Iron Mountain, New Hampshire

Monday was a hot, hazy and humid hiking day with barely a breeze. We thought a short little hike wouldn’t that require much effort would be perfect for weather conditions like these. We were wrong, any hike in this type of weather requires an effort.

Our decision was made to hike Iron Mountain in Jackson NH. We had attempted this mountain, one fall, but when we drove up to the trail head there were no views, all socked in. As this is on the 52 With a VIew List we knew we wanted to wait till we had a chance to see the mountains that surround this one.

After parking below Hayes Farm, we started up the grassy hill.

I just kept thinking, as we walked this grassy bit, I would be happy here with just a bench, the views were so spectacular, even on a hazy day.

We entered the woods by the sign.

Into the woods we ambled for a short distance, then out on another grassy field and returned to the woods. At around .3 miles we began the climb up. Parts of this trail are eroded and I wouldn’t hike it right after we have a major rain storm.

Due to the absence of a cooling breeze and humidity increasing, we didn’t snap a great amount of photos, we just wanted to keep going.

We did encounter one rock slab and coming up to it I thought, this might be long and arduous, however in true White Mountain style, nothing is as it appears to be. It was minor and easy.

After this little section, we were treated to an outlook, about 20 yards off to the right. It granted us a fine view of the Presidentials.

In .3 miles from this view you summit Iron Mountain, where an old fire tower used to stand. This is a no view mountain.

After briefly checking out the ruins, we scurried on the path to find the south cliffs, where the views were to found. The only sign denoting the path was this piece of wood. At this point, cairns helped to guide our way.

It was a descent to the cliffs with one steep section.

Around 1.5 miles the trails splits if you go to the left you are heading towards the mine. We met a man coming up from that area. He said he searched for the mine but couldn’t find it, so he abandoned his quest. We veered right to the cliffs. The views that awaited us were justified to be on 52 With a View List.

If wasn’t so darn hot, I think we would have easily spent an hour or two exploring all over the rock slab, just enjoying the views. We quickly retreated back to the woods, out of the blazing sun.

We quickly made it back to our car from the cliffs (only about 60 minutes). We briefly stopped twice on the descent. Once to chat with a man and his daughter who were going to try to find the cliffs (it was the man’s third attempt to reach them, signage is poor) and one more time to snap photos from the field.

After the hike we drove the short distance to The Sunrise Shack in Glen for a burger, salad and a brew. I would highly recommend this place for an after hike food stop.

It was a great little hike, one I would repeat in cooler weather and in the fall to see the colors displayed.

The Details: Around 3 miles, elevation gain of 1100 feet, 3 hours.

August 18, 2015 0

A trail with two different points of view, Sugarloaf Mountain – June 29

Here is Mike’s version:

Went up a very long, steep hill. Saw fog. Came down same very long steep hill. Had mud and bugs. I was the grumpy hiking partner . One of those hikes that didn’t do anything for me.

Ann’s version:

We thought the clouds/fog would lift off of Sugarloaf Mountain. We kept seeing blue sky teasing us, so decided to stick to our destination. We drove the 8.3 miles on Nash Stream Road, with the sun sometimes peeking out. Parked the car by a cabin and was immediately swarmed by gnats and mosquitoes.

We followed a grassy path until it viewed to the right and followed the Sugarloaf Mountain trail.

We had to keep moving because of the bugs. I tried to stop to snap a picture and even the camera was attacked.

Not much to say except follow this trail and just keep going up. The trail isn’t impressive. The steepness doesn’t stop and I had to motivate myself to reach one water division channel at a time. Stop at each one, catch breath, get to the next one. I ended up thinking this was just a workout hike, to keep me in a good mood. I could tell Mike wasn’t enjoying the trail.

Even in the mud section, where I swear the mud monster is lurking to suck your shoe off, you are going up. Walking through the mud avoiding this monster was a better way to go than rock hopping. The rocks were very slippery.

At 1.5 miles we reached the old fire warden’s hut, that is now a jumbled mess of wood and tin.

After this the forest transformed into a Boreal Forest. The trail was beautiful for the next .6 miles and the grade seemed a little easier.

I had a spring in my step, so we made good time to the summit.

We stood around and ate a few pieces of food quickly. The bugs at the summit didn’t take a break and we snapped a few pictures of the fog that surrounded us.

