definitely want to avoid avalanches. Rising temps make it rough going on the snow as well. The weather in the White Mountains has been remarkable in that it has snowed a lot all winter, but the temps have remained below freezing. No damaging rains or freeze/thaw cycles yet. I very much appreciated the outstanding conditions that I experienced yesterday. πŸ˜€ ❄️
@TimKStanton oh that sounds like a really cool time that you had
@TimKStanton So beautiful
@Luminex
Yeah, beautiful in all directions for the entire day!
@TimKStanton Looks like a beautiful day to be up high in the Whites!
@jerzone
So great. A number of other people were up on the ridge as well and I had lots of nice conversations. Everyone agreed how ideal the day was, in sharp contrast to the bitter cold and high winds that have been there in recent weeks.
@TimKStanton that looks like an amazing trip Tim. Do you come across others on this route or is it relatively quiet?
@elperronegro
Yes, so amazing and thoroughly enjoyable, Richard. This was an unusual one-day weather window with a large high pressure system over the area with no wind, clear skies, and mild temps (but below freezing). Since this coincided with a holiday week, I had to β€œshare”’ the mountain with others. But we were all stretched out over the 8.5 mile route (13.5km). Had a brief encounter with someone about once an hour, but otherwise was completely alone. πŸ˜€ ❄️ ⛰️
@TimKStanton The weather, the views, the snow, it looks like you found perfection! πŸ˜ƒ πŸ”οΈ ❄️
@CA_Hawthorne
Indeed! I watched the weather forecast all week while eyeing this day. The weather calmed down for this one day before it kicked up again. πŸ˜€
@TimKStanton You're certainly doing better with forecasts than I've been doing this winter. 🀣 I liked that winning hand you produced. Well done!
@TimKStanton Looks absolutely gorgeous!😍
@theappletree
It was so beautiful! I stopped a lot just to look around and enjoy my surroundings!
@TimKStanton Sounds wonderfully ruminant and very good for your soul...πŸ™πŸΌ
@TimKStanton
Wonderful scenery! What fun
@carolannie
It was so wonderful being out there! I was in awe of the beauty!