Though I'd been in the High Peaks a couple weeks earlier, this would be my first attempt hiking one of the peaks.
On the hike up and down Cascade and Porter I was very conscious how vulnerable I was to re-injury. Each step with the left was carefully planned to avoid the possibility of slipping off a rock and onto my still healing foot's side. My foot felt fine and I didn't have any problems, but I was easily the slowest person on the mountain. Everybody passed me both going up and down.
As with most of the trails, there were constant rocks and roots to work your way over or around.
Occasionally when I would have the opportunity to take my eyes away from planning my next footstep there would always be something interesting to see. Some day, I would like to simply spend time on the mid to upper levels of the mountains with my macro lens and no goal other than exploring.
White Admiral Butterfly
Indian Pipe Flower gets its nourishment from a parasitic relationship with fungi associated with tree roots.
This is the way to travel uphill!
At the bottom of the mountain there was a sign asking hikers to carry small rocks to the top. These would be used to mark the trail boundaries so the fragile alpine life of the summit can be protected.
We are always conscious of the need to remain on rocks where our impact is negligible.
Crustose Lichen
With good treads and in shape, some make this all look easy.
Me!
Looking east. Giant which I climbed 2 weeks later is on the left.
A summer camp group making their way up just as I was leaving.
This is from a rock ledge just off the trail on Porter looking south.
From the summit of Porter, Cascade is only a short distance away. (Viewed at 70mm) Originally I had planned on flying into Marcy Field in Keene Valley to hike Porter. But I was looking for an easy climb and chose Cascade. Since it was right there I decided to do Porter as well.
