Monday, August 23, 2021

Hiking Mount Pisgah-Not North Carolina

July 23, 2021                                                                   Most Recent Posts
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Today I returned to Lake Willoughby.  I had come here previously to check it out for kayaking and while here had hiked around the South side of the lake.  If you missed that and are interested, you can find that post here

While I was checking out the area, I’d seen a hike I’d like to do called Mount Pisgah.  So I’ve returned to do it.   I started from the hiker symbol in the upper left of the map and hiked the Mount Pisgah North Trail up to the summit and beyond to the starred * view point.  There weren’t as quite many viewpoints on the climb up any more as this map indicates and the summit, well more about that later.

I was familiar with Pisgah in the North Carolina mountains and was surprised to see it here too.  Later I looked it up and found that Pisgah means peak or height and was used to refer to the peak of Mount Nebo that Moses climbed to see the promised land.  Seems there are towns named Pisgah in Alabama, California, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia.  Whew.   There are state parks, national forests and even a town in Wales named Pisgah. 

Like many trails this one started off on nice and wide.

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But soon became narrow, muddy, rocky and sketchy.




Since I had to climb over, I thought I’d just sit for a bit.


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Other obstacles on the way and small water features like the one on the right.

They added a lovely sound track.

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The rocky trail climbed and climbed.


 

At points, it wasn’t all that clear where I was going.  follow the rocks I guess.

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I ran into a group of young people working for a private contractor doing trail work.  They were trying to remove a huge boulder from the trail.  Not sure why. Hikers will wear a path around something that size.  Seemed to me taking out the trees obstructing the trail would have been a better use of their energy but I’m not the boss.


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Nice fungi along the way for Paul.  An amazingly long and skinny stem on one and a short fat one on the other.


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I reached the first * viewpoint on the map.  This is one that I could look back on from the farthest viewpoint on my hike later on.  It’s clear earlier I had only walked along a small portion of the south shore of this huge lake.  I love that there is no dam here.  Lake Willoughby is a Glacially carved long thin lake which resembles a Norwegians Fiord.  At it’s deepest it is 320 feet.  Its beautiful on the shore line and from up here.

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My second viewpoint was growing over and was also a rocky ledge. It gave a nice framed look at the mountains beyond.

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The third viewpoint gave a look back down Lake Willoughby the opposite direction from my first view today.

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From here I could zoom in on some of Vermont’s renewable energy.


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And then I reached the summit of Mount Pisgah.  Because it was the summit, I took a picture.  No views.

I thought it was funny but am glad they don’t artificially clear view points.  Luckily there are nice natural ones along the way.

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Over the top and down the side a bit I found my last and the best view point.  When I got there, these folks had staked out the best spot and were having lunch.


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I picked a spot a little higher and further back.

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From there I could look back and up to the other view point I mentioned earlier  where other folks were now.

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I’m not patient in most of my life but I am on a hike when waiting for folks to leave so I can have the spot or view of my choice and sure enough.. . .

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On the way back down, I found that the crew had given up on trying to move that large rock and were  routing the trail around it.   I had to laugh.  I wonder if they are hikers too or just workers?


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Of course since I came back the same route, it was no less rocky.  Glad it hadn’t rained or it would have been very slippery.













If time and rain allow, I want to return to Lake Willoughby for some kayaking.  Don’t think it’s a lake I can kayak the entire perimeter of  as I often do on lakes.

26 comments:

  1. Nice rocky trail. Looks kind of dangerous. Glad it wasn't slippery.

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    1. Slow and steady in the rocky parts and careful with the mud was the key.

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  2. Nice hike! How long was it? Did I miss that? You are doing a great job staying fit, my friend!

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    1. It was a nice hike Jeannie. Hiking seems to be my only way of staying fit since I've given up on the bicycle because whenever I ride I get off of it so often to look at things that it isn't worth doing. As for the hike length, I'm not sure what it's publicized at but the hike I did was 5.8 miles according to my pedometer.

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  3. I love "real" lakes that aren't created by dams and have reservoir bathtub rings. Most of our lakes in Northern Idaho are also glacial lakes and are gorgeous. When Melody first moved to southern Oregon back in the 90's she sent me a photo of Applegate Lake, with a big bathtub ring from summer low water. What is the matter with this lake Mom???!!! She had never seen a reservoir. Looks like a great hike, one I wouldn't attempt with all those boulders and such. Glad for the photos.

