Hike: Morse Mountain and Seawall Beach

Posted on 28 March, 2021 by Cade

The previous day of hiking through mashed potato snow in the mountains wore me out enough to not return to the mountains, but not enough to prevent me from hiking more. I headed out on a coastal hike in Maine I had not done before, but a dear friend had recommended to me years before. The hike through Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area was along a dirt road and provided all that the Maine coast can muster: a saltwater marsh, evergreen forests, a granite mountain (if small), and a beautiful secluded beach.

ROUTE

Parked at Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area parking on Morse Mountain Road in Phippsburg, ME
Hike Morse Mountain Road to intersection with Summit Circle
Right on Summit Circle to Morse Mountain viewpoint and back
Right on Morse Mountain Road to Seawall Beach
Return to parking lot along same route

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 28 March 2021
Distance: 5.6 miles
Moving Time: 01:43:15
Pace: 18:29/mile
Elevation Gain: 696′

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Little Wildcat, Carter Dome, Hight

Posted on 27 March, 2021 by Cade

Jeff and I originally wanted to get one last hike in before the end of winter, but when I couldn’t swing it we instead hiked the next weekend. The idea was to Grid the Wildcats and Carters, as well as do some White Mountain trail tracing, and a couple small AT sections for me. We originally planned to hike up Wildcat Ski Resort, but shortly after arriving we were turned around and told that there was no uphill travel while the ski lifts are running. So we adjusted our plans and landed on just doing the Carters from Nineteen Mile Brook to northern trailhead of Imp Trail (where my car was already planted). On the way up Nineteen Mile we decided to do Little Wildcat Mountain, a New Hampshire 200 Highest, on a whim. But the day warmed up, and the snow turned to mashed potatoes. By the time we slogged out Little Wildcat and ascended Carter Dome I was exhausted. We ended up just doing Mount Hight and out. A good example for future me of being flexible enough to change plans and route to ensure the day is enjoyable.

ROUTE

Parked at Nineteen Mile Brook parking on Route 16 in Gorham, NH
Hike Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to around 2650′
Bushwhack to Little Wildcat Mountain and back
Continue up Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to intersection with Carter-Moriah Trail
Left on Carter-Moriah Trail over Carter Dome and Mount Hight to intersection with Carter Dome Trail at Zeta Pass
Left on Carter Dome Trail to Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
Right on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail back to parking

PHOTOS

VIDEO

STATS

Date: 27 March 2021
Distance: 10.8 miles
Moving Time: 04:44:46
Pace: 26:24/mile
Elevation Gain: 4524′

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Winter Hike: Washington 2021

Posted on 15 February, 2021 by Cade

This winter hike up Mount Washington was almost cancelled because of the forecast, but we lucked out with a nice window of weather on the morning of President’s Day. The trails were perfectly packed and there was very little ice, but I was still very glad for my new crampons and ice ax while going up and down the Lion’s Head winter route. The weather on the summit was very mild and my group of four shared it with a group of skiers that came up the cog railway.

ROUTE

Parked at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center of Route 16, Jackson, NH
Hiked up Tuckerman Ravine Trail to intersection with Fire Road
Turned right on Fire Road to intersection with Lion’s Head Trail (Winter Route)
Turned left on Lion’s Head Trail (Winter Route) to intersection with Tuckerman Ravine Trail
Turned right on Tuckerman Ravine Trail to summit of Mount Washington
Same route back to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 15 February 2021
Distance: 7.9 miles
Moving Time: 03:27:03
Pace: 26:14/mile
Elevation Gain: 4606′

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Winter Trail Run: Pleasant Mountain

Posted on 12 February, 2021 by Cade

Work gave us the afternoon off, so John, Michael and I did a quick trail run to the top of Pleasant via Ledges Trail. It was a beautiful day and the trails were packed like a sidewalk.

