Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Red Hill 12/19/10

"A lovely day in the woods" (pictures)

Finally! We were gonna head out Sunday to do a regular hike! We hadn't done anything since our Thanksgiving trip to Georgia and hadn't done a significant hike in NH since before that! Scott was up an hour early and ready to go when I finally rolled outta bed. We geared up and Java in hand jumped in the truck. I wasn't sure yet where we were headed. The weather looked to be very nice and I wanted to hit something close by as to take advantage of the sunny sky before clouds rolled in. Three options were in my mind. A return visit to Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Mt. Israel and Red Hill. Once we arrived in Center Sandwich we decided on Red Hill.

We found the Eagle Cliff trail head sign and parked on the side of the road. Last time we missed this and ended up hiking the Teedie trail and missing the cliff. We started off at 9:30am and up the partially icy trail. We left the micro spikes behind figuring we wouldn't need them. We made our way up to the ledges which were decorated in Ice. The trail even had a river of ice down it, but we were able to maneuver around. At one point I told Scott I was going to be careful this year to watch where I am stepping, especially whilst taking pictures. No sooner than I said this I slipped off a small dirt banking that we used to bypass some ice, and I fell onto the ice sheet that dropped 20ft. down the trail and into some rocks! I dug my fingers into the frozen dirt just enough to hold on. I had nothing to grab hold of and no way to get myself off the ice. Scott came over and pulled me to safety. Another hiking accident averted!

Up to the cliff the view opens up across the frozen Squam lake and there is a nice view over to the Sandwich Range. We took a break here and took in the view. It didn't take long however that we began to feel the chill in the air. Up and over the two knolls, the second giving a wide open view of Red Hill and a partial view of the Sandwich Range, then down the col. to meet the Teedie trail. Then up the long, but gradual side of the mountain. Up on the ridge we encountered two female deer who somehow didn't here us talking and didn't scatter until we were 30 feet from them! It startled us as one darted across the trail in front of us and the other stopped to stare before taking off down hill. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough with the camera!

Once over the false summit we arrived up at the Red Hill summit (2030'). Just as we came up to the Wardens cabins an owl took flight from a dead tree next to one of the cabins. The wildlife was out today! We dropped our bags and climbed the fire tower. The Sandwich Range was clouded in ... grrr! But the view was nice back over to Squam lake and the sun shining off Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap range. Back down we ate a snack and watched as a man in his 50's, walking with a pole and a bit of a limp, with no gear what-so-ever and in shorts walked up to the tower, touched it, looked at his watch and headed back down. OK then!

On our way back down another small owl or hawk took off right above me making me jump. We carefully made our way across the cliff area where we ran into a family. And we made our way ever so slowly down the icy ledges, finishing around 2pm. Ironically, the next day I looked at when we last did this mountain and it was on 12/16/09, almost exactly a year later! That time we were trudging through deep snow! This is a lovely hike. And on a clear day the views are some of the best! 5.4 miles / 1,850' elevation gain / 4.5 hours

Friday, December 10, 2010

NEW 4x6 Calendars

Check my store http://hikethesummitsstore.blogspot.com/ for my new 4x6 calendars! (Nature) pictures of NH mountains, streams, ponds and mushrooms. (Little Creatures) pictures of butterfly's, caterpillars, frogs and other little bugs.

Perfect for your work desk and for Christmas gifts! $9.00, paypal/credit card

Monday, December 6, 2010

Gonic Trails 12/4/10

"Dusk on the Isinglass" (pictures)

My brother had come over to my house to order me my new winter hiking boots. Scott was sick today so there wasn't gonna be a chance to hike today or probably even Sunday. Jeremy had his son with him and so I thought we could get out on another small hike. We went and ate at Clemento's in Rochester then headed for the Gonic trails. We began on the red/blue trail then broke off onto Watson Ways South Branch. After some fun hanging off an overhanging tree, climbing on a fallen over trees root system and running up and down the trail with Jonathan we eventually made it to the Isinglass river. Here a wet unleashed dog was annoying us until the owner finally showed up and called it. We followed the yellow River Walk past the water fall, the old mill site and up past the old granite bridge foundations. Then it was up Luannes Way back. The sun was setting below the tree line making a pretty end of the day. JJ had a lot of fun as always! Hope to get him up Mt. Major possibly Tuesday if it's nice out. Or maybe Stonehouse pond. It's always great to be out hiking with my bro and nephew!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Stone Mountain 11/27/10

