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

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28 August 2013

A Follow-up to a Trek to East Hale

This is a follow-up to a bushwhack that I did a few weeks ago to the summit of East Hale. 
(Click HERE to read that report.)

From one of the many ledges at the top of East Hale, I spotted a small cliff that I had never noticed before.  Shown in the next photo is a zoomed photo that I took of that cliff.
Zoomed photo of cliff spotted from East Hale several weeks ago
Upon returning home, I determined that this unnamed cliff is located on the east side of the Zealand River about 0.3 mile SE of the Hale Brook trailhead.  Although it would be a short and easy bushwhack to reach this cliff, it took me about 3 weeks to get around to doing it!  Anyway, shown below are a series of photos taken while bushwhacking to the cliff that I spotted from East Hale.

The following photo shows a portion of the cliff as viewed from the bottom.  As you can probably tell, there is a lot more cliff beyond what is seen in this photo.
A portion of the cliff, as viewed from ground level
By going to the far western end of the cliff, I was able to find an easy way up to the top.  I was unsure what to expect once I got there.  It was a very pleasant surprise to get some pretty big views from such a small cliff!

It was fun to look upward toward the vantage point on East Hale where I had spotted this cliff a few weeks ago.  (Shown below are two photos showing this particular vista.)
Looking up at East Hale from the top of the small cliff
Zoomed photo of East Hale
Another pleasant view from this cliff was a vista that included the southern end of the Willey Mountain Range, and a portion of the Zealand Valley (see next photo).

South end of Willey Range, and portion of the Zealand Valley, as viewed from small cliff
And so, the preceding text and photos summarize the follow-up that I did regarding a visit to East Hale a weeks ago.
- - - - - - - - -
Since this follow-up adventure took so little time, I took the opportunity to do some additional meandering.  I jumped in my car and headed southward down Rt. 302 toward Bartlett to check out a few things for some future treks.

Along the way, I pulled over to the wide shoulder on Rt. 302 near the Mt. Tremont trailhead.  From that vantage point, I was able to snap a photo of one of the many ledges that I had visited a few days ago while exploring the northern end of what I call the Bartlett Haystack Mountain Range.   So, I guess in a way, this report also serves as a follow-up to that bushwhacking adventure!  (Click HERE to read that report.)

One of several ledges visited during recent bushwhack to north end of Bartlett Haystack Mountain Range
The following two photos are unconnected to any of my recent hikes.  They are merely a couple of random snapshots taken while in the general area of Bartlett.  Perhaps they might be of some interest to a few readers.  
Saco River as viewed from a point near the trailhead for the Davis Path
Conway Scenic Railroad train departing Bartlett Station
To sum it up, I was pleasantly surprised by the views that I got from the little cliff that I spotted during my trek to East Hale a few weeks ago.  It's sometimes odd how one bushwhack can spawn another bushwhack! :-)

25 August 2013

Views from Ledges at North End of Bartlett Haystack Mountain Range

In the title of this report, reference is made to the "Bartlett Haystack Mountain Range".  Perhaps "mountain range" is a technically incorrect term to use for the chain of lumps and bumps that parade northward from the peak known as Bartlett Haystack.  But for the purposes of this Blog, I'll use that terminology.

Recently, I did a bushwhack to several ledges at the northern end of the Bartlett Haystack mountain range.  I parked just a bit west of Bartlett, NH at the Sawyer Rock rest area on Rt. 302.  From there I trekked south along the west side of an unnamed brook for about half a mile, then headed east for about a third of a mile to the top of the ridgeline.  Once on the ridgeline, I explored ledges located a few tenths of a mile to the left (north) and to the right (south) of my point of entry.   The vast majority of this trek was through open woods.  Very little "whacking" of bushes was required! :-)

