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Bethlehem, New Hampshire, United States
E-mail contact: randonneur8@yahoo.com | Facebook: facebook.com/1HappyHikerNH

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28 July 2013

A Trek to Mt. Pisgah (Vermont) via the North Trail

Most of my hiking is done within the State of New Hampshire where I live. However, there are many hiking opportunities in Vermont that are within an hour's drive from my home in Bethlehem.   On a Saturday in late July 2013, my friend Marty and I decided to drive over to Vermont and hike in the Mt. Pisgah/Lake Willoughby area which is located along Rt. 5A near Westmore, VT.  This area lies within a region known as the Northeast Kingdom.

Lake Willoughby is a glacial lake reaching a depth of over 300 ft. in places.  Because of how it is dramatically situated between the steep cliffs of Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor, it has a close resemblance to a Norwegian fjord.

There is an interesting bit of history associated with Lake Willoughby relating to the French & Indian War (1754-1763).  In 1759, Robert Rogers led his Rangers on a successful raid of the Abenaki Indian settlement of St. Francis in Quebec, Canada.  This raid was in retaliation for the Abenaki attack on a retreating British unit while under a flag of truce.  After the raid, Rogers and his men were pursued through northern Vermont by French and Indian forces as they made their way back to base.  As part of their escape route, the men hugged the rough and rocky eastern shoreline of Lake Willoughby.

As you are approaching the Lake Willoughby area while driving north on Route 5A, there is a surrealistic image of Mt. Hor and Mt. Pisgah that suddenly comes into view (see photo below). 
Mt. Hor (on left) and Mt. Pisgah (on right) as viewed from Route 5A
Mt. Pisgah would, in some ways, be a new destination for both Marty and me.  This would be Marty's first time ever to ascend this mountain, and it would be my first ascent via the North Trail.  My other two treks to Mt. Pisgah have been via the South Trail.  For both trails the elevation gain is identical, i.e. 1,375 ft.  However, the hiking distances are slightly different.  The one-way distance for the North Trail is 2.2 miles, versus 1.7 miles for the South Trail.
Map showing trails and major overlooks for the Mt. Pisgah hike
The three major outlooks from Mt. Pisgah are located on the north side of the summit (see map shown above).  You need to appreciate that all of these viewpoints involve venturing out onto small ledges on the edge of the Willoughby Cliffs.  The photo shown below doesn't do complete justice to the rather precarious drop-offs at each of these outlooks.
Downward view from one of Mt. Pisgah's outlooks on the Willoughby Cliffs
The next photo might serve to give some idea of the rather small size of these outlooks.  This hiker is perched on an outlook peering down at me where I was standing on a lower outlook.
Hiker perched on one of the small outlooks on the Willoughby Cliffs
Although the drop-offs at these outlooks might prove a bit unsettling to some, they do provide dramatic vistas.  The photos presented below provide a couple of examples of the awesome views.
Northwesterly vista (massive cliffs on Mt. Wheeler on left side of photo)
Slightly zoomed photo providing a closer view of Mt. Wheeler
Just as a side note, the trek to Mt. Wheeler is another Vermont adventure that is definitely worth considering (click HERE for my Blog report about that hike).

Looking nearly due north from the outlooks on Mt. Pisgah you can see Lake Memphremagog.  About 75% of this lake is in Canada (Quebec), with the remaining portion in the Vermont towns of Derby and Newport.  Along the western shore of Lake Memphremagog are several prominent mountains, such as Owl's Head, Elephantis, and the Sugar Loaf.

The next photo shows the Lake Memphremagog vista.  It's a rather poor quality image.  But please bear in mind that it's a highly zoomed photo of  landscape features that are nearly 25 miles away! 
Zoomed photo of Lake Memphremagog located 25 miles north
After enjoying the views from the three overlooks atop the Willoughby Cliffs, Marty and I continued onward to the top of Mt. Pisgah to experience the views from ledges located just a couple hundred feet from the true summit.