"A Peach of a Thanksgiving Part 2: Georgian Granite" (pictures)

Day three of our vacation in Georgia was Stone Mountain. This granite batholith sitting out by itself was visible to us from the Kennesaw mountains. The mountain is 825 feet tall and covers 583 acres. The top of the mountain is 1,683 feet above sea level. It is mostly open granite from top to bottom. If that weren't enough there is a huge carving on one side of the mountain. According to the brochure it is the largest high relief carving in the world! The Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The entire carved surface of the Memorial Carving measures three acres, larger than a football field. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain's surface. The brochure also boasts that it is the largest exposed granite mountain in the world. Funny, the last thing I thought I would see leaving the granite state of NH for Georgia would be granite, but here it is nearly in Florida!


We payed the hefty $10.00 gate fee and in the process of trying to find the parking lot for the main trail called the Walk-up trail we wound up driving around the entire mountain! Which was fine because we got a glimpse of the other features that make this park unique. The only problem was my truck was running on empty and I needed to just park somewhere so I would have enough gas to get back out to a gas station! We finally parked at 11:30am at the Skyline parking lot and got our packs on. The wind was whipping a good cool breeze so we had our sweatshirts on quick! At least the sun was shining bright. Not good for picture taking as it was shining directly over the top of the mountain, but it was nice for hiking!

Off to the skyline entrance we hit the bathrooms. The gondola was closed due to high winds which was way to funny! I felt like I was at Mt. Washington or something. Well, I guess that would mean less of a crowd at the top!! We headed down the walk way by a snow attraction being built and ahead of us towering above a small pond was the magnificent carving. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on the carving at all. Not on the brochure, not on any walk way signs or even on the website! I did find the specs in the FAQ section, but no info. as to who built it and when. After some detours due to the construction going on we found the Cherokee Trail which would bring us up to meet the Walk-up Trail.

We made our way through the trail in it's final autumn days until reaching the first granite ledge area. Passing all but a couple people thus far, it looked like a nice quite day on the mountain. Then, "Holy Crap"!! We arrived at the Walk-up Trail which I quickly dubbed the free-way! It looked like our NH Mt. Lafayette or Mt. Washington in mid-summer, but worse. A granite trail 40-60 feet wide was side-to-side people! We joined the stampede heading up the mountain. Carvings of graffiti where all over the rock surface, but hey, better looking than spray paint! Another interesting part of the trail are the two telephone poles decorated with gum by passer-by's. It smelled oh-so-good, LOL! It was here that the maintenance access road crosses the trail. A Ford Police vehicle was driving up the road headed for, I guess, the summit. Up further past a roofed pick nick area the view began to open up around us. To the left of the Walk-up Trail was a plaque which read Old Indian Trail. We went this way away from the crowd and checked out the fenced in edge of the mountain, looking down to the park below.

Up past some boulders and a steep climb up to the crown of the mountain. Here the Police truck was coming back down. We were all in awe! This truck climbs and descends this part of the mountain at a very steep pitch. It was scary to watch! We crested the crown and arrived at the summit at 1:00pm. Views were flat in all directions with a couple lonely hills popping here-and-there in the distance including the Kennesaw mountains we hiked two days earlier. The main view up here was of Atlanta City and a whole lot of granite! The summit/Gondola building was impressive, certainly not as unique as Mt. Washington. After we explored the summit area we went in the building to use the restrooms and read the many interpretive signs.






Warmed up a bit we headed back out and circled the crown of the mountain around the building and along the fence. On the less windy side we had a snack and enjoyed the moment. Heading back down was quick. Instead of taking the rest of the Cherokee loop which was about 5 miles we went back the way we came and back to the truck. We dropped our bags, went back over to the cafe at the gondola and had a coffee and a pretzel, mmmm! From here we walked to the Carillon bells which was "originally erected as part of the Coca-cola Company's exhibit at the New York World's Fair of 1964-1965. It was presented to the State of Georgia by Coca-cola as a symbol of friendship and as an instrument for the enjoyment and edification of all visitors to the Stone Mountain Park (1965)" The 732 bell tower was being run on the main land by two people in an enclosed amphitheater type complex. The trail walks out to the small island right up to, and below the bells. They were playing "How Great Thou Art" and it sounded lovely. We took a rest along the lake then headed back for the next stop.