Presented below is a composite picture which shows a topo map on the left panel, and a Google Earth image on the right.  My approximate bushwhack route is shown on each panel.
Graphics showing my bushwhack route
The remainder of this report consists of several photos of the vistas that were seen during my trek.
Looking north up Crawford Notch: Prominent landmarks include Mt Carrigain (left); Mt Willey (right)
Another northward view up Crawford Notch: Prominent on right side is Hart Ledge
Yet another northward view up Crawford Notch (similar to two previous photos)
Hart Ledge (foreground); Razor Brook Valley (right); Mt Resolution and Presidentials (background)
Zoomed photo of Mt Resolution and Presidentials
LEFT: Bear Mtn (looks pointy from this vantage point); RIGHT: middle peak of Bartlett Haystack Range
Mt Tremont
Mt Carrigain
Cliffs on Iron Mountain
Okay, in the center of the next photo is a tiny ledge.  This will mean nothing to you unless by some odd chance you happen to recall reading an old Blog report that I wrote about visiting this ledge while en route to Table Mountain. (Click HERE to access that report.)
Ledge located near Table Mountain
All the ledges I visited on this trek were spacious and flat enough to sit and enjoy the vistas.  The next photo shows one of the ledges.
One of several ledges visited on this trek
At the beginning of this report, I mentioned that my route took me along an unnamed brook.  There was very little water flowing, but at one point along this brook there was a rocky chute which looks like it might have potential for a picturesque cascade at times of high water.  The next photo was taken from the top of the chute looking downward.
Looking downward from top of chute which might become a cascade at high water
The next photo shows the light flow of water at the bottom of the chute.
Light flow of water at the bottom of the chute . . . sort of a mini-cascade
To sum it up, there were some very pleasant views from various ledges at the north end of what I've chosen to refer to as the Bartlett Haystack Mountain Range.  This was a relatively short trek of less than 3 miles round-trip.  And although there was an elevation gain of about 1,400 ft., there were no spots that I would consider to be overly steep. 

21 August 2013

Loop Hike in Maine: Burnt Meadow Mountain and Stone Mountain

The Maine Chapter of the AMC, along with assistance of the Friends of Burnt Meadow Mountains, have recently done some remarkable work to further develop and improve the trail system at Burnt Meadow Mountain and Stone Mountain.  Since I had never hiked at this particular location, I decided to drive over to Maine and check it out.  It's always such a thrill to experience any hike that is new to me!

The trailhead is located less than 2 miles south of Brownfield, ME on the west side of Rt. 160 about a tenth of mile south of the Public Boat Launch at Burnt Meadow Pond.  There are directions at the website for the Friends of Burnt Mountain Meadows (click HERE).

From the trailhead (430 ft elevation), the blue-blazed Burnt Meadow Trail leads you 1.3 miles to the north peak of Burnt Meadow Mountain (1,575 ft elevation).  So, when you do the math, that's nearly a 1,200 ft. elevation gain over a relatively short distance of 1.3 miles.   Although it isn't a difficult hike, the climb is more than you might expect for a mountain that is just a tad above 1,500 ft!

Also, it should be mentioned that just below the summit, you need to do a scramble up a steep, rocky ledge (see photo below)  Again, it isn't overly difficult, but is something good to know beforehand.
You need to do a scramble up this steep, rocky ledge to reach the top of the mountain
On your way up to Burnt Meadow Mountain, there are several open ledges which provide views of low-lying mountains in western Maine.  Shown below is a typical vista.
Typical vista from ledges en route to top of Burnt Meadow Mountain's north peak
Also along the way, there is a spot where you can catch a view of Pleasant Mountain (next photo) which is located about midway between Fryeburg and Bridgton, ME.
Pleasant Mountain, ME (as viewed from Burnt Mountain Meadow Trail)
As you ascend, there are ledges which allow you to see your destination, i.e. Burnt Meadow Mountain's north peak (see next photo).
Trailside view of your destination at Burnt Mountain's north peak
Upon arrival at the top of Burnt Meadow Mountain, I was surprised at how much it lives up to its namesake.  The summit is a broad, and relatively flat space that resembles a meadow that was once burned!  Although I don't know this for certain, I presume that the top of this mountain was burned in the Great Fires of 1947 which raged throughout this area. (To read more about the history of Burnt Meadow Mountain, click HERE.) 
Summit of Burnt Meadow Mountain (North Peak)
From the summit of Burnt Meadow Mountain's north peak, there are particularly nice vistas to the east and to the south.  To the west, there are some views of high peaks in New Hampshire, primarily in the Sandwich Range.  However, there are better vistas to the west and northwest from various ledges along the Twin Brook Trail.

