Stone House Pond 7/29/10

See the pics HERE

Upon reading an article about Stone House Pond in Barrington, NH and seeing the picture of the large chunk of granite that sits on the pond's bank, I was eager to check it out. I had my monthly lunch with my Grandmother in Epsom and decided to take the US 202/NH 9 route home. This would bring me right by there! I passed the road once, noting an unmarked dirt road next to a white house. Upon back tracking I noticed a fallin' apart wooden sign that read Stone House Pond. Turned around again and headed down this road. You immediately pass an open gate and down a pleasant woods road reaching the parking lot along some large boulders. There is a NH Fish and Game sign here that only gives boat launching directions and nothing else.

I walked around the large chunk of granite and to the lakes shore and looking across could see the magnificent tower of ledge. There was a kayaker fishing off to the Western side of the pond. The trail was easily seen to the left (clock-wise)across the lakes outlet stream. The only method of crossing is by a difficult rock hop or a tricky jump across the small dam structure. The trail was surprisingly well worn and easy to follow. It curves around the lake shore to another slab of rock with a wonderful view directly across the lake to the ledge.

Continuing on the trail breaks away from the pond and becomes somewhat steep and loose as it climbs the banking. It then drops back down to the shore and follows it rather closely. It was somewhere on or after the steep section that a well defined trail broke left. I almost took this thinking it might be the way to the ledge. I opted to stay right which turned out to be the correct way. I am not sure where the other "trail" went, perhaps to a boulder or something? I didn't see it connect back to the main trail either further down, so something I will have to explore next time.

Back to the main trail now, again you follow the shoreline until you reach the bottom of the ledge. You then climb along side it up a steep, loose trail and around the back and easily up over to the top of the Stone House Ledge, about 150 ft. Such an amazing feeling for such little effort. You stand majestically over the pond, the ledge dropping steeply in front of you. You can see a few area hills, Blue Job and I'm guessing Parker Mt. Also there is a cell tower "disguised" as a tree, but looks more like a cruddy old artificial Christmas tree! It's the thought that counts I guess! Oh, and I was surprised to see Jack pine's atop this area too.

I went back down the way I came since the trail around the Western side of the lake was barely visible and I had read that it could be very wet. I easily made my way back stopping to capture a picture of a butterfly and a large "wood" moth who showed off a pretty orange under his wings when flying from tree to tree. Over all I believe this was half a mile with 160 ft. elevation gain round trip. Nestled discretely around the larger areas of Pawtuckaway State Park, Nippo Lake and Scrutton Pond it would appear this pond stays rather quite. Not a single speck of litter was to be found, a little graffiti on the rocks looked faded and despite the well worn trail, the top of the ledge looked to have been grown in where beaten paths once existed. Thank you to the Trust for Public Land for purchasing this land and making it a permanently protected area!!

See the pics HERE

Pawtuckaway State Park, North Peak 7/25/10

Pics of this hike HERE

We were up very early, 4:30 Sunday morning after pushing Saturdays hike back a day due to possible Thunder storms for Saturdays afternoon. We awoke to the sound of rain and after watching the weather reports it didn't look good for this afternoon either. Wanting perfect weather for the hike up Great Gulf trail to Washington, and after some sulking and contimplating I thought it best to just stay in our area, something we do often when weather is unstable. I have been wanting to check out Pawtuckaway State Park nestled in Nottingham, NH for some time now. Just a 40 minute drive for us. Lighty packed we headed out. I decided to take the Northern part of Round Pond Road off of Deerfield road from Rt.107. Luckily I had my google maps on my phone which really helped in navigation. I passed the unmarked dirt road twice before crossing back over the Nottingham town line sign and finding the road on a corner. We followed it to a gate and small parking area. This parking area adds about .2 miles (one way) as opposed to parking at the end of the Southern part of Round Pond  Road.

We began our hike down the gated road at 7:15am. You make a gentle hike down to Round Pond, passing some large boulder erratics on the right. Once at the pond you make your way around the flooded section of road and to the parking areas where there is a sign for the Boulder trail. Once on this trail you immediately find yourself amongst gigantic boulder erratics, as large as a house! Rock climbers were gearing up to climb one of these beastly rocks. You snake your way through these granite boulders and ledge, then find yourself flanked with granite on your right and a spectacular, frog and lilly filled marsh on your left with views up to the ledge dotted North summits. Oh, and lets not forget about the vertical rock slab rising about 70 ft. from the ground.