These ledges provide a broad view looking down the West Branch of the Pamsumpsic River Valley.  Burke Mountain dominates the landscape and is easily recognizable by its ski slopes.  On the distant horizon, about 50 miles away, you can see the White Mountains of New Hampshire, including high peaks in the Presidential Range, Franconia Range, and other ranges as well.

Shown below is just an example of one of the vistas from the ledges near the summit of Mt. Pisgah.
Burke Mtn (foreground); peaks in Franconia Range and the Kinsmans (distant horizon)
The next photo probably will have little significance unless you've visited the abandoned U.S. Airbase on East Mountain, VT.  From the summit ledges on Mt. Pisgah, I could faintly see one of the many buildings that are still standing at the abandoned airbase.

The top panel of this composite photo shows what could be seen through my binoculars when looking at this mountaintop which is located about 15 miles to the southeast.  The bottom two panels show images of some of the structures atop East Mountain that can be seen when visiting the site.  (If you're interested in reading more about this abandoned airbase, then click HERE for a Blog that I wrote after hiking to this rather unusual place.)
Composite photo showing structures on abandoned U.S. Airbase atop East Mountain, VT
And so, the narrative presented above provides a summary of our trek to various viewpoints atop Mt. Pisgah.  After we arrived back at the trailhead, we decided to do a short 0.2 mile "hike-ette" to the south end of Lake Willoughby.  From the south end of the lake, there is a rather stunning view looking northward (see next photo). 
Looking northward from Lake Willoughby's south shore
From this vantage point, Marty and I could get a good look at the Willoughby Cliffs where we had literally "hung out" earlier in the day!
Willoughby Cliffs on Mt. Pisgah's west side
On the far left side of the above photo, you will notice that there is a seagull who apparently flew in to spend the day admiring the vistas at Lake Willoughby! The next photo shows a close up image of that touristy seagull.
Seagull "tourist" enjoying the day at Lake Willoughby
To sum it up, in addition to the area around Lake Willoughby, there are numerous other excellent hiking opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.  Many of these hikes are described in a book published by The NorthWoods Stewardship Center (in partnership with the Green Mountain Club of VT) which is entitled "Northeast Kingdom Mountain Trail Guide" by Luke O'Brien.

26 July 2013

Deteriorating Condition of the Abandoned Trail to Mt. Bemis

Over the years, I've hiked many times to the former fire tower site on Mt. Bemis.  Each time I've done this trek, the abandoned Fire Warden's trail has pretty much been in the same condition.  It isn't a maintained trail, and so there have always been downed trees to step over, and crawl under.  And, the old trail has generally been easy to follow, despite a few short segments where the trail is so overgrown that it's difficult to locate the pathway since you can barely even see your own feet!

However, although it's only been a year since I've hiked this trail, things were different this time.  Mother Nature has been unkind to this corridor.  There are many new places along the trail where huge trees have recently been toppled.  You need to employ your skills as a gymnast and contortionist in order to navigate over, under and around some of these newly downed trees.

This trail provides access to some viewing perspectives that are unique.  And so, it's sad to see it fall into such a state of disrepair.  And it's unfortunate that no one can do anything about it, even on a volunteer basis.  There is signage near the beginning of the trail which warns against doing any maintenance (see photo below).
USFS Sign posted near beginning of abandoned trail to fire tower on Mt. Bemis
For any reader who might be unfamiliar with the location of this trail,it can be seen on the 1950 USGS Crawford Notch quadrangle map.  The trail to the Bemis fire tower is highlighted in green. The Nancy Pond Trail is highlighted in yellow.
1950 USGS Crawford Notch quadrangle map
You'll note that the above map doesn't show the Nancy Pond Trail continuing onward to Nancy and Norcross Ponds. The 1938 hurricane knocked down thousands of trees in the Nancy Brook valley, and as a result the Nancy Pond Trail (which had just been opened) was closed, and it wasn't reopened until 1960!

To access this abandoned trail, you begin at the trailhead for the Nancy Pond Trail.   At about 1.6 miles where the Nancy Pond trail makes the first major crossing of Nancy Brook, the old Fire Warden's trail diverges sharply to the right.