Using the Twin Brook Trail enables you to do a loop hike.  It is unsigned from the summit of Burnt Meadow Mountain.  However, you can easily find the trail by heading westward along the summit and turning left onto a pathway near a large cairn.  You'll soon see yellow blazes which will guide you on a 2.0 mile trek back to the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail.

As mentioned a few sentences ago, there are nice views of high peaks in New Hampshire from ledges along the Twin Brook Trail.  These ledges are at the upper end of the trail.  The best vistas are obtained by going to unmarked outlooks just a few feet off the main trail corridor.  Please be assured that the main trail is always in full sight.  It's not a bushwhack!

Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, the westward views were very hazy.  Nonetheless, the photos shown below might provide a general idea as to the types of vistas that are available from ledges along the upper end of the Twin Brook Trail.
Westward view toward high peaks in New Hampshire's Sandwich Range
Northwest view toward peaks near Carter Notch (faintly seen at left of center)
The top part of the Twin Brook Trail has soft footing and easy grades.  The lower portion of the trail becomes more rocky as it descends steeply to the col with Stone Mountain.  The next photo shows a segment of the upper end of the trail (left), and a segment of the lower end (right panel).
Sample segments of Twin Brook Trail: upper end (left panel); lower end (right panel)
Diverging from the Twin Brook Trail is the Stone Mountain Trail which just opened in 2010.  This junction is marked with a sign.  The blue-blazed trail leads you on a 0.72 climb to Stone Mountain.  The corridor is very well laid out with several switchbacks.  Even though there is nearly a 500 ft elevation gain, it's barely noticeable!

Once you reach the crest of the mountain, one branch of the trail will lead you straight ahead to ledges on the south flank of Stone Mountain.  Another branch diverges to the right and will lead you northwesterly for a short distance along a faint pathway to the summit of the mountain which is located in a large field filled with blueberry bushes!

The vista from the ledges is predominately a view to the south and east.  The next photo shows the southward view.
Southward view from ledges on the south flank of Stone Mountain
The main vista from the summit of Stone Mountain is a westward view toward high peaks in the Sandwich Mountain Range of New Hampshire.  As mentioned earlier in this report, the westward vistas were very hazy on the day of my hike.  Nonetheless, the next photo will perhaps provide a general idea of the view from the summit.
Westward view toward high peaks in NH from summit of Stone Mountain
This 4.8 mile loop involved hiking the entire distance of all three trails, i.e. Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail, Twin Brook Trail, and Stone Mountain Trail.  Shown below is a trail map which is publicly available on the website for the Friends of Burnt Meadow Mountains.

Map showing trail system at Burnt Meadow Mountain location
To sum it up,  I was very impressed with the trail system at the Burnt Meadow Mountain location.  And despite the hazy conditions looking westward, I still experienced some pleasant views.  Definite consideration will be given to making a return visit on a better viewing day.


(Just as a side note, this hike served as a nice counterbalance to a bushwhack that I did a few days prior to the Eagle Cliff Ridge in Franconia  Notch. Click HERE to view a report of that trek.)

18 August 2013

A Trek to South End of Eagle Cliff Ridge in Franconia Notch

Although there are no official hiking trails that lead to the Eagle Cliff Ridge, I've made several excursions to the northern end of ridge.  My routes have included using the remnant of an old trail that was once planned to traverse the entire length of Eagle Cliff Ridge.  It begins near I-93 at Exit 34C and it takes you to a viewpoint at the first set of cliffs.  And, I've done a steep scramble up to the ridgeline via a rock climbers pathway which diverges from the Greenleaf Trail not far from its trailhead in Franconia Notch.  This route provides access to a unique rock formation sometimes referred to as "The Watcher".  (More will be said about this later in the report.)

