Round, Noonmark and Rocky Peak Ridge
June 2007

Loop to Round and Noonmark

Rocky Peak ride and Giant with road loop

The climb of Round begins in cool forest with glimpses of the mountains westward through the trees	near the summit, the great range comes into view	Mountain ash on the summit
great views all around	on the descent, Lady slippers catch the eye	along the old Dix trail, an old beaver pond has become a boggy marsh
nearing the summit	amazing views	a basalt intrusion gives a weak spot for the rock to drop away
many last glimpses are offered on the descent	and I make my way to Shoe Box falls	for dinner and later set up camp
wee hours brings a road walk to the new russia trail head	a deer in the marsh	escaped iris
and a red-winged blackbird visits	snack and rest at split rock falls	and the long climb to Giant from the east begins with cool forest, and a little stream
the views begin	a strawberry on blueberry cobble	reaching a lovey, wide view at the end of the cobble
there is still a long way to go	cedar waxwings visit	three-toothed cinquefoil blooms near Bald
Bald has wonderful views	a good place to rest	quite the summit cairn
erratic boulder	overhanging boulders on the climb of Rocky peak ridge	grand view from the east end
and a great place to be at lunchtime	labrador tea	blueberry flowers
a look back at the ridge lake, and the mountains climbed from treeline on the summit	great views all around	Giant looms
but soon enough, the view is back to Rocky Peak Ridge	and then the view of the great range opens up; time to rest	the descent is marred only by smudges on the lens
Round mountain looms	and Giant's washbowl the usual delight	last great views over Chapel pond
I return to Shoe box falls and a trip in wonderful weather on beautiful mountains comes to an end