Squint and you can see the peak of Mt Washington just above the round white patch on the ridge line.
Climbed Cardigan Mt with Jay and the dogs, Gaucho and Ernie, to watch the sunset, 4:10, and moonrise. The climb up was smooth and easy, applying our short crampons to icy rocks and being sheltered from the wind. Once on top, we watched the deep yellow ball descend and pinch out of sight. The stiff wind chilled the air quickly after that and with shivering bodies we began our descent before the moon was to rise, 5:20. With no clouds and only a thickening haze on the horizon, the fading sunlight smeared a bold fiery orange brush stroke between the dark blue sky and the black landscape to the west.
Looking NE toward Franconia Ridge from the summit of Cardigan Mt, 12/10/11. Jay and I hiked up with the dogs, Gaucho and Ernie, in time to enjoy the last few minutes before the early sunset, 4:10, and make it down before dark. This was my first hike using new crampons that worked to perfection. A full moon rose over the Cardigan peak as I drove past Canaan Street Lake. On the other side of the world, Joe had witnessed a lunar eclipse in Shanghai. The celestial calendar is busy with the Winter Solstice but 10 days away.
Looking NE toward Mt Washington from the summit of Mt Chocorua. Hiking up Mt Chocorua Sunday, 11-20-11, made it 3 weeks in a row that the weather has cooperated for pleasurable climbs in the Whites this fall. It doesn’t matter how many times I summit a peak after a healthy climb, the view from elevation is always a surprise and a thrill. Once again I am reminded how lucky we are to live near the White Mt National Forest. As the days grow shorter toward the Fall Solstice in December the crowds thin out. The conditions can be icy, chilly and windy and the fall colors are gone, but the energizing feeling of being high up is unmatched – the clouds, the ridge lines, the valleys in between blanketed with mist.
The BCAP program, that provides matching funds to forestland owners who send chipwood to power plants, is back in business. UNH COOP Extension timber market specialist Sarah Smith offered the following summary of the 2010 iteration of BCAP.
BCAP Returns by Sarah Smith, Extension Forest Industry Specialist
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently released the final rules for BCAP (Biomass Crop Assistance Program). The Federal Register, October 27, 2010, addresses the two major components of the BCAP program—the energy crop program (growing energy crops) and the more familiar: collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of eligible biomass material. The following comments only apply to the later and are not meant to be comprehensive.
Features of the final ruling include:
Payment levels remain the same. Eligible biomass material owners receive $1 for each $1 received per dry ton with a limit of $45 per dry ton.
Requirement that a forest stewardship plan (defined by the State Forester) be in place for all BCAP biomass delivered to a biomass conversion facility.
Those eligible can receive payments for up to two years. Those that participated previously are under a “stopped clock” from when their last payment was received until they re-start under the new program.
Owner under a stumpage sale is further defined as the person who has purchased the right to harvest timber on the land.
A few provisions that require clarification include:
Biomass conversion facilities will be required to certify that eligible materials are byproducts of preventative treatments that are:
a. Removed to reduce hazardous fuels
b. To reduce or contain a disease or insect infestation
c. To restore ecosystem health (My assumption is that this would cover the biomass harvesting activity in N.H. and be certified by a stewardship plan)
Sawmill residues seem to be disqualified but chippers producing biomass outside of the woods (satellite chipping operations) do qualify.
Biomass conversion facilities will be required to treat all suppliers equally by paying fair market rates whether biomass is delivered under the BCAP program or not.
Eligible materials that may be used to produce higher-value products do not qualify for matching payments under the final rule. Higher value products are defined as mulch, fiberboard, nursery media, lumber…
BCAP will continue to provide an opportunity for many producers and consumers of biomass. The new provisions also provide an opportunity for professional foresters to increase participation by producing stewardship plans. I would encourage everyone in the forestry community to pay attention to the program. Information sessions will be scheduled when the New Hampshire, Farm Service Agency is ready to implement BCAP.
The best mechanism to monitor BCAP is at the FSA, BCAP website. Easiest way to access it to Google: “FSA, BCAP” or to call the NH FSA office at 603-224-7941.
This photo was taken on Monday October 4th and stands as evidence that the fall foliage season is rapidly coming to a close. As I write it is raining again and the wind is felling leaves in groves. This and shortening daylight make winter feel close at hand. The leaf peepers got short-changed this fall. Oh well, fall is nice even without vibrant leaf color. No bugs and good sleeping weather.
Unlike Mt Moosilauke, Smarts Mt does not draw the masses even at the beginning of fall foliage season. The climb up the west ridge is about 3 miles along the AT. Ernie and I had a great day and enjoyed the relative solitude of the hike.
For this view of Franconia Ridge from the lee of the summit of Mt Moosilauke last weekend, I managed to time the snapshot during a gap in the steady stream of hikers coming up from the Ravine Lodge, eastern approach. Ascending the Glenn Cliff Trail, western approach, I encountered only 3 groups of climbers but when I reached the saddle between north and south peak, it was full of large groups of teenagers with a few families mixed in. I should be glad to see so many outdoors enjoying the great weather and classic scenery, but I have to admit I found myself wishing I had started earlier to avoid the masses. There was a bee swarm of about 35 people milling around the summit.
It’s early Sat morning and Ernie Bear and I are about to check out the just-passed-full moon. EB to eat after that but I have already been nourished by a slice of a new loaf of good homemade bread. Logs for raised bed garden to be delivered this morning, then we head for Mt Moosilauke for a hike. Summit pictures and foliage report to come.
Vermont tourists spend $375 million a year on visits in the fall season, Sept-Nov. Leaf peeping is a major event every fall in New England. I learned in an article in the Valley News (Lebanon, NH) today that volunteers, government forestry department employees, observe the progress of fall foliage and report to offices of tourism, who, in turn, pass this info along to tourists.
Will this be a vibrant year? What makes one year better than another remains a scientific mystery, although theories abound. Dry summer – muted color? I’m guessing that recent rains will perk up the reds, oranges and yellows and that the wind will decide when the leaves will fall.
Compare above photo of my marker tree with Sept 20 posting photo. The march is on.
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