A few days ago, I decided it was time to finally take the plunge and make a visit to the southern-most end of the Eagle Cliff Ridge.  Access to this end is more difficult.  There are no bootleg trails or other pathways.  It's a pure bushwhack!

I've heard tale of some who have bushwhacked to the south end of the ridgeline via the steep cliffs on the western side.  However, I opted to use an approach from the wooded eastern side.  Shown below are two photos which I took a few years ago on a separate adventure.  The first photo shows the cliffs on the western side of the ridge, and the second one shows the wooded eastern side.
West side of Eagle Cliff Ridge
East side of Eagle Cliff Ridge
Regarding the photo above which shows the east side of the Eagle Cliff Ridge, you'll notice that the further north (to the right of the photo) you go, there are more hardwoods.  I wanted to take advantage of this situation.  Therefore, upon leaving the Greenleaf Trail (just a short distance beyond Eagle Pass), I hiked a bit northeasterly toward the interior of the ridge before I began my ascent.  Although there were still patches of thick woods at various points along the route, I'd like to think that my strategy resulted in a route that was a bit easier than beginning my ascent farther to the south (i.e. nearer to Eagle Pass).

Upon reaching the open ledges at the south end of Eagle Cliff Ridge, I enjoyed several fine views which are shown in the next series of snapshots.
Looking up Lafayette Brook valley toward the Mt. Lafayette ridgeline
Looking directly across I-93 toward Cannon Mtn with Profile Lake in foreground
Looking south down I-93 (Cannon Cliffs at center right; Profile Lake at bottom right)
Another southward view from a ledge near the top of Eagle Cliff Ridge
Northward view showing Cannon ski slopes, Echo Lake, Bald Mtn and Artist's Bluff
From the southern end of the Eagle Cliff Ridge, I could see in the distance many of the features that I'd seen up-close during my past forays near the northern end of the ridge.  One such feature was 'The Watcher'.   She is also known as 'The Old Lady of the Mountain', and as 'The Old Woman of the Notch'.  The "person" of whom I speak is the natural rock profile on the side of the Eagle Cliff Ridge.  The profile appears to be that of a woman's head and face, and it appears as if she is "watching" for strangers approaching the Notch from the east.

This profile is not as well known as the "Old Man of the Mountain" who once graced Cannon Mountain on the opposite side of the Franconia Notch.  In 2003, the rock configuration that formed this iconic image fell to its "death" due to natural causes.

There are several legends about the relationship between the 'Old Man' and 'The Watcher'. One of which is that the Peregrine Falcons, which routinely soar from one side of the Notch to the other, were used by 'The Watcher' and the 'Old Man' as a means to exchange messages with each other.  Even knowing that it's just a legend, nonetheless, it's still quite sad to think about the message that would have been delivered by the falcons to 'The Watcher' on that fateful day of May 3, 2003 when the 'Old Man' tumbled.

Shown below is a composite image showing the profile of 'The Watcher' as viewed from the south and from the north.   Just as a side note, by using binoculars you can get a view of the profile from the south by standing at certain spots at the floor of the Franconia Notch.  However, the only way to get the view of the profile from the north is to do a steep climb to the Eagle Cliff Ridge which I've done on several occasions.
Composite image showing 'The Watcher' viewed from the south and from the north
My view of 'The Watcher' from the south end of Eagle Cliff Ridge was a frontal view (see next photo). The location of 'The Watcher' is circled in red.  As can be seen, this formation is nearly impossible to recognize, unless it is seen as a profile.
A view of 'The Watcher' as seen from south end of Eagle Cliff Ridge
Located slightly below 'The Watcher' is the Eaglet which is another feature nearer to the north end of the ridgeline that I could see from my vantage point at the southern end of Eagle Cliff Ridge.  Shown below is a photo of the Eaglet which I took several years ago when trekking near the northern end of the ridge.
Photo of 'Eaglet' taken several years ago near north end of Eagle Cliff Ridge
The next photo is a composite image.  On the left is the 'Eaglet', as viewed during my trek to the south end of Eagle Cliff Ridge.  On the right is a captioned set of photos from a newspaper article about climbers who scaled this rock formation.
'Eaglet' viewed from south end of Eagle Cliff Ridge (left);  newspaper article (right)
Here are a few bits of miscellanea associated with this trek.  The high point (3,420 ft) of the Eagle Cliff Ridge is located at its southern end.  There is a summit canister and log book for peakbaggers to sign.  Although I'm not a peakbagger, I will often sign a log book, when I think of it.  This time I thought of it, but forgot to sign in.  Oh well, there's always next time!