Down a ways down the road and back on the Cherokee trail the next stop was the Grist Mill. A small building with a canal that fed a water wheel. This was another pretty area. Landscaped with stone walls and various plants. There was no information on this spot but I believe it was used during the early quarry days of the mountain. That brings us to our final stop. Just a bit further up the road was the Granite Quarry Open-air Exhibit. I have never seen such an exhibit. It was pretty incredible. A brochure gives the history of the quarry. Signs show every state the granite went to and what was built! The closest to NH was Rhode
 Island where the Columbia Veterans Facility and the Post office in Walterboro was built with Stone Mountains granite. The quarrying of this mountain began around 1845 and went into the 1970's. The history of this quarry is simply amazing. From Civil War monuments and gravestones to use in the rebuilding of the Southern Cities after the war, and used to build federal and residential buildings across the country. In the middle of the exhibit was a 66,000 lb. granite block!

This concluded our day. The was more to see here such as the covered bridge, the garden trails and the plantation. But we were getting hungry and needed to make the trip back to Marietta. This really was a very interesting area. So much history surrounding a beautiful mountain. Hope to visit Georgia again and continue to explore Stone Mountain, the Kennesaw National Battlefield and the Civil War cemetery's. You can view my pics from Historic Marietta Square and two Civil War cemetery's we visited (Marietta Confederate Cemetery and Marietta National Military Cemetery) here > (pictures)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Kennesaw Mountains 11/25/10

"A Peach of a Thanksgiving: Part 1, A Civil Hike" (pictures)

Part 1 of my vacation to visit my parents for Thanksgiving in Marietta, Georgia. Scott and I made a long 22 hour drive from NH to arrive in Georgia for Wednesday night. With the nice weather outside and wanting to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Marietta Diner later in the day, it was decided to hike the Kennesaw mountains. These mountains are the location of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battles on the hills ended in a tactical defeat for the Union forces and left 5,350 dead. We were very excited to do some Georgian hiking and learn some history at the same time! So off we all went (Me, Scott, Mom and Dad). The parking lot was very busy but we found a parking spot with no problem. We began our trip on Pigeon Hill at 12:30pm.

The trail starts off at easy grades passing a network of trenches where 154 Union soldiers died and 9 Confederate soldiers were killed in battle. Onward the trail became very rocky and pretty. Pine trees and Red pines dotted the landscape. At 12:45 we reached the summit of Pigeon Hill where large rocks point up from the ground surrounded by beautiful Oak trees. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful area was once the site of war and death! We snapped some pictures together here and continued on to the next climb.

The trail now descends slightly and then climbs Little Kennesaw by a long rocky switchback. Red pines abound here among the rocky, ledgy terrain. On the second switchback a view opens up towards the skyline of Atlanta City. Onward past a wood fence and more rock ledge you arrive at the summit of Little Kennesaw (1600') and Fort McBride. Here 9 cannons were pulled to this site, 100 men to each gun after a trail was cleared in less than an hour! On June 27, 1864 these Confederate batteries helped repulse a major Union assault during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. After some pictures of the cannons we took a small snack break. The weather was perfect! Sunny and some where's in the upper 60's.

Past this area the trail makes a gradual descent over more interesting rock then climbs up to the auto road. Then climbs up past very old fencing and more cannons and trenches. We reached the top of Kennesaw Mountain (1808') at 2:00pm. Here a week long cannon battle ensued between opposing forces, though the majority of battle took place on the other peaks. Down the other side of the mountain is an observation platform and a parking lot. A plaque graces the stone platform as a tribute to the 14 Georgians who were Generals of the Confederate States Army in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. There is a view again to Atlanta City and Stone Mountain is visible beyond.

We took the road back down to the Little Kennesaw trail and back tracked the way we came. Stopping back at Pigeon Hill for pics. We finished at 3:00pm after checking out the immediate grassy area where Historic and interpretive signs are set up. There was so much more to explore, Cheatham Hill, Kolb's Farm and much more. But time didn't allow it, something to check out next visit! These mountains were a lot of fun. Rocky, moderate trails and plenty of history to ponder as you walk these once embattled grounds.