ROUTE

Parked at Ledges Trail parking lot on Mountain Road, Denmark, ME
Run up Ledges Trail to summit and back

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 12 February 2021
Distance: 3.5 miles
Moving Time: 0:55:15
Pace: 15:49/mile
Elevation Gain: 1650′

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Winter Hike: Howe, Shelburne Moriah, Moriah

Posted on 22 December, 2020 by Cade

Jeff, John, Michael and I planned on taking a day off to hike Mount Washington on the second day of winter. The forecast showed Mount Washington in the clouds all day with gusty winds from the Northwest, and a some snow and increased winds in the afternoon. So we switched up our plans and did Mount Moriah via a Howe Peak bushwhack and over Shelburne Moriah Mountain. The weather and views weren’t great but I knocked off a New Hampshire 200 Highest, two trails red-lined, a new section of the AT, and got Mount Moriah for my December Grid and New Hampshire Winter 4000 Footer list.

ROUTE

Left vehicle at Rattle River Trail parking off Route 2 in Shelburne, NH
Parked at Shelburne Trail North parking off Conner Road in Shelburne, NH
Hiked up Shelburne Trail to intersection with Kenduskeag Trail
Bushwhacked east to Howe Peak and back
Turned right on Kenduskeag Trail over Shelburne Moriah Mountain to intersection with Carter-Moriah Trail
Turned right on Carter-Moriah Trail to Moriah spur trail
Turned left on Moriah spur trail and climbed to Mount Moriah summit and back
Turned right on Carter-Moriah Trail back to intersection with Kenduskeag Trail
Turned left on Kenduskeag Trail and returned to intersection with Rattle River Trail
Turned left on Rattle River Trail and hiked down to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 22 December 2020
Distance: 14.8 miles
Moving Time: 07:18
Pace: 29:33/mile
Elevation Gain: 4019′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Kenduskeag Trail
Rattle River Trail

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Big Bickford, Lafayette & Eagle Cliff

Posted on 12 December, 2020 by Cade

Jeff, Richard and I headed to Franconia Notch on a relatively warm November day to ascend a few New Hampshire 200 Highest peaks. We also redlined a couple of trails and hit Mount Lafayette because it was in between. Big Bickford Mountain and Eagle Cliff didn’t have trails and were about as opposite as bushwhacks could be. Big Bickford was a fairly level and wide open bushwhack. While Eagle Cliff was shorter, it was much thicker and basically a cliff scramble in places. Due to mashed potato-like snow underfoot, the trip took longer than expected, and we finished the bushwhack and hike out by headlamp.

ROUTE

Left car at Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway parking lot on Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH
Started at Skookumchuck Trail parking off Route 3 in Franconia, NH
Hiked up Skookumchuck Trail to point at level with col between trail and Big Bickford Mountain
Bushwhacked north to Big Bickford Mountain and back
Continued left on Skookumchuck Trail to intersection with Garfield Ridge Trail
Turn right on Garfield Ridge Trail to Mount Lafayette summit
Turn right on Greenleaf Trail to gap at Eagle Cliff
Bushwhacked west to Eagle Cliff and back
Turn right on Greenleaf Trail and continued to trailhead near Tramway Drive

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 12 December 2020
Distance: 12.2 miles
Moving Time: 06:59
Pace: 34:17/mile
Elevation Gain: 4628′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Greenleaf Trail
Skookumchuck Trail

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Mount Shaw

Posted on 28 November, 2020 by Cade

For my birthday, Lindsay and I drove to New Hampshire to hike Mount Shaw, a 52 with a View peak, near Lake Winnipesaukee. It was a good climb up to Black Snout where we stopped for lunch. The hike was easy from there, though clouds and flurries had rolled and obscured the views. The descent was steep but pleasant and the sun came back out for the end of the hike. He stopped at Back Hill Brewing in Rochester to pick up a growler of their double IPA before heading back to Maine.