This was an out-and-back trek using the same basic route for both the outbound and inbound leg of the journey.  I didn't get on the trail until nearly 1 PM and so my timeframe was short.  If I'd gotten an earlier start, it would have made a nice loop to have continued northward along the ridge to 'The Watcher' and then descended to the Greenleaf trail via the pathway used by rock climbers.

In terms of distance, I'd guesstimate my round-trip to be only about 4.5 miles.

Shown below is one last photo.  On a ledge near the high point of the ridgeline, I came across a piece of metal hardware cloth.  It's anyone's guess as to how this item got to this spot.  Did someone actually schlep it up there for some unknown reason?  Did a strong updraft  swoop it to the top of the ridge from the floor of the notch?  Did it fall off a helicopter that was transporting items to the Greenleaf Hut?
Metal hardware cloth seen near the high point of Eagle Cliff Ridge
To sum it up, this trek was a perfect fit for my timeframe, and it was a thrill to visit a destination that was new to me.  My only regret is that I didn't get an earlier start which would have enabled me to do a loop hike that could have included a revisit to features such as 'The Watcher' near the northern end of the Eagle Cliff Ridge.

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POSTSCRIPT:
Click HERE for a link to another of my blog postings about destinations along Eagle Cliff Ridge.  

11 August 2013

Trek to a Ledge on Whitcher Hill via Three Ponds Trail and a Bushwhack


To set the scene for this very short report, I'll begin with a quote from a Blog report written by Steve Smith when he visited this area in November 2009. (Click HERE to read Steve's entire report and view his photos.)

"The Three Ponds area in the southwestern White Mountains is one of the most interesting wild nooks in the region. Numerous ponds and wetlands are tucked into a broad upland valley between the high, wooded crests of Carr Mountain and Mt. Kineo. There are actually two drainages in the valley - Sucker Brook on the west side, traversed by the Three Ponds Trail and holding Foxglove Pond and the Upper, Middle and Lower Ponds; and Brown Brook and the Mt. Kineo Trail on the east side, where a long string of swamps and marshes forms one of the largest wetland complexes in the Whites."

The only way to get vistas that provide a broad overview of this area is to bushwhack to small obscure ledges on surrounding mountainsides.  I had the urge to undertake this adventure in early August.  However, it's probably best to do this trek in the Autumn when the views are more open due to the leaves being off the trees.

I began my hike from the Hubbard Brook Trail's western trailhead which is located just a short distance off NH 118 in Warren, NH.  In less than a tenth of a mile from the trailhead, I hung a right onto the Three Ponds Trail and followed it for about 2.9 miles, at which point I left the trail for a 0.3 mile bushwhack to a ledge at the south end of Whitcher Hill.
Trail sign at junction of Hubbard Brook Trail and Three Ponds Trail
Regarding the Three Ponds Trail, the White Mountain Guide states the following.  "The northern part of this trail, between the ponds and NH 118, is lightly used and may require care to follow; it is not recommended for inexperience hikers."

I totally agree with the above statement, but will say that there are long stretches where the corridor is well defined and there is no problem with following the trail.  However, I will hasten to add that there are sections where the corridor is very faint, and there is one spot where I had particular difficulty with locating the continuation of the trail. This problem occurred at the point where the trail comes to an old skidder road.  The trail crosses this road and enters the woods on the other side.  However, not only is this point of entry obscure, but the skidder road has several confusing paths weaving through the tall weeds which lead in many different directions.

