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

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28 December 2013

Loop Hike to Middle and North Sugarloaf Mountains

Recently, my friend Marty and I did a loop hike of about 6 miles to Middle and North Sugarloaf mountains which are located in the Zealand area of northern New Hampshire.

Our loop began and ended at the parking lot for the Twin Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Road in the town of Twin Mountain.  This hike incorporated the following corridors: a segment of the old Glacial Ridge Road (click HERE for a history of that roadway); a snowmobile trail; a portion of the Trestle Trail; entire length of the Sugarloaf Trail; and the remnants of a long ago abandoned trail that was named the Baby Twins Trail.  At the end of this report is a map which shows our approximate route.

Our actual hiking time to complete the entire loop was about 4.5 hours, at a relatively leisurely pace.  The slowest part of our trek was the ascent/descent of Middle Sugarloaf where there was the usual ice buildup that occurs at this location each year during cold weather conditions.  Microspikes were sufficient to provide the traction we needed to negotiate this slippery segment of trail.

Shown below are a few snapshots taken during our hike.
Ammonooscuc River as viewed from the old Glacial Ridge Road
Spot where Trestle Trail bridge once spanned Zealand River until it washed out in 2005.
(A portion of wooden abutment is seen at top right.)
Marty hiking up the Sugarloaf Trail
Middle Sugarloaf vista showing a portion of Zealand Valley with Mt. Tom and Mt. Field prominent on horizon
North Sugarloaf vista looking in direction where the Presidential Mountain Range would be visible under better viewing conditions.
(Mt. Deception is the prominent peak at top center of photo.)
Looking toward North Twin and Peak-Above-the-Nubble, as evening approaches
Presented below is the map that I mentioned at the beginning of this report.  The faint gray arrows show our direction of travel and the approximate route we followed.  This is a vintage topographic map which might be useful in helping you get a better idea about the location of our hike.  However, it's an unsuitable tool for precise navigation in the field.

Also, when reviewing this map, please note that I've highlighted a segment of the Glacial Ridge Road that extends well beyond the segment that we actually hiked.  I thought perhaps some readers might be interested in seeing the portion of the current-day Flat Iron X-C trail that utilizes a segment of the old Glacial Ridge Road.
Vintage topographic map with faint gray arrows showing our direction of travel and approximate route we followed (click to enlarge)
To sum it up, this was a very enjoyable early Winter hike.  And since it was so early in the Winter season, there was insufficient snow for snowmobilers to be out on their trail.  Therefore, the segment of snowmobile trail that we incorporated into our loop hike was delightfully free of noise and fumes!

25 December 2013

A Short, Low-Elevation Hike in Northern Presidential Range on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve 2013, I did a short, low-elevation loop hike in the northern Presidential Range using the following trails: The Link; Cliffway; Monaway; Amphibrach.  Trail conditions were mixed due to recent rain that fell atop a snowpack, and then was followed by a sustained period of below freezing temperatures.  For part of the hike, I wore Kahtoola KTS crampons, and snowshoes at other times.  The total distance for this loop was about 5.7 miles.

Named landmarks along the route included: Memorial Bridge, Cold Brook Fall, White Cliff, and Bog Ledge.  Presented below are some snapshots taken during this Christmas Eve trek.

Memorial Bridge (along The Link trail)
Cold Brook Fall
Hiking on unbroken snow along The Link (after junction with Amphibrach)
King Ravine viewed from Bog Ledge
Zoomed view of King Ravine from Bog Ledge
The next snapshot shows the pathway leading to/from Bog Ledge.  For whatever reason, this scene is appealing to me.
Pathway leading to/from Bog Ledge
The vista of the Crescent Range from White Cliff has become tree-obstructed over the years.  And considering the icy conditions along the ledge, I did not even attempt to get a better view by venturing onto the Along the Brink Trail (the name of this trail says it all).  And so, shown below is the view from White Cliff that I had on this particular day.
Tree-obstructed view of Crescent Range from White Cliff
The next photo is merely a composite of some of the many trail signs seen along my route.
Some of the many trail signs seen along my route
And finally, presented below is a map which shows the route taken for this trek.
Map showing the route taken for this trek
To sum it up, this was a delightful way to spend about 3.5 hours on Christmas Eve, especially since there was still some snow at this nearby location.  Due to the recent rain mentioned at the start of this report, the snowpack had all but disappeared in the Bethlehem area where I live.  A frolic in snowy woods certainly enhances the holiday spirit! :-)

14 December 2013

A Short Trek to Mascot Pond, Point Lookout, and Leadmine Ledge

INTRODUCTION:

It was the 12th day of December (not even officially winter), but yet the daytime high temperature was only 12˚F with a chilly northwesterly wind.  With those conditions, I was uncertain how enjoyable a long hike would be, and so a decision was made to do a moderate hike.

