The
north road on Wachusett Mountain begins as an access trail, two-track with
tufts of poverty grass and stone bedding in between. It starts at the base of
the ski buildings and winds upward criss crossing the cleared ski slopes and
rising steadily counter-clockwise up the mountain, through several patches of
what appear to be old growth forest.
After
approximately 2 miles, the road has gained nearly 1000 feet of elevation, and
the landscape is transformed to a state of vegetation that we experienced two
to three weeks ago. In short, we felt as if we’d stepped back in time to late
spring, with bluets in the roadside ditch, hyacinths doting the rocks, and
patches of violets in the wetland glades seen from the path.
The air
was noticeably cooler here and cleaner feeling somehow, and we had the road to
ourselves as we ascended to the point where it exits onto the paved mountain
road. Here, at the gate that prevents cars from gaining access from the
mountain road, we skirted the iron crossing by going round near the woods. Just
there in the shady wetland of the woods stood a singular and perfect lady
slipper, back lit by a shaft of sun that found entry through a hole in the
canopy overhead.
Notes:
Orange
hawkweed in bloom.
No comments:
Post a Comment