Algonquin Trail 6/26/10

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One of my favorite trails in the White's! Algonquin Trail is really beautiful! We planned this hike since there was a chance of an afternoon thunder shower and this trail was relatively close and the hike is on the shorter side, though very steep. And it is one of the quietest trails in the Sandwich Range.

We headed down the always interesting sandwich notch rd. We parked in one of the 3 parking spaces, empty as predicted and started our hike at 8:30am. I thought we would be dealing with bugs on this part of the trail, but was happy to only be swatting at an occasional mosquito. The trail is very gradual until you reach the small river and now climbs steeply up the bank. From here on the trail just gets steeper and steeper, getting a break on some open rock area looking up to Black Mountain and the Algonquin Ridge as I call it.

The climb around Black Mt. reminded me a little of the Ice Gulch, steep and rocky, covered with moss and lichen. We arrived at the first scramble and came out on the first view point just as an eagle floated past. Views were nice, though hazy and I am guessing partially due to the fires in Canada. We continued on back into the trees, up two other scrambles and back out into the open, views are stunning as always over to the rocky Welch Dickey Range, Acteon Ridge and Noon Peak. We made our way to the destination point a bit past the Black Mountain Pond Trail, up over a rock that overlooks Black Mt. Pond at 11:00am. Winds were comfortable and we had lunch and just relaxed. My second most favorite spots in the White's!

Heading back down this trail went good. A little slippery as this trail always is. We startled a moose or bear back down on the old logging road, as we heard a loud splash in the water a couple hundred ft. in the woods. We arrived back at the truck at 1:00pm. A nice short hike, but not for the weak! Rugged, steep, slippery and technical. The reward: QUITE, beautiful moss and lichen covered trails and sweeping views that make you feel like your way out in the wilderness.

View pics HERE

Mt. Major 12/13/09

Difficulty: Moderate (steep and rough especially on ledges)


Directions: From Alton, NH take Rt. 11 West and follow it for about 6 miles. Trail head parking lot is on the left (blue sign)

Report: Mom and I were on our own today. We started at 10:15am under mostly sunny sky's. Temps were in the low 30's. Trail was packed nicely with just a few icy spots where the snow had been shaved off. The sun glistened off of the ice sheet over the snow which was a nice treat. Passed two groups on there way down and saw 2 guys at the summit. Hardly any wind at the summit, a far cry to what Scott & I experienced on Blue Job the day before. Views were at their best with Franconia Range visible as well as Washington & Monroe. Clouds were quickly setting in over us when as we left the summit. Beautiful morning for a hike! Landed my largest panorama yet and it came out perfect! Finished at 12:00 (1hr. 45min. round trip). Pics here> http://www.flickr.com/photos/excape1/sets/72157622870876961/
After close scrutiny I came to the conclusion that it is not the Franconia Range visible but Hancock & Carrigain...I was trying with my map to get my coordinates aligned and figure out the peaks with an enlarged photo. Click this link to see what I determined, would like insight as to if any of you think it is acurate or if you think the peaks are something else> http://www.flickr.com/photos/excape1/4183290855/sizes/o/

Sandwich Dome 10/17/09

We made our last minute preperations Friday for a Hike-NH group hike for Saturday. I invited my brother along as he had the day off. I was sticking to my plan to hike Guinea Pond trail to Black Mt. Pond trail. I new this would be a longer hike but figured the weather wouldn't be all that great anyway, so the chances of summiting Sandwich Dome was probably not going to happen.

We arrived at the trailhead and got on the trail at a nice and early 8:00am. Once the thermometer readings leveled after being in the warm truck temps. read a brisk 37*, but crystal clear sky's. It was cold, the frost on everything was proof of that. It was very pretty though against the bright foliage. At one point, ice crystsals on the trail where the sun was hitting looked like glitter scattered about. This entire section of trail is a logging road up to our Black Mountain Pond junction, passing several marshes and beaver ponds.

Now on Black Moutain Pond trail we crossed a river and gradually climbed up to a side path to Mary Cary Fall. Not much to look at right now, but must be pretty cool in the spring. Soon we arrived to the pond's camping area and unfortunately no campers, particularly no "Peesalot" whom I was hoping to see as she had planned on camping here for the hike. We took in the beautiful sights of the large pond and the ridge behind it we would be climbing. The sky's were still clear with temps. in the upper 40's and though there was a slight breeze it was perfect weather.

We passed two more beaver ponds then made the climb with intermitent steep sections and a couple minor scrambles. Snow was now present here and ther on the trail but not a hinderance at all. Views from the ledges were magnificent! We took our lunch break not far from the Algonquin trail junction and once at the junction decided to continue on to Sandwich Dome as the conditions were perfect! Footprints in the snow showed that others had been up here today...perhaps Tim, Brian & Joe... I have to say, this being the second time on this ridge, these are some of the best views in the Whites. You could see Lake Winnipesaukee, snow capped Moosilauke, Franconia range & Presidentials, the Osceolas, Tecumseh, Rocky Jennings Peak & Sachem Peak, black mountain pond and all the other smaller peaks in between. It is quite a place!