With that issue resolved, I then needed to choose where to hike.  This sometimes proves to be challenging since my preference is to do something new on each hike, and eventually the supply of "new" becomes more and more limited!  In the end, I decided to revisit Mascot Pond and Leadmine Ledge, and add a side trip to Point Lookout which would be a new destination for me.

ROUTE TAKEN:

The trailhead was reached by driving north on NH 16 for 0.3 mile from the western junction of NH 16 and US 2 in Gorham, NH.  Parking is permissible in a lot at the base of the old B&M railroad bridge on the east side of US 16. The lower deck of this bridge is available for pedestrian use.  It's perfectly safe to cross on-foot, especially since metal decking has been installed within recent years.

Once you walk over the bridge to the other side, you will immediately see a huge sign that points to "AMC Trail".
One of several signs on east side of bridge guiding you to the Mahoosuc Trail
Along the way, there are additional "AMC Trail" signs and blue blazes to guide you to the Mahoosuc Trail.  After walking for about 10 minutes, you'll cross a wooden bridge over a canal.  Once on the other side, make a sharp right into the woods onto an unmarked foot path which will ascend to a dirt road (an extension of Hogan Rd.).  Turn right onto this road and follow it for about 10 minutes where you'll turn sharply left off the road onto the Mahoosuc Trail.  At this point, you will have traveled about 1.1 miles from the parking area on NH 16.

In the upper left corner of the map shown below, you can see the three places I visited, i.e. Mascot Pond, Point Lookout, and Leadmine Ledge.  Highlighted in yellow is the portion of my route that was used to access these destinations. (Click on map to enlarge.)
Map showing places visited, with approximate route highlighted in yellow
Mascot Pond was reached by hiking the Mahoosuc Trail for 0.5 mile to the Mascot Pond Spur trail.  From Mascot Pond I trekked southeasterly on an abandoned branch of Hogan Road for a short distance, and then left the road for a short open woods bushwhack in an easterly direction to the ledges on Point Lookout.  From Point Lookout, I bushwhacked a short distance northward to an old logging road which I followed westward to a bootleg pathway leading to Leadmine Ledge.  And from Leadmine Ledge I descended the same pathway back to the logging road and continued to head westward for a few hundred feet to join the Mahoosuc Trail which I followed southbound back to the parking area on NH 16.

This entire trek covered a distance of only about 5 miles.

PLACES VISITED:

As indicated earlier, my first stop was at Mascot Pond.  From here, I enjoyed a nice vista overlooking the frozen pond with North Carter and a portion of the Moriah Range visible on the horizon.
Mascot Pond with North Carter and a portion of Moriah Range visible on the horizon
Looming above Mascot Pond's northern shore is the old Mascot lead mine.  Apparently, the mine was in operation only for a few years during the late 1800’s. But today, it is perhaps more famous for its bats than for its history as a mine.  It's one of the few places in New Hampshire where bats hibernate.  The mine provides a nearly steady temperature in the 50’s, and it has been estimated that approximately 1,700 bats congregate to “snooze” here for the winter. Experts have identified 5 separate species.

You can hike up a crumbly talus field to peer inside the mine.  However, the entrance to the mine shaft has been barricaded not only for human safety, but also for the safety of the bat population that lives there.  (Click HERE for an interesting link that contains additional information about this.)

Presented below are two photos.  One shows the pathway leading up to the mine from Mascot Pond, and the other shows a close-up of the barricaded mine entrance.
Pathway leading from shoreline of Mascot Pond to the abandoned lead mine entrance
Barricaded mine shaft entrance
From the top of the pathway leading to the entrance of Mascot Mine is a nice view which features Mascot Pond in the foreground with peaks in the Northern Presidential Range on the horizon.
Vista from Mascot Mine (Northern Presidentials on horizon; Mascot Pond in foreground)
The next stop on my agenda was Point Lookout.  I found it interesting that back in the days when the Appalachian Trail had a different routing through Gorham, the ledges on Point Lookout were reachable via a spur path off the Appalachian Trail.  Vintage editions of the White Mountain Guide described this destination as "a fine view-point".

