Mt. Mexico Loop 1/29/12

"A Long Crusty Loop" (pictures)

Not exactly sure what to hike and how much we could handle I decided on Mt Paugus. We always enjoy this hike and the Big Rock Cave is always a treat. Scott and I parked on the side of the road (plowed) for Cabin Trail. We got our start at 8:30am. We carried our snow shoes up the driveway to the start of the trail. The ground had some snow and a crusty layer on top. I decided to go with the snow shoes and Scott opted to bare boot it. It was one of those surfaces that were not really ideal for either. Temperatures were comfurtable with a cold breeze. The trail was well blazed and blowdowns had been removed/trimmed.

We made the junction and kept right at this fork onto Big Rock Cave Trail. All of the trails beyond this junction were unbroken, so we had to brake trail...if you want to call it that! The snow was so hard packed and crusty that we hardly made a dent in it. We made the approximate 1.5 mile hike over Mt. Mexico and down to the Big Rock Cave arriving at 10:00am. Always impressive to see this huge mass of house sized boulders! We explored the cave briefly before continuing on.

From here we crossed the river. Already getting a bit worn out we decided to skip Paugus and keep the hike shorter. So we went left up the Whitin Brook Trail. This proved to be much more of a challenge than I had expected. While it was not blazed, it was generally easy to follow of you pay attention. We trudged through the tiresome snow crust having to climb over and under many blow downs. We passed a Bobcat trail in the snow which was pretty exciting. The final long climb up a ridge to get to the Cabin Trail was almost more than we could take! It was steep and relentless with blow downs mocking our feeble progress.

It was such a relief to reach the Cabin Trail where we went left to head down. This trail also well blazed, with only a couple minor blow-downs. From here it was a long 2.2 mile hike out past the first junction and to the parking area. Which we did so in a hyper-speed, zomby-like state. It was a surprising I never tripped and fell all day as my snow shoes often caught the crusty snow and causing me to trip up. Scott seemed to fair well bare-booting all day. We both were very tired and sore when we finally arrived at the truck for 1:30pm. 5.6 miles in 5 hours. A reminder of how tough winter hiking can be! It was nice to get out in the woods though and we were proud of ourselves for what we accomplished!

Phoebe's Nable Mt. Loop 1/22/12

"A Snowshoe Search for a New Loop Trail!" (pictures)

Scott and I headed out Sunday morning to Castle in the Clouds to hike Mt. Roberts. We left the house a little late after trying to get all the winter gear together. And by the time we reached Wolfeboro we just weren't in the mood for the drive and what might be a long, cold hike of which we had really no practice this year for. So we decided to pull into Dunkin Donuts to grab a coffee and Maple Sausage bites...mmmm...and head back in the opposite direction for Moose Mountains Reservation. We parked in the unplowed parking lot behind another vehicle. Once geared up Scott motioned we should head up the logging road to search out a new hiking route we had been wanting to find. I eagerly agreed!

We began up this road which leaves from the parking area (left side before passing the gate) at 10:20am. It was a cold 32 degrees but the sun warmed us up quick. At the junction with another logging road we took a left and at the next junction a right onto another logging road. From here the trail climbs 300 feet and levels out. Partial views open up to the South and North and East to the various Moose Mountain peaks. The trail passes another road on the right that descends back down to the other road. Then a skid road enters on the left.

We went left here and made another moderate climb through the snow. While there was only a foot of snow, it was just enough for the snow shoes. We could use a little more snow on the ground, that's for sure! There were various tracks through the snow from rabbits, a fox and mice. After passing through open woods the road swings North and enters some trees. The Phoebes Nable Summit was 100 feet away. This was much easier than I had thought! We took some pics and headed down the other side to take Burrows Farm trail down.

We entered the field and followed the snow mobile trail down and were back on unbroken snow past the North Road junction. The only other sign of people up here today was a track of cross country skies which left the field and ended back where the other vehicle had been parked. This was a great loop hike! We finished about 11:45am. The hike seemed longer than that, but guess our legs need some work! We plan on trimming and blazing this trail in the Spring, it will add a lovely loop option to this mountain and property! 

MMR Bowser Pond 1/16/12

"Dusted off the Snowshoe's" (pictures)

Monday not being as cold as the weekend was we did a small snowshoe walk up to Bowser Pond. January 16 and the snowshoes where still in the closet collecting dust! With a few inches of snow on the ground we could at least get a practice run in. We parked at the end of Bowser Pond trail a few hundred feet from the kiosk. We crossed the not-so-safe bridge and up the old logging road.

Sections where rocks jutted up were not very good for the snowshoes. But most of the walk was fine and it was so nice to get out for a walk and to visit Bowser Pond which we had not been to in a few months. The pond was frozen and the view across it to the collection of mountains was neat, being able to see what they look like without leaves blocking the ground. We then retraced our steps back and headed home.

Moose Mountains Blog

SPNHF Rasies $850,000 to save Balsams Landscape!

After receiving a record number of donations, the Forest Society reaches their goal of $850,000 to save the Balsams landscape, blocking the Northern Pass from accessing the land! This is great news for land conservation, New Hampshire and the many future generations who will enjoy the many outdoor activities on the 5,800 acres. Thank you to all who had an open hand in making this happen! Read more HERE

Hiker Falls 800 Feet

The first hiker death of the year and hopefully the only one. A man hiking Mt. Washington on Monday fell 800 feet in Tuckerman's Ravine. Always a sad thing to hear. News Report HERE

Mt. Major 1/1/12

"Happy New Years from Mt. Major" (pictures)

Always a pleasure to be on Alton Bays beloved mountain. Scott and I took advantage of this unseasonably warm first day of 2012. We parked in an already half full parking lot and made our way up the Mt. Major trail. We made our way around the ice on the lower ledges below the summit and had to take out the micro spikes for the bottom section of the upper ledges. We reached the summit and took in the wonderful view. Mt. Washington was glowing in a pinkish white behind an otherwise snowless scene. We descended via the Boulder trail avoiding some ice here-and-there. Happy Belated New Year! My online resolution....to stop slacking on the trip reports, LOL!

Forest Society Reaches $709,000 to Protect Balsams

The Forest Society has received $709,000 in contributions to protect the Balsams forests & mountains! WOW! $241,000 to go! Amazing to see how quick donors come forward to protect our NH landscape!! :) Way-to-go everyone!

Want to help!? Donate! Every dollar helps! Show how much you LOVE NH :) Protect Balsams Site