Once over the high point on this ridge the trail drops to a col. As we began this steep climb down the snow on the trail made it slippery and slow going. We immediately assesed the situation and decided it was too much. With such a long hike back the extra hour or so to the summit, half hour on top and hour back would be pushing it if we wanted to get back to the truck before it got dark and cold. I drew "Excape was here" for the others to maybe see if they came back this way. Fighter Jets that we had heard all day were now visible as we made our way back down the ledges. They were doing manuevers which was pretty neat from this vantage point.

Once back down to the camping area a tent was now set up and a fire going. A man asked if we were with Hike-NH, we said yes just as Peesalot came walking over. We talked for 10 miuntes or so, very friendly couple whom I was glad to meet! (P.S. Peesalot, I have seen your truck before...lk2hk license plate and I will never forget that "terrorist hunting permit" sticker, the first time I saw it I was like, I love that sticker!) We continued down the now thawed out trail and back to the truck at 3:00pm. Perfect day, awesome hike. Hope to meet the others on the next Group Hike! Pictures of this hike here> http://www.flickr.com/photos/excape1/sets/72157622489421305/

Algonquin Trail 7/25/09

Being very interested since I read the description on the Sandwich Dome Algonquin Trail, I thought Ascender/Scott and I would check it out. I drove through Wolfeboro and up Rt. 109 to Rt. 113 coming close to hitting three deer around a bend in the road...glad I was paying attention as I try to do up North with all the wildlife around! The Sandwich Notch Rd. was difficult to find. When you come into Center Sandwich Village from the South end look for a yellow blinking light with a General Store (closed) on the left. 113 bears left while the road you want forks straight ahead. The road changes to dirt and forks (here there is a sign for Sandwich Notch Rd. - Left). Soon the narrow road becomes somewhat rough with large pot holes (which the rain filled up and probably made worse) and some rather steep pitches...(little cars beware - bottoming-out is a possibility!) Continue on for approximately 2.5 miles passing Guinea Pond TR and then the Algonquin TR. The parking is limited to three spots at the trailhead and a couple spots a short distance back the way you came. I backed into my own personal spot between trees and we got the packs on, noticing only one other truck in the lot. Starting at 9:30am the trail begins as an old logging road and turned out to be one of the more pleasant logging roads I've been on. Only a few mosquito's were buzzing whenever we stopped to take pictures of the numerous mushrooms on the, yes, you guessed it, wet trail from the rain that morning and night before. The trail crosses a brook and soon climbs steeply alongside a river and then breaks from the river and up to the South end of Black Mt. Here you will find some open rock areas similar to that of Sandwich Mtn. TR on Sandwich's North end, the difference being that instead of a view up to Jennings Peak you are given a view up to trailess Black Mt. The trail easily makes it's way around the mountain then drops slightly before climbing very steeply. This section of trail reminds me of Wildcat Ridge TR from Glen Ellis Falls. As you make your way up the steep, rocky TR you come to a somewhat tough rock scramble and up/through and around two others. Once atop these we were awarded with our first good views. As we exited the ledge area we ran into three men who belonged to the lone truck in the parking lot. One stated he had never seen anyone on this trail before, claiming it was little used. We joked about the "dry" season we have had this year, complained about the slippery trail and made our farewells. Now we quickly began to climb out onto open rock areas with low alpine trees breaking up the rocky ridge. The one thing that I noticed was that the trail here was narrow and the rocky ridge was not trampled down by heavy foot traffic (confirming that it was a less used TR). We arrived at a rather attractive ledge area where we took a break to take in the view and serenity. Views were magnificent North to the rock sided peaks & ledges of Sachem Peak on Acteon Ridge, Jennings Peak and Welch and Dickey with Tecumseh & the Osceolas in the distance. We carried on to the Black Mt. Pond TR junction at 3300 ft. arriving at 12:15pm with a beautiful ledge with an outstanding view South East to Black Mountain Pond and it's adjacent marsh...definitely visiting that area soon! We determined this was as far as we needed to go as there was a great view and a nice breeze. We also wanted enough energy to get back down the steep, slippery trail. We dropped our bags in some scrub and explored the ridge further, climbing up another 100 ft. or so to a large boulder. We came back for our bags, ran into two other guys and we hiked back down to the ledge with the North view to have lunch. After spending 1.5 hrs. on this beautiful ridge and our stomachs satisfied, we started back down at 1:45pm. To our surprise we met a solo female barefoot hiker on the rock scramble. First time I've seen this species on a trail, we exchanged hello's and she went truckin' on...probably having an easier time on the wet rock than we did! As we got back down to the river we passed a family of five heading to camp at Black Mt. Pond. I mentioned the climb up the ridge was very steep, to which the father replied, "oh, there's a ridge?" After we continued on I began to think, why didn't they take the direct route up Guinea Pond TR? Why are they starting out on this trail so late?? Is he perhaps on the wrong trail??? How are they going to get there young kids (2 of them girls) and a dog with overnight gear weighing them down up the rock scrambles???? I began to worry and was hoping they would have the common sense to turn around if things got difficult. We then came back to the logging road and passed another family of three with nothing more than fishing poles and tackle boxes at 3:15pm, apparently also headed to the pond...WHAT??? After snapping shots of more shrooms we missed on the way up and passing the two ill-informed (I'm assuming) groups we arrived back at the truck at 3:30pm.
<View Pictures HERE>
I must say I greatly enjoyed this hike, it has a feeling of seclusion and affords great/unique views and has the exciting rock scrambling that I love. A trail to re-visit again and again!