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    1. I love having you hike along with me Sue you are so appreciative and often can tell me about the geology I know nothing about there will be another post coming up for your expertise. I wish they would let the rivers flow and teach the people how to conserve so we don't need dams.

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  4. Another beautiful hike to a wonderful view of that lake. Nice to find out what Pisgah means. I knew about the North Carolina one. Sorry to hear of Gary's passing. I did not know of his diagnosis.

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    1. I only knew of the North Carolina Pisgah as well which is why I looked into it when I saw this hike. Gary lived with multiple myeloma for a very long time. Thanks for your comment.

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  5. Looks like a challenging but pretty trail. Funny about the work crew trying to move that big rock.

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    1. Yes it was hilarious watching them think they could move that thing. I wasn't at all surprised to find they had given it up on my way back.

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  6. There was a Mount Pisgah within sight of a campground in Eugene, Oregon, where we camped for several months. We didn't hike the mountain, but went to the area several times and walked the trails.

    Thank you, Sherry, for mentioning Gary's lengthy struggles with Multiple Myeloma. I picked up his ashes today, and admit that I am totally heartbroken and teary-eyed. Sherry has been wonderfully supportive, and I love her for that kindness.

    Now I must find the courage to do as well as Sherry has done, but it seems to loom so large for me. I'm sure in time things will sort themselves out, but right now it has been only a week, and I am still terribly devastated. I shall use Sherry's fine example to get back on Life's Merry-Go-Round once again.

    Thank you, Sherry, for being our friend for all these years.

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

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    1. Call Judy you two were our inspiration. Anything at all that I can do to help you in this horrible time, you have only to ask.

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  7. That's interesting information about the meaning of the word 'pisgah.' We've been doing a lot of hiking in the Pisgah National Forest here in North Carolina. Your hike is gorgeous! I laughed at the crew trying to remove the boulder from the trail. No way were they going to be able to move that thing!
    I'm sorry to hear about your friend Gary. Life is precious, and you're doing the right thing to continue following your dreams.

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    1. Thank you Laurel. I mostly feel like I'm putting one foot in front of the other rather than following my dreams. I don't really know what my dreams are anymore. But I know I'm happier in nature than anywhere else.

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  8. Beautiful views and well done on a sketchy, rocky trail. So sad to hear about Gary. I know Judie appreciates having you as a friend. Your resilience is inspiring as hard as I know it has been and still is. Love you.

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    1. Thank you sweetheart. You know better well what a great loss it is to lose someone you love. So glad I have you!

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  9. Beautiful hike. I know David would be proud of you. So sorry to hear about Gary. I remember you telling me about him and how well he had done.
    My condolences to Judi

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    1. Thank you Roger. He had done well and had twice the time from diagnosis that David did but the disease is so vicious to everyone who has it.

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  10. Nice fungi pictures! I used to look a lot like that tall skinny one but find that I'm starting to resemble the short fat one a little more. :cO

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  11. I'd love to see some tall skinny pictures of you Paul. I actually think the other one is the better looking. You too!

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  12. Be careful of shrooms with flaky tops as they tend to be the poisonous Amanitas. I have to laugh at the trail crew as it's usually some employee boss that changes their mind and the poor volunteers doing the hard labor. Lovely hike. Hope you get to paddle it.

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    1. I'm not knowledgeable enough about mushrooms to be willing to eat anything from the wild. The trail crew was all pretty young not sure who was the boss.

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  13. You are kinder than me! If I had hiked that rocky trail to see that summit, I would not have been pleased. 😉 The views you did see were spectacular though - different from most you have previously posted

    I am so sorry to hear about your friend's passing. I know it's difficult to lose a friend and then to also be reminded of David's loss. I am thankful for his life and that he was a friend to you and David. I lost a dear friend unexpectedly two months ago. I can't think about it.

    I have been thinking of your question about how I am living life to the fullest. I think it's been about helping other people - my sister, of course, but I am trying to be a good friend as well. I really haven't thought about that recently and appreciate your asking.

    As always, thank you for sharing!

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    1. Such a thoughtful comment Pam. Thank you so much. I always look forward to reading what you have to say

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  14. Nice to be in an area long enough to come back and explore different areas. That rocky trail looks treacherous - and you did it twice! The views are certainly a nice reward (even those you have to wait to enjoy :-) Wonder if the rock removal assignment was a "punishment" of some kind??? Seems a bit much :-)))

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  15. Thank you for sharing your hikes; I always find new places to go.
    Dams are also for flood control, and serve an important protective role for that. And sometimes for hydroelectric power. Looking forward to your next adventure. Jennifer

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