ROUTE

Parked at Shaw Trail parking on Mountain Road, Center Tuftonboro, NH
Hiked up Shaw Trail to intersection with Italian Trail
Right on Italian Trail to intersection with Big Ball Mountain Trail
Left on Big Ball Mountain Trail over Tate Mountain to the intersection with High Ridge Trail and Black Snout Spur Trail
Left on Black Snout Spur Trail to the summit of Black Snout and back
Left on High Ridge Trail to summit of Mount Shaw
Return down High Ridge Trail to intersection with Shaw Trail
Right on Shaw Trail back to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 28 November 2020
Distance: 7.7 miles
Moving Time: 03:48
Pace: 29:38/mile
Elevation Gain: 2527′

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Paugus and Chocorua

Posted on 21 November, 2020 by Cade

I hadn’t done Mount Paugus, and had a whole bunch of Tracing the White Mountains Trails to do, so I joined Jeff and Yudi for a hike. Not only did we enjoy the view at the south peak of Mount Paugus, but we also made the gnarly bushwhack out to the true summit for our New Hampshire 200 Highest lists. After Paugus, we continued to the always wonderful Mount Chocorua to finish up a few trails on its western side. It was a long but great day in the woods.

ROUTE

Parked at Liberty Trail parking on Chocorua Mountain Road, Albany, NH
Hiked up Chocorua Mountain Road to Whitin Brook Trail
Left on Whitin Brook Trail to Cabin Trail
Right on Cabin Trail to Lawrence Trail
Right on Lawrence Trail to south peak of Mount Paugus
Bushwhack to Mount Paugus true summit and back
Left on Old Paugus Trail to intersection of Bee Line Trail
Left on Bee Line Trail to Brook Trail
Left on Brook Trail to intersection with West Side Trail
Left on West Side Trail to Three Sister’s Trail
Right on Three Sister’s Trail to summit of Mount Chocorua
Down Liberty Trail to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 21 November 2020
Distance: 15.1 miles
Moving Time: 06:47:48
Pace: 26:58/mile
Elevation Gain: 5021′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Liberty Trail
West Side Trail
Bee Line Trail Chocorua Branch
Bee Line Trail Paugus Branch
Whitin Brook Trail

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Engine Hill and Isolation

Posted on 15 November, 2020 by Cade

Jeff and I took advantage of a mid-November day with no snow on the ground to do some Tracing White Mountains Trails. We headed to the Dry River Wilderness where I traced 4 trails, got Mount Isolation for the 4th time on my Grid, and we bushwhacked South Engine Hill, adding it to our New Hampshire 200 Highest lists.

If you reproduce the bushwhack I highly suggest taking our western return route, it was wide open birch glade, while our more eastern route was thick spruce. head beyond the Engine Hill height of land and down to 3050′, head south until you are west of the peak and just climb uphill to the semi-clear summit.

ROUTE

Left car at Rocky Branch South Trailhead on Jericho Road, Glen, NH
Started at Rocky Brach North Trailhead of Pinkham Notch Road, Jackson, NH
Hiked up Rocky Branch Trail – North to height of land near Engine Hill
Bushwhacked south to South Engine Hill and back
Continued left on Rocky Branch Trail – North to intersection with Isolation Trail – East
Right on Isolation Trail – East to intersection with Davis Path
Left on Davis Path to intersection with Mount Isolation Spur
Right up Mount Isolation Spur to Mount Isolation and back to Davis Path
Left on Davis Path to intersection with Isolation Trail – East
Right on Isolation Trail – East to intersection with Rocky Branch Trail – South
Straight on Rocky Branch Trail – South to intersection with Stairs Col Trail
Right on Stairs Col Trail to intersection with Davis Path and back to Rocky Branch Trail – South
Right on Rocky Branch Trail – South to Rocky Branch South Trailhead

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 15 November 2020
Distance: 23.4 miles
Moving Time: 09:03
Pace: 23:15/mile
Elevation Gain: 5145′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Stairs Col Trail
Rocky Branch Trail – North
Rocky Branch Trail – South
Isolation Trail – East

Contact Me

maine.wanderlust@gmail.com

Hike: Passaconaway & Square Ledge

Posted on 4 October, 2020 by Cade

Lindsay and I hiked our first New Hampshire 4000 Footer together on a beautiful October weekend. After hitting Mount Passaconaway and its viewpoint, we headed out to Square Ledge to check out the retired 52 with a View.