Down we went at a good clip. I tried to cheer up my grumpy hiking partner, told him we just had a great workout and it helps to look at it that way. Usually I’m the grumpy one, but I enjoyed battling the mud monster, laughing as he didn’t get my shoes and that kept my spirits light.

The Details: Park on Nash Stream Road in Stark. 4.1 miles, 2200 feet elevation gain. Total time was around 3 hours, 1 hour 6 mins. it took us to come down.

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June 30, 2013 6

A Hike as Sweet as Candy, Percy Peaks – June 15

I felt like a kid in a candy shop on this hike, I loved everything. I’ve been eyeing this hike since May when I read Nilsen’s description of this hike in 50 Hikes North of the White Mountains. Though I felt disappointment every weekend that we’ve come up to the White Mountains because the weather hasn’t been just perfect. I was like the kid waiting for that candy store to open, sad every time the store had the closed sign in the window. June 15 the candy store opened and I was giddy with excitement to hike the two peaks. Off we went to see some amazing views and hike beautiful trails.

We started the hike at 8 in the morning, the only car in the parking spot off of Nash Stream Rd in Stark, NH. Cross the bridge and the trail enters the forest on the right.

The trail was well maintained, but it doesn’t get as much traffic as other White Mountains Forest Trails. We enjoyed seeing the contrast of old and new work on the trail.

At a mile, a large boulder greeted us and we veered to the left of it. Talk about the determination of wanting to exist, check out the tree growing out of the rock.

Next we came upon staircases with an easy rise, great for short legs.

percy peaks 130 — Staircase courtesy of Crews from the North Woods Stewardship Center in VT.

At 1.2 miles the trail pitched upwards, following the old trail. The former trail went straight up the mossy slabs. According to Nilsen’s book, two deaths of humans from slipping here have occurred and even one moose slid to his death. Thankful the trail was re routed.

After the first cross over on one of the slides, turn around for the first start of some eye candy.

The sections began to get steep and we had to do some fancy footwork.

After this we entered a very webby area, had to find a stick to clear the way. It was like walking through cotton candy, all those webs.

Next we connected to the Old Summer Club Trail, part of the Cohos Trail System. We walked on this for a few paces to the connector to South Percy Peak.

We hiked the nameless South Percy Peak trail for .3 miles to the summit. This forest was untamed here with a few blowdowns that required over/under skills or a slight bushwhack to get around them.

percy peaks 101 — Can’t go over, can’t go under..try to go around

Once we reached the peak it was like we entered a blueberry bush candy store. Oh to come up here in August to eat our full would be heaven.

As we faced North Percy, Kim Nilsen’s description of the peak, kept popping into my head “a gumdrop”, no other label fits it better.

look at that "gumdrop" — look at that “gumdrop”

We started our descent and backtracked to head up to North Percy Peak.

This is where the fun began, walking up rock slabs. I am usually terrified of this type of hiking, but after reading Steve Smith’s description of walking up this rock slab, I was calm. He referred to it as “you stick to it like flypaper”. He was correct, no slipping at all in dry weather.

The pitch was steep, but if wet, do NOT attempt this hike, that would be disastrous. We reached the summit, with lots of ooohing and ahhhing, felt like the candy store just opened and we didn’t know where to look first. The views were stunning and we had it all to ourselves.

We hardly ever take our photo by the summit sign, but today we did. We usually don’t do it because there are gobs of people around a summit sign.

After wandering around the top and eating for 20 minutes, we headed down. At one point I yelled to Mike to stop, it looked he was going to drop off the end of the earths and it would make a great photo.

percy peaks 035 — Coming off of North Percy, facing South Percy

After descending we joined up with the Cohos Trail, the Percy Loop. I know my domain name is CThikergal, of course when I hike on the Cohos Trail, I like to pretend the CT stands for Cohos Trail, instead of Connecticut.

We walked on this beautiful path for 2.3 miles. It doesn’t see a lot of trampers, the moose scat on the trail was even starting to grow moss. This is my favorite type of trail, not a lot of traffic and it is wild looking, full of beauty only touched by nature. Every where we looked it was beautiful, again like that child in the candy store with all the colorful candy perfectly placed to entice all the senses.

The trail at times was a bit muddy and I had to laugh out loud when I discovered moose skid marks in the soft earth.

The trail ended for us at the Nash Stream Road and we had a mile road walk back to the car.

At one point we could look back and see a glimpse of the “gumdrop”.