From the ledge on Whitcher Hill, I was able to get a view of a portion of the Brown Brook Marshes which are located east of Foxglove Pond and the Three Ponds area.  Shown below are two photos.  The first is an zoomed image of the view, and the second is an unzoomed image.
Zoomed vista of Brown Brook Marshes from ledge on Whitcher Hill
Un-zoomed vista of Brown Brook Marshes with Mt. Carr in background
At about 0.1 mile west of the spot where I took the above photos, I visited two other small ledges.  I was unable to see very much since the leaves are still on the trees.  But, in late Autumn I think there is the distinct possibility that these other ledges might provide some vistas which would include Brown Brook Marshes, and possibly Foxglove Pond.

Shown below is a Google Earth image which shows many of the items mentioned in this report.
Google Earth image showing many of the items mentioned in this report
To sum it up, this type of adventure would likely have limited appeal to many hikers.  However, for me it's always a thrill to locate these hidden gems in the forest where one can experience vistas that are unique and seldom seen.

08 August 2013

A Trek to Mt. Hale's East Peak

There are occasions when all I want is a short and quick hike to a spot with a good view.  To fulfill this yearning, I will sometimes do a trek to the massive ledges on East Hale (a.k.a. Mt. Hale-East Peak).

From my home in Bethlehem, I can be at the trailhead for the Hale Brook Trail in about 20 minutes.  From there, it takes me about an hour and half  to reach the ledges on East Hale by hiking about 0.6 mile up the Hale Brook Trail, and then heading off the south side of the trail and doing a steep 0.5 mile bushwhack through open woods.

The route that I briefly described above is my preferred route to the ledges on East Hale.  I've bushwhacked there via other routes from different directions, but this is the route that works best for me, despite its steepness (about 1,670 ft. elevation gain).

Just as a side note, besides Mt. Hale's East Peak (3,460 ft), there is also South Peak (3,680 ft), and North Peak (3,740 ft).  All three are reachable only by bushwhacking.  From various ledges on each of those sub peaks, there are views to be had.  And yet, Mt. Hale's main summit (4,054 ft) is nearly viewless due to dense tree growth that now blocks the excellent views which used to be there many years ago.  However, unlike its three sub peaks, it is accessible by a maintained hiking trail.

With that bit of trivia having been stated, let's now return to the topic of this Blog, i.e. East Hale.  Shown below are a series of photos which provide a sampling of some of the views from the ledges on the East Peak of Mt. Hale.
Zealand Notch with Mt. Carrigain and neighboring peaks in the background
Zoomed photo of Whitewall Mtn. with Mt. Carrigain and neighboring peaks in background
Presidential Range, as viewed from East Hale 
Mts. Tom, Field, Willey, as viewed from East Hale
Main summit of Mt. Hale, as viewed from East Hale ledges
Mt. Oscar Ledges (middle, right); Cherry Mtn (top, center); Pilot/Pliny Mtn Ranges (on distant horizon)
[FOOTNOTE: Click HERE for my blog posting about a trek to Mt. Oscar Ledges]
If anyone is wondering what the actual summit of East Hale looks like, then please take a look at the next photo!  The actual high point of this peak is a viewless, unimpressive spot that is surrounded by scrubby trees. 
Summit of East Hale
And speaking of trees, the next photo provides an example of the type of open-woods encountered while bushwhacking to the ledges on East Hale.
Example open-woods encountered while bushwhacking to the ledges on East Hale
And lastly, shown below is a Google Earth image which might help to give some perspective to the route used to reach East Hale, and where it is located in relation to Mt. Hale's main summit.
Google Earth image (click to enlarge)
To sum it up, I feel fortunate to have a variety of short hikes with great views like East Hale that are near to my home.  And I'm grateful for having the good health to take advantage of these magnificent hiking opportunities.