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 Hike: Duck Pond Mountain

Posted on 13 February, 2021 by Cade

On a beautifully cold February day, John, Jeff, Richard and I snowshoed up to Nancy Pond so we could bushwhack to another New Hampshire 200 Highest peak, the viewless Duck Pond Mountain. A few inches of powder over a packed trail made for good traction, and the bushwhack to Duck Pond was a little thick but otherwise easy. The highlight of the day was the perfect sun halo, and snowshoeing over the frozen Norcross Pond to the view of the Bonds across the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

ROUTE

Parked Nancy Pond Trail parking off Route 302 in Hart’s Location, NH
Snowshoed Nancy Pond Trail to Nancy Pond
Bushwhack to summit of Duck Pond Mountain and back
Bushwhack across Nancy Pond and Norcross Pond and back
Snowshoed down Nancy Pond Trail back to car

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 13 February 2021
Distance: 9.2 miles
Moving Time: 04:20:15
Pace: 28:25/mile
Elevation Gain: 2785′

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: Doublehead

Posted on 6 February, 2021 by Cade

It was February already and I hadn’t yet gone for a hike. I was getting stir-crazy, so Lindsay convinced me to get to the mountains for my health. I chose to do the Doubleheads as they were the closest New Hampshire 200 Highest peaks I hadn’t done. I got up at 4am and to the trailhead just before sunrise. I was unsure if it was kosher to hike up the ski trail, but there was a sign explaining trail manners for doing so. If I wasn’t redlining, or first person up the mountain, then the best trail up Doublehead was Old Path. But, there was a packed trail from people skinning up and I hardly left a mark. After the ski trail the remaining trails were unbroken, which was specially fun floating down New Path. I added some extra vert by redlining Old Path before heading to South Doublehead.

ROUTE

Parked at Doublehead Ski Trail parking off Dundee Road, Jackson, NH
Snowshoe up Doublehead Ski Trail to summit of North Doublehead
Turn right on Old Path to intersection with New Path
Turn right on Old Path to intersection with Doublehead Ski Trail and return to previous intersection
Turn right on New Path to Summit of South Doublehead and continue to intersection with South Doublehead View Spur
Turn left on South Doublehead View Spur to view and return to intersection
Turn left on New Path and follow to Dundee Road
Turn right on Dundee Road and follow back to parking

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 06 February 2021
Distance: 5.0 miles
Moving Time: 02:32:19
Pace: 30:35/mile
Elevation Gain: 2746′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Doublehead Ski Trail
Old Path
New Path
South Doublehead View Sput

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: 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: Royces

Posted on 27 November, 2020 by Cade

In the seemingly never-ending pursuit to hike the New Hampshire 200 Highest and to red-line the White Mountains National Forest trails, I headed to one of my favorite areas to hike: Evan’s Notch. I originally planned to hike on both sides of the notch, starting with the Royces, and then heading over to Speckled and Blueberry Mountains on the east side. But, black ice on the trail slowed my pace, and my feet hurt (endless battle with plantar fasciitis). So, I bailed after East Royce to get done before dark. Plenty of waterfalls to see on this hike, and the view on East Royce was surprisingly excellent.

ROUTE

Parked at Basin Pond on Basin Road in Chatham, NH
Hiked Basin Trail to intersection with Hermit Falls Loop
Left on Hermit Falls Loop to Hermit Falls and around to Basin Trail
Right on Basin Trail to red-line and then up to Rim Junction
Right on Basin Rim Trail to West Royce and continued to intersection with Royce Connector Trail
Left on Royce Connector Trail to intersection with East Royce Trail
Left on East Royce Trail to summit of East Royce and back to intersection
Right on Royce Connector Trail to intersection with Royce Trail
Left on Royce Trail to trail head on Route 113
Right on Route 113, then right on Basin Road, and back to parking lot

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 27 November 2020
Distance: 11.5 miles
Moving Time: 05:00:46
Pace: 26:10/mile
Elevation Gain: 3570′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Basin Trail
Hermit Falls Loop
Royce Trail
Royce Connector Trail

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: 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.