The first major view from the old trail is from a small opening along the ridgeline which provides a nice view looking northward up the Crawford Notch, as seen in the next photo.  In the center is Mt. Willard, and the Willey Range is on the left, and Mt. Webster is on the right side.
Crawford Notch as viewed from trail to Mt. Bemis
As you travel further up the trail, you come to a spot at around 3,150 ft elevation where there is a beautiful wide-open meadow filled with low-growing shrubs.  The vistas from here are as good as you would experience from a ledge.  In my opinion, the views from this meadow would make a worthy destination unto itself.

From this meadow, there are vistas to the north, east and south.  Shown in the next photo is just one snippet of the overall view.  This particular vista is looking southward.  Attitash is on the left.  And on the right side of the photo are peaks such as Bartlett Haystack, Mt. Tremont, plus Bear Mountain and Mt. Chocorua can also be seen.
View from a mountain meadow en route to Mt. Bemis
At about 3.7 miles from the trailhead on US 302, you will arrive at the site of the old fire tower.  The tower was actually located on sort of a sub-peak of Mt. Bemis.  The true summit is about 400 ft to the west, and it can be seen off to your left as you approach the fire tower site.  It's a bushwhack to get there, and on this particular trip, I didn't include it in my itinerary.  Been there, done that!

Regarding the Bemis Fire Tower, it was a wooden structure which was 29 feet tall, and was in operation between about 1940 to 1948.  The next photo shows what the tower looked like when it was still standing.
Bemis Fire Tower when still standing
Once the tower no longer served a purpose, it was purposely demolished. Shown in the next photo is a compilation of just a few of the fire tower's "body parts" that are strewn here and there where it once proudly stood.
Fire tower "body parts" strewn at the site where it once proudly stood
There's a faint pathway that leads to a viewpoint at the northeast corner of the fire tower site. It would be nice if this was a spot where you could sit and enjoy the vistas.  But I'm sorry to say, it is small, cramped and is a "stand-up" only view.

From this small outlook, there is a fairly encompassing view of the vast Presidential Range Dry River Wilderness.  You can look directly up the Sleeper Brook Valley toward Stairs Mountain and Mt. Resolution.  And you can look up the Dry River Valley toward the Presidential Range.  Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, most of the peaks in the Presidential Range were obscured by clouds.

The next photo shows the sweeping view from the small outlook at the northeast corner of the old fire tower site.
View from small outlook at the northeast corner of the old fire tower site
Although the view of the Presidential Range was obscured by clouds, the view of Stairs Mountain  and Mt. Resolution was clear.  However, clouds were casting shadows which somewhat tarnished the overall scene (see next photo which is a slightly zoomed).
Stairs Mountain and Mt. Resolution as viewed from outlook on Mt. Bemis
To Sum it up, it was a bit sad to see that the condition of the abandoned trail to Mt. Bemis has significantly worsened over the past year.  Since a corridor is already in place, and since it leads to some excellent mountain vistas, it seems like such a waste to just let this trail die a slow death.

25 July 2013

A Loop Hike Using Zealand Trail and Abandoned Snowmobile Trail

Several years ago while doing some XC-skiing in the vicinity of the Zealand Trail, I spotted some fresh ski tracks that headed off the east side of the Zealand Road at a point near where the road ends and the Zealand Trail begins.  I decided to follow these tracks to see where they led me.

After crossing the Zealand River on a snow bridge, these tracks led me southward along the east side of the river, thus paralleling the Zealand Trail on the west side of the river. Although the ski tracks continued onward, I stopped after about 20 minutes of following these tracks.  It was nearing the end of the day, and darkness arrives early in mid January!

I had all but forgotten about this experience until Chris Whiton posted something on Facebook which brought this to the forefront of my memory.  The trail that I was following on that winter day was not a XC-ski trail, as I had presumed it to be at that time.  Instead, it's the abandoned snowmobile trail that runs on the east side of the river.  And according to Chris's Facebook posting, this corridor is still in relatively good shape, and could be used to make a nice loop hike by going up one side of the Zealand River and down the other.