We arrived at the North Mt. trail and took a right onto it. Orange Salamaders were crawling around on the forest floor in the hundreds. I've never seen anything like it! Unforntunatlely the mosquitos and horseflies were also in large numbers, swarming us almost the entire trip. Passing by more boulders and ledges you arrive almost at the base of a steep vertical cliff and ledge where the trail bears right then left at a marsh. Here the trail climbs steeply over rock. Part way up this section a side trail leads through a large crevice of the ledge to what I believe was the only unobstructed 180* view on this ridge. I wasn't able to climb this steep, cliffy section as it was too wet and slippery from the mornings rain to risk it.

Onward we made our way to a ledgy area where there is an unusual large green communication reflector. The trail takes a sharp right here behind the structure and climbs past more wooded ledges reaching the summit (995') marked by a cairn and survey markers. Viewless and buggy we snapped a picture and continued on. Again passing wooded ledges with some obstructed views of the Middle and South peaks and the South Peak Fire Tower. Past these areas we began a steep decent down loose rock to a gated road. Here the North Mt. Bypass trail begins left down this road. We followed this gradual road, keeping left at another junction before arriving onto Round Pond Road. The trail then diverges back off the road where we decided to stay on the road for a straight shot back across the pond and back up the Northen park of the road to our parking area. We finsihed at 11:15am.

Rugged, steep trails provide  rock scrambling and plenty of ledges (though mostly wooded). The pond and marshes were very pretty with the pond flowers in full bloom. The boulder fields were a sight to behold, likened to those you would find in the White Mountains. Litter, mostly beer cans along the roads, lake and boulder areas was dissapointing and very upsetting that so many who use this area have no respect for it! A rather pleasant hike despite the swarms of biting bugs (probably due to the rain and humidity) and despite the lack of views. If you are one who embraces the finer parts of hiking, not just after "the view", this area is sure to please!
Click on "Park" for info. and map
Total trip was approximately 5 miles, 750' elevation gain, 4 hours.

Pics of this hike HERE

Carter Ledge 7/17/10

Pics of this hike HERE

With the weather forecast calling for hazy, hot and humid conditions with a chance of an afternoon T-Storm, I made the decision as I usually so to head to the Sandwich Range. I decided during the drive to head to Chocorua's Carter Ledge. This would be our 4th or 5th visit but this area never gets old!

We started at 7:30am on the Piper trail, a very gradual and wide. I nice way to start out a hike! Mosquito's were very bothersome however. Mushroom Season is upon us and we were finding them everywhere! I kept and posted (on Flickr) 61 mushroom photo's in all! Already getting humid and sticky, we arrived at the Nickerson Ledge trail and began to climb steeply up to the Head of the Ledge, a side path (right) at the rock boulder erratic's. Onward now through some mossy woods, a small col. than back up the loose, gravelly portion below the Carter Ledges. Trails here are really washing out bad. I foresee some ladders being built here in the near future, or at least some extensive trail work or trail re-routing. Just above the first ledge outlook to Chocorua we came across a small pine blow-down. What I've been hoping for! I had just purchased a pack axe for just such an occasion! I chopped and chopped and the tree was moved off trail, victory!!

Once on the sprawling ledges we hiked up to the uppermost erratic which I call Carter Rock and we dropped our bags. We ate, relaxed and explored the dozens of ledge area's up here. This is truly a spectacular place. Views to Chocorua the best, quite and teaming with erratics, lichen and Jack pine. We hung out on the ledges for over an hour before heading back down. It was slow going on the loose trail but that was OK because we were in no rush and were still searching for mushrooms.

We passed all but 1 group of four below the ledges and three others on Piper trail. It was on Piper that I noticed the shroom jackpot so-to-speak. A large colorful mushroom about 15 ft. in the open woods.

