Mount Isolation

Overview:

Amy, Leela, and I climbed Mount Isolation (4004') starting from Route 16 via the Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, and Davis Path (retracing our steps to get back):

• TIME: 10 hours, 50 minutes (with breaks)
• DISTANCE: 14.6 miles (round trip)
• ELEVATION GAIN: 3,400 feet
• DATE: 6/5/2011

Here are the elevation profiles:

Rocky Branch Trail from 16 to Isolation Trail intersection

Isolation Trail and Davis path to Mt Isolation Summit (from Rocky  Branch Trail)

Here's an interactive Google Map I made of the trails we used.  Routes and distances are approximate (I did them freehand while looking at a topo map).  Note that all 3 trails used continue after the intersections; I just didn't bother to show this.  The map is fun to view in Earth mode (will require plugin).


View Mt Isolation in a larger map

Trail Conditions:
The trail was very wet, especially near the end of the Rocky Branch segement, and the several brook/river crossings seemed difficult at times.  Black flies were horrendous almost the entire time, especially at the summit.  There were a lot of downed trees in a few spots on the Isolation Trail, many of which were cleared, but on a few occasions we had to make our way over limbs 3 feet off the ground.  A lot of moose droppings and tracks in a few spots along the way, but not sightings for us unfortunately.

Writeup: 
This hike is long.  That is the main thing I will always remember about Mt. Isolation.  The hiking itself was never too difficult, but the distance took a major toll on our bodies (even Leela's; she was laying down repeatedly in our last hour, trying to get some rest).  I had knee pain for the first time on a hike, and Amy made good use of the poles to relieve some of her knee pain.

After a good push in the beginning, the trail is basically a slow gentle ascent with occasional descents.  At times the trail was a little bit confusing, but not so bad that we got lost.  The only time we had trouble finding our way was the location of the steep trail up to the summit off of the Davis path, which is not really marked and to my weary eyes seemed like a dry falls for a brook.  I continued down the Davis Path for about 10 minutes before deciding to try climbing up. There is a sign right next to this trail, I later realized, which does not mention Mt. Isolation.

OK on with the show.

Trailhead at 7:15am

This is one of the first major crossings.  You can see this one wasn't too difficult.

Not really that close to being done like it might seem from the trees and rockiness.

Trail was very wet at times!

Scrambling through the downed trees.

View from the top was great, but TOO MANY BLACK FLIES! We abandoned our summit lunch plans and hiked back down where the bugs weren't as bad.  Washington is the peak in the middle.

Another view, I think to the East.

Better view of Washington.  Not much snow left at all in the range.

Still had about 7 miles to go!

Leela was not that tired yet at this point.  

In case it's of any use to anyone, this is the sign along the Davis Path that is opposite the climb to the summit of Isolation.

Here's what the trail to Isolation's summit looked like.  Woof.

Final Thoughts
All in all, I hope I never have to do this hike in one day again.  I learned a valuable lesson about always bringing a map (and possibly the AMC White Mountain Guide as well, for the trail descriptions) and about planning to camp on the longer hikes.  I am about as sore as one can get today (the day after the hike), and don't think we'll be headed up a 4k for at least two weeks to give us time to recover. Leela doesn't even want to go for long walks; instead she walks... very... slowly.  I almost want to pick her up.