Well, with such intriguing information as this, naturally I simply had to go out and do some exploring!  Just as Chris had reported, this old snowmobile trail is indeed in relatively good condition.  And yes indeed, using this trail in conjunction with the Zealand Trail does make for a great loop hike!  It does involve crossing the Zealand River twice, but at times of low water, it can easily be done by judicious rock-hopping.

Besides being a pleasant 3-mile loop hike, this trek also takes you by a waterfall that is located near the trailhead for the Zealand Trail.  As I learned from a Blog posting by Steve Smith, this is probably the "original" Zealand Falls since it seems to fit the description given in AMC's White Mountain Guide through the 1922 edition.   Of course, in current times, the cascades known as Zealand Falls are about 2.5 miles further south, adjacent to the Zealand Falls Hut.

The "original" Zealand Falls are shown in the next photo which was taken while I was hiking along the old snowmobile trail on the east side of the river.  In one of Steve Smith's blog reports (click HERE), there is a better image of these falls taken from a different angle.
The "original" Zealand Falls (located near the trailhead for the Zealand Trail)
In addition to the "original" Zealand Falls, there are also some very nice cascades at the point where the old snowmobile crosses Mt. Field Brook on a wooden bridge that is still intact. The next 3 photos show some of the many cascades at that location.  (To see some much better images of these cascades, as taken by a real waterfall photographer, visit Chris Whiton's Facebook page!)
Scene from along Mt. Field Brook
Another scene from along Mt. Field Brook
 
And yet another scene from along Mt. Field Brook
The 3 images shown above were taken as I made my way westward along the bank of Mt. Field Brook en route to the Zealand River where I would "rock-hop" my way across to the other side to pick up the Zealand Trail and follow it northward back to my parked car.

Okay, once I arrived back at my car, I still had some time to spare, and so I opted to do some more exploring.  At the outset of the hike, I noticed a well-worn pathway on the west side of the Zealand River.  This path was near the point where I had crossed to the east side of the river earlier in the day in order to pick up the old snowmobile trail.

I followed this pathway for maybe a tenth of a mile and then spotted a short side path that led directly to the river.  The water crossing here was another easy "rock-hop", and so I made the crossing.  On the other side there was a very faint corridor which I followed for a short distance southward.  Much to my surprise I stumbled upon a section of railroad track, as seen in the next photo.
Section of railroad track found on east side of Zealand River
It's probably fair to say that this section of track was from the old Zealand Valley Railroad (ZVRR) which operated up until about 1897.  Being "Frugal Yankees", rails were usually hauled away and repurposed soon after a railroad ceased operations.   And so, one can only speculate as to why this particular section of rail got left behind.  Although I know where I found the rail in relation to current day maps, it's difficult to determine the precise location on an old map of the ZVRR corridor.

Presented below is a portion of an old map showing the ZVRR corridor.  I've inserted a red arrow which points to my best guess as to where this section of track might have been laid.
Portion of old map showing corridor followed by the old Zealand Valley Railroad
To sum it up, it's odd how things happen.  Chances are good that my XC-ski trek of a few years ago would have forever remained just a faint memory had it not been for a Facebook posting by Chris Whiton.  That posting inspired me and led to a fun and interesting adventure.

23 July 2013

Bushwhacking to Ledges along Ridgeline on North Side of Lafayette Brook

Perhaps to have a true appreciation for a report such as this, one needs to have an admiration for those places in the NH White Mountains that are trivial and lacking in fame!

This bushwhack adventure took me to some ledge outcroppings along a ridgeline that is located just a short distance north of the ravine drained by Lafayette Brook.  One prominent ledge along this ridge can be seen from the old Rt. 3 bridge at Gallen Circle.  I've always referred to this ledge as the Indian Warrior.  But I think the name of Sleeping Chief (as dubbed by my friend Chris Whiton) is the name that has stuck and most frequently used.