We highly recommend this hike on a beautiful clear day. We saw no one on the trail, though where we parked had four cars in it when we arrived back at our car.

We both felt like little kids exiting the candy store, all giddy after a full day of experiencing nature’s candy.

The Details: Loop hike for 6.3 miles, elevation gain was 2500 feet, time was 5 hours 9 minutes.

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June 16, 2013 11

Middle Sugarloaf – June 1st

The universe hasn’t liked us this week, so we knew to keep this a simple hike, in case more trouble was ahead for us. We agreed to much couldn’t go wrong if we did the Sugarloafs, which in the end turned into only one Sugarloaf. So yeah the universe is still messing with us.

We knew we needed an early start, it is HOT here in the White Mountains this weekend, crazy hot. Just coming off of winter and spring hiking our bodies are not accustomed to hiking in 80 degree weather. We’ve hiked this two years ago on National Trails Day. It is a pleasant, easy trail with splendid views.

We parked at a spot off of Zealand Road, crossed the bridge and entered the trail, following the Zealand River.

The trail meets up with the Trestle Trail (however a sign states the bridge is out) and you turn left.

Along the path has the last remains of spring flowers are popping up.

Over a boggy area you have a little assistance.

After this you pass some boulders that are GIGANTIC in size.

The ascents were never strenuous or dangerous. A man-made rock stair way always helps.

At point .9 miles the decision to go right or left, awaits the hiker. We decided on left first to Middle Sugarloaf. It is a mere .4 miles to the top of the huge expanse. Once again humans have lent a helping hand and placed a ladder to assist hikers.

After this climb, you pop out to a huge open summit that has expansive views of the Presidentals, Zealand and Ammonoosuc valleys and so many peaks I have no idea (my app, the Peakfinder was acting up – see universe at work again).

Because it was so warm, being overtired and way overstressed we decided Middle Sugarloaf was good enough for today. Poor Mike was really feeling it. We didn’t want to bring heat stroke or dehydrations issues on us, because we didn’t want to tempt the universe.

This hike did help us to de stress a bit, so thankful for that. Maybe tomorrow will see us put more miles on our boots and deal with our lives a bit better, once we leave the mountains.

The Details: a little under 3 miles, about two hours with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. This is an easy climb and well worth the views.

June 1, 2013 2

A Birthday Wish on Imp Face (May 4, 2013)

Today was on of my sister’s birthday. It was a big day for her and where was I? Not with her, but somewhere that was dear to her heart. Don’t worry I’m not a bad sister, not spending it with her. You see she is having a big bash with the entire family when we can be together later in the month. I wanted to give her a gift though today and that was a view of her favorite mountain, Mt. Washington.

My sister is a hiker. Before her knee replacements she hiked Mt. Washington on a regular basis. She loves that mountain. I would hear her tales of hikes in rain, thunder, sleet and in good weather. I would think that girl is crazy, but boy did I admire her for doing that. She would even hike it solo and I was so jealous, she had so much confidence to do it alone. I finally conquered Mt. Washington in August and thought of her the entire way up. Once was enough for me. I prefer finding viewpoints to look at Mt. Washington.

I knew I had to find a hike that gave me the view of that majestic beast, so I could send it to her in a birthday message. Imp Face was the logical choice. I owe this sister that much. She was my second mom as a baby. I would ask for her before our own mother.

Off to Imp Face we went.

The path started off easy through a pine covered trail with the roaring Imp brook to our left.

Mike scooted off the trail to snap a few pictures of the brook.

We had two large brook crossings, the second one almost stopped me from continuing on. For short legs, it was a big space between boulders, but after a bit of convincing from Mike, I stretched those legs and made it.

2nd brook crossing that was difficult for me. For Mike easy

Typical White Mountain fashion, we ascended directly up from there.

After a bit of the up, we hit a large wooded area that was “flat” and the spring flowers started to dot the trail.

After this section it was time to ascend the stairs.

From the stairs we start some real New Hampshire White Mountains hiking. Rocks that you step up on, mud you squish in and snow you sink in.

Luckily we had snow as I suffered another flesh wound on this trail. Mike carried a snowball to the ledges, so he could ice and clean out my leg wound. What a good guy. We reached the summit and the views were spectacular. What a great birthday gift I could send my sister.

We spent around 45 minutes hanging out, snapping photos, eating, sending photos and attending to my minor flesh wound.