In doing some research on the Internet I came across the CardCow.com website which contained an old 1930s postcard that featured a vista from Point Lookout.  It's interesting that someone (presumably from the time period) took the time to add handwritten numeric labels to the mountain peaks on the front of the card, and then keyed the labels to text written on the back of the card.
Old postcard from 1930s which shows vista from ledges on Point Lookout
I became aware of this postcard after having done my hike.  When going through my photos I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I had inadvertently captured nearly the same view as the postcard photographer had done about 80 years prior.  As you will see in the composite image below, it appears that I was standing just slightly west of where the postcard photographer's photo was taken.
Composite image comparing 80-year old postcard to photo taken during my hike
My last stop of the day was at the top of Leadmine Ledge.  From here there are excellent 360 degree views which include peaks in the Moriah, Carter, Wildcat, Presidential, and Crescent mountain ranges.   But, for whatever reason, the vista from this location that is most appealing to me is the one shown in the next photo.  It features a lineup of peaks in the Moriah, Carter and Wildcat range with the village of Gorham tucked in a little nook just a short distance away.
Vista from Leadmine Ledge: Moriahs, Carters & Wildcats; village of Gorham
To sum it up, I enjoyed the Point Lookout component of this trek, especially since there is some history associated with this destination.  However, getting there does  involve some off-trail travel, which is not everyone's "cup of tea".  But even by omitting Point Lookout from the agenda, a 3.5 mile round-trip trek to Mascot Pond and Leadmine Ledge might be worthy of consideration for those times when circumstances limit the time available for hiking.

08 December 2013

Poking Around the Cooley-Jericho Community Forest (Easton, NH)

Recently I've had several enjoyable hiking experiences by poking around the recently established Cooley-Jericho Community Forest (CJCF) located in Easton, NH  This 844 acre parcel of land became a reality in the Autumn of 2013 after intensive planning and fund raising. (Click HERE to read a brief article which provides some interesting details about the CJCF.)

The CJCF can be accessed from end of Trumpet Round Road, or from the west end of Dyke Road.  Shown below is a composite image of two different maps.  Neither map is very detailed, but might serve to provide a general idea as to the location of this property. (Click on map image to enlarge it.)
Currently, there is no signage at this location, and hiking trails are still a work in progress.  Although some potential trail corridors have been flagged by volunteer workers for ACT (Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust), they are not quite ready for prime time.  In addition to the lack of official trails and signage, there is a confusing array of old skidder roads that head off in many different directions.  Therefore, exploration of this area is currently a bit rough and tumble!

The situation described above can be appealing to some folks, but to others, not so much!  For the adventurous hiker with map and compass skills, it can be great fun to poke around and then be rewarded by discovering some very pleasant views.

The remainder of this report will consist of a few snapshots taken from various spots within the CJCF during my recent hiking adventures at this location.
Flagging along a potential trail corridor
Northerly vista with a segment of potential trail corridor in foreground
Westerly vista with a segment of potential trail corridor in foreground
Vista that includes portions of Presidential and Franconia Mountain Ranges
Zoomed view of Mt. Cabot and the Pilot Range
Long lineup of mountains from the Percy Peaks (left) to Pilot Range (right)
As I understand it, there are plans to eventually construct a trail within the CJCF property that will connect to the remains of the fire tower that once existed on Cooley Hill.  But even without a formalized trail, one can reach the fire tower by any number of easy bushwhack routes through the CJCF property. (Of course, the old fire tower can also be accessed via the existing WMNF's Jericho Road Trail.)
Remains of fire tower on Cooley Hill
View of Cole Hill as seen while bushwhacking between Cole Hill and Cooley Hill
Sunset from a viewpoint at Cooley-Jericho Community Forest
To sum it up, this new parcel of publically-accessible land has provided me with several enjoyable explorations over the past few weeks.  I'm grateful to the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust for their tireless efforts to make the CJCF a reality.  If you would like to get involved with the planning and building of trails, or simply make a monetary donation, you can contact Rebecca Brown at: rbrown@aconservationtrust.org.