A red arrow is pointing to the Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge in the photo shown below.
Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge (as viewed from old Rt. 3 bridge)
Perhaps the highly-zoomed photo shown below will provide a better idea as to the "Indian-like" features of this ledge.
Highly-Zoomed photo of Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge
This was hardly a unique adventure!  I know of at least two others who have done bushwhacking forays along this ridgeline.  Steve Smith has been there on numerous occasions (click HERE to read one of his reports).  And I'm aware of at least one visit made by Chris Whiton to these ledges (click HERE to read his report).

Along the ridgeline there are slippery, moss-covered boulders with large gaps between them.  It makes for some tedious travel to avoid twisting an ankle (or worse).  So, rather than stay on the ridgeline for the entire trek, I just made selective forays onto it, so as to catch the views from a few ledges like Sleeping Chief/Indian Warrior.

Most of my trekking was done in the woods at the base of the ridgeline on its north side where there are some beautiful glades of birch and fern.   According to Steve Smith, "The birches are the legacy of a forest fire in 1903".
Beautiful glades of birch and fern seen while trekking to ledges
And speaking of flora, on the sunny ledges I saw wild blueberries in various stages of ripening.

And then, on the dark understory of the forest, I spotted several outcroppings of the delicate Indian Pipe.  Quite an appropriate discovery in light of the various Indian-like names bestowed upon one of the prominent ledges along the ridgeline!  Although the Indian Pipe resembles a mushroom, it's actually a plant that lacks chlorophyll.  Rather than generating energy from the sun, it gets its nutrients via a parasitic relationship with trees (click HERE to read more about this plant).
Blueberries on the sunny ledges; Indian Pipe on dark understory of the forest
There are several unique vistas from the ledges along the ridgeline.  Perhaps the most unique view is looking at the backside (east side) of Eagle Pass. The west side of Eagle Pass is what is most commonly seen as folks travel through the Franconia Notch along the I-93 corridor.
Backside of Eagle pass as viewed from Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge
Zoomed view of the backside of Eagle Pass
Looking through my binoculars, I could see Artist's Bluff and Bald Mountain.  These two little mountains provide short hikes which tourists and many locals (including myself) enjoy doing.
Zoomed view of Artist's Bluff and Bald Mountain
Also looking through my binoculars I could see the old Rt. 3 bridge that I'd walked across while en route to launch my bushwhack to the ledges.
Old Rt. 3 bridge as viewed from Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge
As I made my descent back to my starting point, I made one last foray onto the ridgeline to access a small ledge.  From here, I could look back at the spot where I'd lounged for about a half an hour on the Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge (lower left corner of next photo).
Looking back at Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief from another ledge along the ridgeline
Just as a side note, it was a bit of a challenge to locate this ledge since it was akin to locating a small island of rock in the middle of the forest.  Or, one could say like finding a needle in a haystack!  Perhaps the next photo will provide some idea as to its size.
The "small ledge", plus Cannon Mountain ski slopes peeking over Eagle Cliff ridge
As the crow flies, the Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief ledge is only about a mile from the busy I-93 corridor.  Other outcroppings along the ridgeline are even closer.  But despite this, there is a feeling of remoteness, as though you'd hiked several miles into the wilderness.  However, when you catch glimpses of I-93 from the ridgeline, you quickly realize that civilization is lurking nearby.
Portion of the I-93 corridor viewed from Indian Warrior/Sleeping Chief Ledge
To sum it up, I found this short adventure (less than 3 hours of actual hiking time) to be an enjoyable experience.  It was a trek that I've been meaning to do for several years but have just never gotten around to doing it.

13 July 2013

Seeing 'The Captain', and Flirting with Hancock Notch Trail

While trying to come up with a plan for my next outdoor adventure, I stumbled upon a scenario whereby I could combine a hike, a bushwhack, and a mountain bike ride.  This trip would be a little over 7 miles (round-trip).

