Jan 27 Albright Grove

 

Another WWW hike being led by David Morris and Charles Maynard. We are bused to the trailhead for the Maddron Bald Trail. It is another cold morning. The uphill climb is welcomed to get us warmed up. First stop is the Willis Baxter cabin about a mile from the trailhead. 

The cabin is made from Chestnut, possible from one tree. No windows made this a dark place to live. 

A nurse stump helped this Yellow Birch get started

As we entered the Albright Grove, we are stopped by this large Hemlock. We could have slipped underneath like the two park employees just in front of us did. However, the decision to just go out and back on part of the loop was made. David and Charles are very familiar with this area since they had adopted this trail for several years back in the 1990s. 

The snow made the hiking on the Albright grove loop a bit slick. The grove is named for Horace Albright, the second director of the National Park Service after Steven Mather. Albright was also park superintendent of Yellowstone for 8 years. 

Silver Maple with a hollow bottom

Silverbell with an odd base.

Big Tuliptree

Most of the big Hemlocks in the grove starting succumbing to the Hemlock adelgid about 30 years ago. Once the dense canopy was gone, many young trees have taken root and even some of the giants have sprouted new growth now that they are in an open canopy. Many of the large trees here have had their tops blown out.

We climbed to the highest point in the grove for a lunch break. Footing was far from ideal. 

This is the top of the big Hemlock which is pictured earlier. It is a fresh fall and we were the first to encounter it. 

The bridge over Indian Camp Creek is one of the longest in the park.

I can recall having to climb over this Hemlock back when it was a fresh fall. 

Our hike was a bit over 7 miles. The return walk downhill was a very pleasant one. There are several homesites and we saw many stonewalls, a couple spring boxes and the handiwork of the Civilian Conservation Corp which build the trail in the 1930s. Their camp was near the trailhead in a flat area. The trail is still used by park vehicles for the first mile and a half. Park employees must get permission to open gates and drive in.