P1040561 — Snow makes a perfect ice pack

P1040566 — My almond bars enjoying the view

I was really happy to be here and to be able to send my sister a great birthday present, a view.

This was an amazing day for a beautiful hike. The views were even better than we anticipated and the sky was stunning.

Down we descended. Ready to return “home” to a much deserved glass of wine to toast my sister and finish off a perfect afternoon in the white mountains.

Happy Birthday My Hiking Birthday Sister.

The Details: 4.4 miles out and back. Four hours, including hanging on the ledges. 1875 elevation gain. Overall not a demanding hike, but I would not attempt water crossings in high water.

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May 4, 2013 5

Mud, Snow and Sun-A Perfect Day for Starr-King (April 27, 2013)

We narrowed down our list to three viewing spots, Imp Face, Doubleheads or Starr-King. Well (and I mean that literally), we were in need of water for the house and Mt. Starr King was the closest viewing spot to the well in Jefferson. So after the hike, we could easily fill up our five jugs at our favorite watering hole. Love how our decision process works. Off we went to grab a view on a lovely White Mountains Spring Day.

The trail head is located past a few summer “cottages” on Starr King Road. When we arrived one car was in the lot and two other cars were directly behind us. I knew all the major trails would see heavy foot traffic because of perfect conditions; sunny, spring like, little amount of bugs and barely a breeze stirring the branches.

We threw on our packs, that were loaded with food, extra clothes, snow shoes, and microspikes. Off we went, knowing full well that the occupants of the cars behind us would soon catch up and pass us. I am still trying to find my mountain legs. This is a great hike for short legs because there were NO large step ups on boulders, just a path that was easy to follow that goes steadily up, but I was still being a pokey hikergal.

Early on in the hike we passed the foundation for an old springhouse. Right after this the first duo of hikers sprinted past us.

After this the trail started to become muddy. Sometimes you could rock hop, avoid it altogether or just give into the mud. What do I mean give into it? Why, sink your feet right in, feel the suction on your boot, slide and slip, pull your boot up(hoping it comes with your foot in it) and laugh out loud. Sometimes giving yourself over to the mud, is easier than trying to find ways to avoid it.

The forest changes and we discovered a small amount of monorail left. This was not traction worthy.

Then we reached 3,000 feet and the snow became a constant till the summit. We learned last week (Mt. Crescent) to put on traction as soon as possible. On the microspikes went and it made it so much easier, no postholing for us. However Mr. Moose was postholing quite a bit.

follow the yellow brick road, no I mean the monorail

We passed a natural spring along the way.

We had a few uphill sections, but I think uphill in snow is sometimes easier than on a bare path.

We started the steady climb up to the summit. This is where I start to get giddy on a hike, anticipation of the view that awaits us.

We are given a teaser of a view, right past this point.

The summit is quickly approaching, ok we are approaching it.

Then we turn the corner, the snow is gone on the summit.

We see the fireplace, remains from an old cabin and we know we have arrived.

Quickly we strip off the packs and microspikes, walk around, snap pictures and have lunch.

The temperature on the summit was 50 with a wind gust of 3 mph. What a great day to be out. We opted not to continue to Mt. Waumbek to bag a 4,000. We want to hike this beautiful trail again on a snow-free day. We hung out on the summit for about 30 minutes. We loaded our packs on and put the microspikes back on. I was a very happy girl.

As we descended, we stopped to look at the art gallery Mother Nature put together.

reminded me of something from the Muppet show

The descent went much quicker. You could smell spring start to awaken on the lower elevations. With a little less than a .25 miles to go, we had a chance encounter with a couple that were just out for a short jaunt to enjoy the day and check trail conditions.

The couple had to be in there in their late 70s. They had retired to New Hampshire and we found our lives had similarities in relation to places. They asked where we were from, we replied Connecticut. They wanted specifics and we told them. Come to find out they knew our town, had gone to college there, as we had (though it was called Teacher’s College back then). They grew up in CT, as I did. We mentioned Mike was from Indiana and they said they spent 44 years in Indiana. We chatted about the woods, how some people fly up a mountain and never stop to notice the little things around them. This encounter just helped to round out a great day. We hope our hiking paths cross again.

We arrived back to the cottage and I had my after hike treat. What a great way to end a day of hiking in mud, snow and sun.

The Details: 5.2 miles, total hike time was 4 hours 10 mins., elevation gain of 2400 feet. An easy trail for the White Mountains to hike, even in snow.

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April 28, 2013 0