I've been busy the past several days, but last Monday, I took a hike up Saddleback Mt with a friend. I love the alpine environments of the Northeast. At 4120' it's the 14th highest in Maine and with The Horn, (a summit attached to Saddleback), 4041' and the 21 highest . And that also means it around treeline. The Appalachian Trail runs along the summit ridge, views are great and the weather isn't always the best. We hit it on terms, calm winds, temps in the 70's.
Scattered patches of krummholz are about on the top, like this clump of balsam fir(Abies balsamea) and labrador tea(Ledum groenlandicum).
Mountain Sandwort (Arenaria groenlandica) was very abundant. It thrives in disturbed areas, especially in places disturb by frost. The trail was fringed with it.
I love the bonsai qualities of the krummholz.
6 comments:
Beautiful pics.
Hi Kirk-
I recently found your blog. I've spent a great deal of time in Maine, but mostly down in the Oxford Hills. Looking forward to your future posts!
Tom
Thanks Dave.
Hi Tom, thanks for stopping by,Maine is a great place, always full of wonder and currently,bugs.
Awe inspiring..you really captured these scenes perfectly!
Lynn
Beautiful photos. It's been years since I thought about krummholz. I was introduced to the term by my high school biology teacher on a field trip to Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire.
Thanks Doug. Krummholz! So very appropriate a name for a tree form.
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