MITOC trip to Mt. Kinsman, May 23rd 2004

People in front of Lonesome Lake

It was still raining lightly when we got to Lonesome Lake. We stopped in at the shelter that's a short ways from here to eat lunch #1.
Mostly hidden mountain

When we arrived at North Kinsman, we were fogged in. It was quite exciting when the clouds suddenly started to clear, and several times during lunch #2 they closed over again before I could even get my camera out.

I was tired, and didn't want to go on to South Kinsman, so I waited at the North Kinsman lookout with the agreement that if I got cold or bored, I would head down as far as the Kinsman Pond shelter.
Partly cleared view

The weather got even nicer while I waited. After I'd sat still for a while a couple of junkos came out to pick up the crumbs of people's lunches (landing almost within reach, but I didn't want to scare them by moving for the camera). The little bird that was making sorties after flying insects turned out to be a yellow-rumped warbler, when I finally got a good look at it.
unknown toothed leaf

When the fog blew in again, I decided I wanted to move off down the path to stay warm. Other than the tiny wood sorrels, this was the highest deciduous plant. I don't know what it is. The rest of the group caught up with me while I was fiddling with my camera.

Anyone know what it is?

[Edit: according to Bill Hale, this is Ribes lacustre. Thank you!]

[Edit: in a later trip, on Mt. Lafayette, I found a similar plant, in flower, and identified it at Ribes glandulosum.]
Painted Trillium Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum) is common here.
Hobblebush Viburnum

Low down near the trailhead there's a lot of Hobblebush Viburnum (Viburnum alnifolium) which is in full bloom. Apparently the showy outer flowers are sterile.