We arrived back at the surprisingly empty parking lot at 1pm. The laugh of the day came when Scott, after finding that his M&M's candy had spilled ad melted in his cooler bag. Just South of Chocorua lake on Rt.16 at the top of the hill he went to dump them out the window when the whole cooler bag went out. It was pretty funny. We turned around and retrieved it without getting run over! Traffic was awful along 16! See all the pics HERE!

South Baldface 7/3/10

View all the pics HERE
Happy 4th of July! We did South Baldface back on April 4th with plenty of snow still left and we have been wanting to see this magnificent granite batholith without snow cover. With the beautiful holiday weekend sure to bring thousands to the Conway's, the presidential range and the notches I decided to head to the more quite area's along Rt. 113 bordering NH and ME. So off we went for an early start.

We arrived at the Baldface parking lot, half full of what I presumed was campers and maybe a couple early birds. We had BOT (boots on trail) at 8:30am on this lovely morning, the trail very quite and peaceful. Mushrooms have begun to make their appearance much to my excitement and the frequent stops to snap a shot made this first stretch go by quick. We even stumbled across some unusual wild flower that I have yet to identify that was 20 ft. off the trail growing around an open mossy area (picture to right >)

We broke left at the Emerald pool junction (we remember the sign missing back in April and now a temporary paper sign marks the trails at this junction). Next down a little ways we broke right at the Slippery brook junction. The clouds now dissipated and the heat beginning to settle in. We climbed moderately, the trail rarely making any steep pitches and arrived at the boulder field just before reaching the Baldface shelter. We new in just a few more minutes we would break tree line to our first granite slab and views out to the North and West. Here we had a much anticipated snack and my new favorite hiking companion Coconut-Mandarin water, mmm! As we relaxed and took in our first views we could here what sounded like a large group stopping for lunch a few hundred yards back down at the shelter. We packed up and began the steep climb hoping to stay ahead of the crowd!

The trail really takes an opposite approach now from the previous easy-going climb, and tackles the open granite slabs of South Baldface's North West side. Slabs are 6 feet high or-so in spots requiring some climbing and scrambling. The Blueberry bushes sporting a few ripe berries as they mingle with the other outcrop plants in the cracks and crevices of the granite. This area is so amazing and awe inspiring. The kind of place where you just have to think, "a God of some kind had to create this!" We made our way to the top of a plateau area overlooking the deep ravine over to North Baldface and Eagle Crag and South Baldface's true summit 3/4 of a mile away. We climbed to the top of the knob marked by an interesting cairn, alpine grasses all around and yep, more granite!

We relaxed a bit here, resting on the many natural granite benches that workers hoisted up onto rock piles. Little, bright yellow butterflies with thin red outlines were everywhere. A half mile to go we began the final ascent. Looking back often at the sweeping views and watching as the massive group behind us popped out onto the ridge and knob areas. We must have counted at least 30 hikers! We reached the top at 12:30pm and walked around until we found a nice secluded spot down on the Southern side of the summit overlooking Mt. Washington. Too hot and tired to tackle the North peak today we pulled our boots and socks off and enjoyed the nice breeze as we had our lunch and other goodies. Views today were magnificent with so many peaks visible, to name a few: Kearsarge North, Chocorua, White Horse Ledge and the Moats, the Tripyramids, Carrigain, the Southern Presi's and Washington, and most of the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah range.

Once we had our fill we packed up and headed back up the summit where the last of the giant group was passing by onto the North peak. We passed a few people down until we got back to the knob where we headed South to Baldface knob and Slippery Brook trail. The view of South Baldface from Baldface Knob all the more impressive with a large granite wall that was plucked out from the glaciers. The trails over here much less traveled evident by the overgrown trail and frequent moose droppings. We met one lady at the slippery brook junction as we headed down this trail and back out to the loop trail were we passed several teens and a couple families, by the looks, headed for emerald pool. We happily arrived back at the now over flowed parking lot at 3:30pm where we quickly changed shirts, threw our bare feet in some sandals and took off with the wind blowing in the windows, ahhh!

This hike is so beautiful. Perfect weather, a little muggy, hardly a bug and is one of the most spectacular peaks in the WMNF. It is a technical hike and those who are not comfortable with some minor climbing and heights may have a hard time. I plan to get an early start on this massive ridge in the fall when it is cooler and hope to do the whole loop.

View all Pics HERE