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It
took me a bit longer than I had expected to reach the south end
of the pond on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail. The trail climbed up
and over numerous small hills, skirting wet areas closer to the
pond. Finally, it straightened and started climbing more steeply
next to a sheer rock wall that formed one side of the Horn.
At
junction with the spur trail to the Horn, we met a group of hikers
who had just come down from the Horn. Glancing at Muffin, they
warned that there were some steep scrambles just below the summit
that they didn't think Muffin would be able to climb. I assured
them, however, that she was a pretty good climber, and would likely
have no trouble.
The
side trail began climbing moderately through dense fir and spruce
woods, giving no indication of the steep areas that lay ahead.
When we reached the ledges a couple of tenths of a mile up the
trail, Muffin, as usual, scrambled right up without any trouble.
The
views from the top were great but hampered by the swirling mists.
Somewhere behind the fog off to the southeast lay Mt Washington
and the Northern Presidentials. Other closer peaks loomed about
the clouds. The Bulge, the next hump along Kilkenny Ridge to the
south looked very fall-like in its golden garment of leaves.
After
coming down from the Horn, we continued south along the Kilkenny
Ridge Trail, which first descended into a col, then climbed the
gently-sloping side of the Bulge. At its broad sheltered, but
viewless summit, we paused for a quick snack. |
The
side path to the Horn. This short trail climbs to the summit of
the Horn, a prominent peak at the south end of Unknown Pond. |
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