About 4 of those 7 round-trip miles would be done by mountain biking on an old logging road.  A little over 2 miles would be spent doing an out-and-back hike on a segment of the Hancock Notch Trail.  Another mile or so would be an out-and-back hike on a portion of a bootleg trail that heads toward a peak with a huge cliff known as "The Captain".  And finally, about 0.2 mile (round-trip) would be spent bushwhacking to a small pond on the south side of the Hancock Notch Trail.

Maybe the map shown below will be helpful in making some sense out of the preceding paragraph. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Map showing my route of travel (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
PART 1: Seeing "The Captain"

When I came to the end of the 2 mile stretch of logging road, I stashed my mountain bike in the woods.  I then continued on foot along a bootleg trail.  I've previously travelled this faint pathway and knew that it would provide a good view of The Captain, plus a nice view of the Sandwich Range.

The huge cliff on the south side of The Captain is such a fascinating place with a beauty that is rugged and awesome.  It’s tucked away at the head of a ravine that is south of Mt. Carrigain and east of the Hancocks.  There are a few vantage points where it can be seen from a distance.  But to get an up close view, the only vantage point known to me is from what I've dubbed as "The Captain's Ravine".   By hiking a segment of the bootleg trail that leads into this ravine, you can get some intimate views of The Captain.

Shown below is a photo taken of The Captain during my 12-July-2013 adventure.
The Captain!
Perhaps it should be noted that Carrigain Pond is located at the base of The Captain's north side, and therefore some refer to this 3,540 ft mountain as Carrigain Pond Peak.  However, most often this place is referred to as The Captain.  And actually, that name has been in use for nearly 150 years.  On page 188 of the first edition of “Forest and Crag” by Laura and Guy Waterman, there is a short passage where it indicates that The Captain was given its name by the Portland White Mountain Club in the mid 1870s.
Excerpt from "Forest and Crag" by Laura and Guy Waterman
From a meadow along the bootleg trail leading to "The Captain's Ravine" there is a pleasant view looking southward toward peaks in the Sandwich Range, including notable peaks such as Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Whiteface, North Tripyramid.
Sandwich Range as viewed from a meadow on the bootleg trail mentioned above
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PART 2: Flirting with the Hancock Notch Trail

Following my love fest with views of The Captain, and of the Sandwich Range, I returned to the spot where I had stashed my mountain bike.  However, the bike would remain there while I headed off on to the next phase of my adventure which was to bushwhack to a pond located less than a tenth of a mile off the Hancock Notch Trail.

One might legitimately ask why I chose to visit a pond which doesn't even have a name!  Well, my primary objective for this portion of my trek was merely to get a feel for the eastern end of the Hancock Notch Trail.  The only portion that I'd previously traveled was en route to the Hancocks when I hiked the heavily-used 1.8 mile segment at the western end of the trail.  And so, the unnamed pond was merely used as an arbitrary destination.  As some might agree, a destination can be whatever you personally want it to be.  For example, it doesn't need to be at the top of a mountain where a trail ends!

You might be curious as to how I reached the Hancock Notch Trail from the spot where my bike was stashed.  Near the end of the old logging road, it crosses the Sawyer River on a bridge and then continues for only a few hundred yards where the road terminates at what I presume was once a log landing site.  From the backside of the log landing there is a faint pathway which is only a few hundred yards in length, and it leads you to the Hancock Notch Trail.

Upon stepping foot on the Hancock Notch Trail, I was immediately favorably impressed!  Since this trail is lightly traveled, the footway is relatively smooth, rather than being choppy with exposed roots and rocks, as is the case with high-traffic trails that have become eroded.

Of course I can only speak about the approximate 1-mile segment of trail that I traveled.  However, it was in great shape, and had just recently been maintained.  There was fresh evidence of brushing and removal of downed trees from the trail.

