Pinnacle, Baxter and Haystack from Elk Lake

Giant Nubble et al

I set a camp, passing Canada Mayflower	twisted rose-stalk	bluets find a crevice
I remembered a cooking pot this time	striped maple flowers	and pink lady slipper
The morning begins the hard way to Haystack -- it is not recommended; 27.25 miles, 9060 ft cumulative ascent taking me 14.5 hrs with hardly a break; the route from Elk Lake soon reaches a bridge worthy of the little rascals	hobblebush in bloom	a dead tree
I come a good way and more to reach Pinnacle	where I reward myself with breakfast	and a lovely view over Elk Lake
back toward the ridge trail a great view over Upper Ausable	a glimpse of a magnolia warbler	skunk currant blossoms
the trail between two rocks	do you think the view is worth the climb?	yes
views through the trees	over Blake and descending the trail in the col	is a bridge over the Ausable between lakes
a lovely stream	an Indian Poke garden	along the Carry trail
soon climbing toward Haystack	I pause for lunch	some wetlands
a steep climb toward Haystack	is rewarded with views back	snow near treeline
view from above treeline	bilberry comes to life	a mat of Juniper above treeline
Tamarack is just openning its needles	the summit beckons	Leather leaf (?)
a tree bursts into leaf and blossom (tundra dwarf birch?)	Diapensia in bloom	the summit view
a rest with a view	and no wind	I passed no other hikers, but several are on Marcy
Lapland rosebay in bloom	I descend into Panther gorge	the trail is broken
the legendary swamp trail functional but wearing out	a bridge with a lovely rail	and an awesome long single span, and a long day ends in few miles
The next morning brings rain, bunchberry in bloom	wild sarsaparilla and off to climb of Giants Nubble	first climbing Roaring brook to Giant washbowl
and soon overlooking it on the climb of the nubble	it rains, but the views are still lovely	and wide
a side excursion above "other" falls on roaring brook	descending, a boulder perched on till	view from above roaring brook falls
circular mushrooms	miterwort	it rains, I hold my rain pants over my head so I can get "roaring brook falls from below"

Panoramas created with Autostitch

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