Northwood Meadows State Park 3/17/11

"Loop and Lunch" (pictures)

I was scheduled to have my monthly lunch with my Gram in Epsom on Thursday. I generally do a quick hike around Stonehouse Pond afterward but I wanted to try something else this time. So I decided to get up early and head to Northwood Meadows in ... you guessed it, Northwood! I printed off a map from the NH Parks & Recreation site and headed out! Onto Rt. 4, also known as Antique Alley and a large sign marks the parking area. It's pretty impressive the number of State Parks and Wildlife/Forests areas in this part of the state!

I parked next to two cars, threw my back pack on with some light winter/emergency gear in it and headed off down the logging road at 10:30am. This large logging road (a snow mobile trail in winter) was nice and packed for bare booting. Dog shit was all over the place which never fails to piss me off! Pick up after your dog! It's the law and it's gross! After crossing the river you can continue on the road or there are two trails (smaller logging roads) that break off to the right. These are marked with a "no snow mobiles" sign. I passed the first and decided to take the second. Brush and a black erosion barrier lines most of the trail along the small stream.

After negotiating some ice the trail opens up as you come back out onto a large logging road known as the NALMC Trail. There is a nice view across the lake, still frozen with snow and ice. I continued on counter clockwise taking the first trail which makes the pond loop. The trail follows the pond and passes a peninsula of sorts with a picnic area. I took some pics, picked up a beer bottle and kept my quicker-than-usual-so-I-am-not-late-for-lunch pace!

I broke back off of the logging road at the Southern most part of the pond crossing a dam. I negotiated some more ice as the trail swings South for a view across the large marsh, then cuts back North again. The trail climbs the banking away from the ponds edge for a little bit then follows it closely again. I stopped to take pictures at one spot and looked down at a beaver stump to find some fine Slime Mold specimens! And as most know, a fungus photo opportunity makes me a happy person!

I crossed a small stream, the bridge marked with a blue broom! What a unique trail blaze, LOL! I took some pics here of the rushing stream. Checked my phone to see I was running late and got a move-on! I passed another picnic area near a rocky shore and scored my favorite pond picture of the day. I then connected back on to the main logging road passing a kiosk and outhouse. As I neared the parking area people were coming down the trail by the handful. All with dogs. Apparently a very popular dog walking area. I finished this lovely pond loop at 11:45am and got to lunch right on time! :-)

Goodwill Conservation Area 10/24/10

"A Barrington Find on a Yucky Day" (pictures)

OK, so it wasn't THAT yucky. Scott had to work Saturday and of course that turned out to be the nice day of the weekend. With rain showers forecasted for Sunday afternoon I figured we'd once again stay close to home and hike Mt. Major or something. Well, between rising late and having too much to do for the day we never made it anywhere. I had some work to do in Dover and Barrington so I decided to snap some pictures of the areas old buildings and cemetery's. It was after I left Barrington's Pine Grove Cemetery that I noticed a sign as I "wizzed" by, "Goodwill Conservation Area". And as you might guess I turned around! There is a small parking lot in the trees. This area was protected in December 2007 and is 156 acres!

You are immediately greeted by a pond, Richardson Pond I believe is it's name. The trail begins by climbing over a gated bridge (why there is no pedestrian throughway I don't know!?) and you find a path to the right and a logging road to your left. I took a right as the path followed the pond. After a short ways the trail makes a tiny loop and you end back at the start.

Now I headed up the logging road. It's starts off at a gentle ascent about 100 feet in elevation. I figured I'd run into someone as there was a vehicle parked in the lot. Sure enough I came across a lady walking her dog. I asked about the trails and she was very nice in giving some info. I continued on over another hill until I came to a sign that read "Ledges Trail", and some other ski mobile "mumbo jumbo". Apparently this is part of a ski mobile trail network in the winter. You now pass several ledges in the trees and as you make your way down the hill a large ledge on the left beckoned me. I climbed up to the top of it to find a trail. I followed it to a beaten path to another open ledge, then decided to go back to the main trail. I walked down to the end of the ledge to a fork in the road and a diamond sign. The lady had told me this was not a loop. I wasn't sure which way to go and since it was sprinkling I decided to head back before it got really wet as I wasn't dressed to be out in the woods!

So back I headed, climbing to the top of another ledge finding another semi-open rock slab. Then back down the trail hoping the rain would hold off. I caught a glimpse of something red in the dirt road, and spun around to investigate. It was a red-walled tire that read "US Royal", which upon some research are tires that were used in the 1960's and years prior. Neat find, I thought! I made a stop at the marsh I passed earlier, bushwacking to it's shore for a clear picture. Back on the road I did a tick check and got back to the pond for more pictures before heading home. Distance was about a mile (1 hour round trip) with the pond loop and logging road. I will have to investigate further where the other roads go to on a better day. (pictures)