Shown below are a couple of snapshots taken along the Hancock Notch Trail.
Snapshots taken along Hancock Notch Trail
Okay, that was the good news, the other news (which is really old news) is that portions of the Hancock Notch Trail sustained significant damage in August 2011 when Mother Nature threw a temper tantrum in the form of Tropical Storm Irene.  There are some sections of the trail along the Sawyer River where there is still evidence of washouts and erosion caused by this storm.  The next photo shows an example of the damage.
Example of Tropical Storm Irene damage to trail along the Sawyer River
The next photo is basically the same as the one shown above.  However, it provides a closer view of the area where the Hancock Notch Trail is located.  The pink line and arrow shows the trail's corridor.
Pink line and arrow shows Hancock Notch Trail's corridor (after Irene's damage)
After a trekking for about a half hour, I arrived at a likely spot to leave the Hancock Notch Trail to do the short bushwhack to the unnamed pond, which clearly shows up on Google Earth (see next photo). CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Unnamed Pond as seen on Google Earth image (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
This body of water is probably nothing more than a beaver pond, and it covers only about an acre of ground.  Nonetheless, some of the backcountry ponds of this type have an innate beauty.  And some, like this one, provide a window in the forest for some interesting views of mountain peaks.

The next photo shows my first view of the unnamed pond as I approached it. The yellow-colored specks on the pond are water lilies in bloom.
First view of unnamed pond as I approached it
As I walked around the pond, I could see ridges and peaks in the Hancocks.
Ridges and peaks in the Hancocks as viewed from unnamed pond
The next thing I noticed was Mt. Carrigain off in the distance. In the photo below, it can be seen nearly dead-center on the horizon. 
View of Mt. Carrigain (nearly dead center, on the horizon)
With the aid of binoculars, I could see the viewing platform on Mt. Carrigain's summit, and I could see two people on the platform.  The next photo is a composite.  The left panel shows pretty much what could be seen with binoculars.  The right panel is an enlargement of the viewing platform atop Mt. Carrigain.
Left panel: view with binoculars. Right panel: enlargement of viewing platform
After spending some time at the unnamed pond, I returned to the spot where I had stashed my mountain bike.  I then rode off into the sunset to my parked car and headed for home!

To sum it up, this adventure lasted only about 4 hours.  However, it was truly a fun experience.  Not only did it include a trail and a destination that was new to me, but it also provided a varied experience of hiking, biking, and bushwhacking.  And I can honestly say that it whet my appetite to travel and explore more of the Hancock Notch Trail.

10 July 2013

Mountain Bike Treks: Pond of Safety, and Gorham Hydro Station

As a break from my usual routine of hiking, I recently did a couple of relatively short treks on my mountain bike.

PART 1: Pond of Safety (located in the WMNF near Randolph, NH)

It's interesting to note that the Pond of Safety got its name from an incident that happened during the American Revolutionary War.  Four local men who had joined the Continental Army were captured by the British and were paroled on the condition that they not participate further in the conflict.  But because they feared punishment if they were recaptured by the British, they went to an isolated area (now known as Pond of Safety) in order to remain out of reach until there was no further danger that they might be apprehended.

To access Pond of Safety Road, take Ingerson Road (directly opposite Six Gun City) in Jefferson, NH.  Pond of Safety Road begins at a sharp bend along Ingerson Road.  From this point, you need to travel nearly 4 miles to reach the pond.

Once you arrive at the pond, there's a herd path around a portion of the shoreline.  It was interesting to recently read that the U.S. Forest Service has plans to replace this "user created trail" and to harden the shoreline using riprap.
Herd path around a portion of the shoreline of Pond of Safety
As I arrived at the Pond of Safety, it started to rain.  It wasn't a hard rain, but enough to get you wet!
Rainy conditions at Pond of Safety
Besides riding on your bike, you can also get to the pond by hiking (about 4 miles one-way) via the trail system in the Crescent Range.  Presented below is a map which shows the hiking trails in the Crescent Range.  Also shown is my bike route which is highlighted in yellow.  (Just as a footnote, you can also drive to the pond in a regular passenger car.  The Pond of Safety Road (dirt and gravel) is actually in pretty good shape this year.)
Trails in Crescent Range, as well as my bike route to Pond of Safety (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
The next photo shows a collage of hiking trail signs that are located at the Pond of Safety end of the trail system.
Hiking trail signs that can be seen near the Pond of Safety
I was surprised to find one of those USGS benchmark discs embedded in a boulder along the shoreline of Pond of Safety (next photo).  Although I've seen these many times on mountain summits, I don't recall ever seeing one at a pond.
USGS Benchmark seen along shoreline at Pond of Safety
Seeing this benchmark at this location piqued my interest.  I decided to try to reach the USGS by telephone to see what I could find out.  It was a total shock when I was actually able to reach a live person after the second ring!

