Mount Hale 6-21-14

Mount Hale, is actually a bit of a ride for me, left the cape at 7am arriving at the beginning of the trail around 11, granted, I had several stops on the way to, almost a three and a half hour drive. Hale is right down the street from Brentton woods, so i kinda get easy directions, even if the GPS lied to me and got me lost once...or twice.
   Let us begin my friends...Hale Brook Trail, starts actually very mild, slow even. But it has alot of mini brooks running through it. The entire surrounding area is green, you feel like you are in a lush area. Lots of falling trees and brooks, most of the brooks have nothing to cross then, you are rock jumping or finding a falling tree. Which to me is fine, nothing like a natural trail. If i recall correctly there was only one or maybe two sets of wooden steps, for the first two miles.

Not a bad walk on a saturday.

What I did enjoy about this trail alot, no rooted trails, as most of my hiking friends will say, I trip on roots or rock, wet roots, wet rocks, makes Doot fall on his face. Sand, gravel, pretty much all the way up to the top. There are some rock switch backs here and there, this used to be an old donkey trail according to locals. Lots and lots of stuff to look at, falling trees, flowers, and brooks.

This it basically the make up of the entire trail.

The last 500ft, I will not lie, even last half mile, Brutal on those with bad knees like myself, the incline. Ouch, I have hiked much longer trails, but this was the first time I can honestly say I felt my knees shaking. It's very level until you reach this point then its direct up, no if's ands or buts. The person I had ran into was walking with, was in his 60's said, he has done all of the 48 this was his favorite just for this reason. "The last 500ft feet will feel like the longest thing you have ever done" He says to me.

Looking down on the trail.

When you finally get to the summit, there isn't a marker, just a set of stones in a wide opening. Under the hot sun, I laid down, to bask in its warmth. One of my favorite things to do on a peak. Just sit there in quiet and see how close I am to the sky. Over look the world below and let balance come back. I guess everything settles itself out at that point.  And then I head back to the world..

Hale Peak Summit.

Overhead..life is good.