Nippletop Loop via H.G. Leach Trail(edit)

Trailhead Elev: 1339' Dial- 4020' #7 Nippletop- 4620' #8 Avg Elev Gain/mi.- 280' Max Elev Gain/mi.-1,000' Weather: Partly sunny to cloudy. Warm and humid. Light winds on summits, very light drizzle at times. Light intermittent drizzle 1st night. Lows in the mid 50s. Day 1- 9 mi. 4 hrs to the top of Dial, 6 hrs to the summit of Nippletop - Moderate ascents interspersed with a few steeper sections. The ascents into and out of the saddles made for a tough first day. Trail pretty dry up to Bear Den/Dial saddle. Water available along the E branch of the Ausable along Lake Rd. - Beautiful forest scenery, great views of Dix and the Great Range from Bear Den & Dial. Nippletop summit view of the Great Range was spectacular. - Lat mile of trail up to Nippletop was very muddy. Descent to campsite in Elk Pass was heinous. Steep and wet. - Two viable campsites in Elk Pass. Ground was saturated. Mud galore. Elk Pond water quality was pretty good. Camp at site nearest trail. Day 2- 5 mi. - Easy descent back down to Lake Rd. from Elk Pass. Partly sunny to cloudy. Gorgeous scenery through foggy, fairy tale forests of Spruce and Fir. Gil brook was a BEAUTY! Some of the best, post card perfect pools at the base of several cascades. Too bad the AMR prohibits swimming :( All of these can be found along the trail within half a mile of Artist's Falls. Wildlife: White Tailed Deer, Brook Trout, Black Capped Chickadee.

Done with Nathan Briselden