Coming Down Mansell Mtn.

Left the house not sure where I wanted to go, and found myself on the Long Pond fire road heading up the Western Mountain trail. The first part is not well traveled. The park guide book I like to refer to includes the description "upper section mostly featureless with tread of roots and exposed rocks," which I guess would keep people from going out of their way to see it. Personally it's starting to grow on me and I think I want to come back in the winter and hike it up to Great Notch. The problem with this trail is there's no good way to make a loop out of it, so I ended up going on a longer hike than planned.  Since I made the mistake of waiting until ten in the morning to head out, I ran into all sorts of people once I started up Mansell. Coming down the Perpendicular Trail I had to wait a bit to let various groups go by so I could get a photo of this distinctive tree hanging over the path. It's been a long time since I came down this trail (usually I hike up it) and sometimes coming down a steep descent when your legs are tired is harder on the knees than going up. At least that was the case today. Crossed over that footbridge I like on the way back but didn't stop to appreciate it this time. Right at the end of the hike I did come across a guy who asked me if it was my Tesla parked at the trailhead. Ha! I had to disappoint him and confess my car was the old Subaru with the frayed duct tape all over the roof rack. It got me home though.