Winter is on its Way

It has started to cool off and signs of the fast approaching winter are everywhere here in the Whites. Mount Washington has had snow on the summit off and on since the beginning of October and the Observers have even been out skiing. I’ve been giving myself a bit of extra time each morning to scrape and defrost my car each morning. There was snow in Crawford Notch this week although, sadly, there was little accumulation.

Photo credit: Kate Keefe

During October I guided a hut to hut trip for REI. We headed to Lonesome Lake Hut before going on to Greenleaf Hut the following day. It was closing weekend and all of us needed our cold temperature sleeping bags and warm clothes. Winter is on its way. It was evident at the huts two weeks ago and it is beginning to show its face in Crawford Notch as well.

While up at Greenleaf part of my group decided to go up Mount Lafayette. The views on the way up were spectacular but the ice formations were inspiring.

Photo credit: Kate Keefe

Rime ice is formed when clouds pass over the mountains in cold weather leaving frozen water droplets on anything exposed. These water droplets are extremely small and have high surface tensions allowing them to resist freezing down to temperatures’ of -20°F - -40°F. They also don’t have a nucleating agent, such as a piece of dust, which would give the water droplets something to freeze to. Once these super cooled droplets come in contact with a tree, sign post, or building they freeze on contact. When the winds are strong and from one direction more droplets will freeze on contact forming beautiful feather like ice structures on the windward side of the object. These structures will often appear white as a result of the amount of air trapped in the structure. There was a time when the winter water supply for the Mount Washington Observatory came from melted snow and ice.

With bellies full we snuggled into our sleeping bags and dreamed of ski season and breakfast.

A Beaver Story...or Saga

Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

Directly across from the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center on Rt. 16 is the trailhead for Lost Pond. Over the years thousands of people have crossed the Ellis River and then strolled along its banks, winding their way on this minute section of the Appalachian Trail to a peaceful body of water known as Lost Pond (this short hike, which is .5 miles one-way, is great for all ages and abilities). Relatively flat, the greatest obstacle to overcome on this section of trail is the persistent and unpredictable behavior of nature’s architect, the beaver.

Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

In the month of September there was a disruption in the continuity of the Lost Pond Trail; a relatively simple stream crossing was completely flooded by beaver activity. Many hikers and visitors expressed frustration over the blocked trail, with good reason. Beavers had dammed the stream so effectively that the ensuing pond flooded the trail and made it extremely difficult to find a way around the obstruction. Outdoor enthusiasts wondered why a beaver would participate in such destructive behavior, and it simply breaks down to a matter of survival.

Photo credit: AMC file photo	Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

Beavers (Castor Canadensis) build dams in order to create a suitable habitat for themselves and their families. North America’s largest rodent (yes, beavers are in the same family as mice and rats) need an area of standing water at least 2 feet deep. The dam and their homes, or lodges, are two separate structures. By damming running water to create a pond for themselves, beavers can build their lodges and have access to food while benefiting from the protection of water. In winter, beavers can slip into the pond while remaining under the ice, swimming to caches of food they have stocked in the preceding autumn months. Since beavers are herbivores that feast upon the bark of trees and the young wood directly under the bark, their food storage methods consist of dragging trees and branches into their pond for later consumption.

Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

As made apparent by the behavior of the Lost Pond beavers, simple survival for a beaver can greatly disrupt hiking routes. It took the AMC’s professional Trail Crew a few days to accommodate both hiker and beaver, leaving the dam and new pond in place while constructing a series of bog bridges to provide safe passage. A few weeks afterwards, it rained. The beaver pond began to swell with the increase in water, and the Lost Pond Trail is quickly moving towards becoming impassable, again.

Curious about the lives of beavers? Drop by the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a naturalist program on these fascinating mammals. To get directions to the Lost Pond Trail, where you can see evidence of ongoing beaver activity, feel free to ask members of the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center staff at the front desk, or call 603-466-2721. Updated trail conditions are also available.

Photo credit: Kassie Fenn

BEAVER DAM UPDATE: As of Sunday, October 26th, recent heavy rains have led to the erosion of soil near the beaver dam. The beaver pond has drained, completely exposing the cache of food for the winter. The Lost Pond Trail is no longer impassable in that area, although it will be interesting to see how long it takes the beaver(s) to repair the "damage".