VIDEO: Mt. Isolation in the White Mountains: Hot summer hiking

**Rhody Seth** · 08-04-2022, 07:16

This past weekend I enjoyed an overnight trip up Mt. Isolation, one of the 4000 footers in the White Mountains. Arrived at the trailhead later in the day, beginning my hike around 4 PM. After hiking in four miles, I set up camp, deloaded a bit and continued on to the summit of Mt. Isolation. I ended up cutting it close in terms of making it for sunset but I wound up making it in time. But I foolishly left my cook kit at camp meaning that I couldn't make dinner until I returned - and I was starting to realize that I wasn't going to be getting back until 9:30-10:00 PM or so.

Thankfully a lady at the summit let me use her stove and I was able to enjoy my dinner while watching the spectacular sunset behind the Southern Presidentials. Then it was the quiet hike back down to my hammock in the dark. I found hiking at night to be enjoyable in its own way but I was pretty tired and gladly flopped into my hammock at the late hour of 10:30 PM.

I slept well and amazingly didn't get up a single time to pee. I was very hot in the hammock at first but temps cooled into the 50s as the night wore on and a few strong wind gusts rocked the tarp, forcing me to add layers. Overall a great night of sleep though. A quick morning coffee and then I packed up and headed down as I had another full day of hiking planned.

**xMagnolia** · 08-04-2022, 09:46

What a beautiful sunset! Thanks for sharing your trip.
It's always nice to be reminded that Humanity can be kind-very nice of your summit buddy to share.

Charlotte

**psyculman** · 08-05-2022, 04:41

Thank you, nice video, as always. I was on the side of Madison for a few nights, including your trip. Best warm weather of the year. I have never seen it so dry, and toads everywhere.

**Rhody Seth** · 08-06-2022, 11:18

Originally Posted by xMagnolia

What a beautiful sunset! Thanks for sharing your trip.
It's always nice to be reminded that Humanity can be kind-very nice of your summit buddy to share.

Thanks much! Yes glad for that help from the kind woman at the summit or I'd have been eating dinner late!

Originally Posted by psyculman

Thank you, nice video, as always. I was on the side of Madison for a few nights, including your trip. Best warm weather of the year. I have never seen it so dry, and toads everywhere.

Yeah, just great weather. Were you still on Madison on Saturday? Looked like it got sporty up there. I did the Wildcats on Saturday and had considered including Madison but the weather (and my tired body) decided otherwise.

**cmoulder** · 08-06-2022, 13:53

Another good 'un, Rhody Seth!

So jealous of your flowing water! Man, you sure had a lot of toads up there.

**psyculman** · 08-06-2022, 16:59

Originally Posted by Rhody Seth

Thanks much! Yes glad for that help from the kind woman at the summit or I'd have been eating dinner late!

Yeah, just great weather. Were you still on Madison on Saturday? Looked like it got sporty up there. I did the Wildcats on Saturday and had considered including Madison but the weather (and my tired body) decided otherwise.

I was, but well below tree line, although it was chilly, with cloud cover all day, no threatening conditions.

**Rhody Seth** · 08-07-2022, 06:51

Originally Posted by cmoulder

So jealous of your flowing water! Man, you sure had a lot of toads up there.

Yeah it was definitely nice to get up to the mountains where there's at least some running water - Rhode Island is pretty bad right now as far as drought conditions go.

It always seems like the Whites are toad city.

**Rhody Seth** · 08-08-2022, 10:51

After I hiked down from Mt. Isolation I made the short drive to Pinkham Notch to hike up the Wildcats. Made a loop that encompassed the Wildcat Ridge Trail and a bit of the Great Gulf Wilderness. Humid and hot but there was a mighty wind to cool me off!

**Shug** · 08-11-2022, 20:15

Mushrooms are so artful! A joy to gander at. Is that beard a good neck insulator? Nice wee quickie out. "One more toad for the road" That was a J. Geils song right? Haaaaa
Whoooooo Buddy)))))
Shug