The USGS representative told me that benchmarks can be located in a variety of places, including the shoreline of ponds.  He further indicated that benchmark locations are designated by the letters "BM" on USGS maps.  I looked on a 1938 USGS quad map, and sure enough there is a "BM" symbol at Pond of Safety exactly where I stumbled upon it!

On the map shown below, I've circled in red some of the other benchmarks that show up on this quad.  Hmmm! I wonder.  Are there already "benchmark-baggers" out there, or could this be the beginning of a whole new list for hikers to pursue?
Location of Pond of Safety benchmark, plus others in same vicinity (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Now it's time for a bit of humor.  The bike ride was enjoyable, but there were lots of bugs.  Since my repellent wasn't repelling I ended up wearing a head net! I took the "self-timer" photo shown below since I knew my wife would get a laugh out of it.  So, go ahead.  It's okay to poke fun at my dorky outfit! :-)
Me with my dorky outfit to cope with the bugs at Pond of Safety
ADDENDUM:  A few days after preparing this Blog report, I did some further research about benchmarks, and I even went out looking for a few benchmarks that are located only a few miles from my home in Bethlehem, NH.  A separate report about all this is contained in another Blog that I author (click HERE).


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PART 2: Gorham Hydro Station

After finishing the bike ride at Pond of Safety, I loaded the bike and drove about 15 miles east along Rt. 2 to do my second adventure of the day.  My objective this time was to bike along the backroads near the Gorham Hydro station.  This is one of nine hydroelectric power plants owned and operated by PSNH in the State of New Hampshire. This particular facility is located on the Androscoggin River and has been in service since 1917.

There are a variety of roadways at the Gorham Hydro station where public use is permitted.  Many of these roadways are open to use for ATVs and snowmobiles, as well as for use by bicyclists, and for hikers who want to access the south end of the Mahoosuc Trail.

If you are accessing the Gorham Hydro area by bike, ATV, or snowmobile, you should use the large parking lot on Rt. 2 (west of downtown Gorham).   If you're going to be hiking these roadways to reach the Mahoosuc Trail, then you should park at a lot on Rt. 16 which is located 0.3 mile north of the junction of Rt. 2 and Rt. 16.  This lot is on the east side of the road at the base of an old railroad bridge.

If you're visiting the Gorham Hydro area by bike, ATV, or snowmobile, you'll be crossing the old railroad bridge on the upper deck.  If you're hiking, then you'll be using the lower deck.

So with that background in mind, the next photo shows the upper deck of the railroad bridge that I biked across en route to the roadways at the hydro station.
Approaching upper deck of old railroad bridge en route to hydro station
The next photo was taken from the railroad bridge looking toward downtown Gorham with clouds engulfing the mountains that surround the town.
View from railroad bridge looking toward downtown Gorham
Once I biked over the bridge, I entered the road network at the hydro station.  My first stop was at the dam near the south end of the complex.  At this location is a building that I find particularly picturesque (next photo).
Picturesque building at the dam near the south end of Gorham Hydro complex
Looking northward from the dam is also an eye-pleasing sight (next photo).
Looking northward from the dam at the Gorham Hydro station
My travels along the roadways at Gorham Hydro also led me to a spot where I could look southward toward the dam and building where I had stopped earlier in the day.
Looking south toward the dam and building where I had stopped earlier in the day
To sum it up, I find it pleasant to occasionally take a break from my hiking routine by interspersing some mountain bike adventures.  Both of these exploits were particularly enjoyable and they have put me in the mood to come up with some other ideas for similar treks.