Blue Job & Little Blue Job Mountains - Orange trail

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Distance:  2.4 miles
Maximum Elevation: 1,355 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 528 ft.

Total Time: 2.3 hrs.

TRAIL REPORT

After a winter of Achilles tendon problems and months of PT, I chose this hike to be a modest reentry back into some mountainous terrain.  Arriving at 9 a.m., the parking lot was already close to full.  Taking the orange blazed trail on the far right, walking was easy for the first level stretch.  There was minimal mud and no bugs at all and the temperature was in the low 40's.

As the trail started up the mountain, mud and wet leaves became more plentiful and the mossy granite made the going a bit more slippery.  As the climb progressed, there were actually some ice patches still left on the trail, but not enough to warrant putting on any traction.

After about 20-30 minutes, a rock ledge is reached, marked by a cairn and affording the first partially obstructed view to the west.

After the cairn, the trail continues to climb for a very short distance and abruptly turns left.  The old fire tower could be seen through the trees.

Climbing up to the summit, I could not find a USGS marker; however, there were a number of old footings from an earlier tower as well as a large cell tower and transmitter.  An old building also stands at the summit, use unknown but it does have electrical service.

The views were much better from the topmost level of the fire tower.  In the view to the west you could make out Saddleback Mountain as well as Mount Wachusett.

To the northwest, Belknap Mountain and Mt. Major could be seen in the distance.

Finally, the view to the north was full of the peaks of the White Mountains.  I could make out the Tripyramids and Mt. Tecumseh in the distance.

After a short water and snack break, it was time to start off to Little Blue Job.  The trail leaves the esummit lust to the left of the gas tanks that are on the outside of the cell tower transmitter building. It is not marked with any sign or blazes and I needed to look for a number of rock cairns to identify the path as it headed steeply down he mountain. 

Once again, as the trail descended into a shady spruce forest, there was some ice in patches on the trail.  after about 10 minutes, the trail crossed a small stream which could make a good water source if it were still running in the summer. After a total of 0.3 miles from the Blue Job summit, the trail pops out of the hemlock forest onto rock slabs and the first views of Little Blue job were seen in the distance.

The trail continues past a very pretty pond which is situated in the col between the two summits.  

From the pond the trail once again begins climbing, this time on smooth rock ledges.  Once again, there were no markings; one simply follows the cairns.

It was a short climb and then the trail follows a rock wall to a large cairn marking the summit of Little Blue Job Mountain.

The view from the top was beautiful and you could clearly make out numerous peaks of the White Mountains to the north.  There were also a number of large flat boulders, perfect to stretch out and get some sun.  I thought that the summit of Little Blue Job was far more rewarding than it's taller brother!  Finally, it was time to head back.  There are numerous spur tails all heading off of the summit.  I followed the cairn trail back the way I came but followed a trail that led to the opposite side of the pond.

Once again, the trail was not well marked.  Just before reentering the first, the trail, which had become deep with mud, suddenly entered an extensively flooded section that was still partially covered in ice.

It was impassable so I set off into the woods to climb up the ridge a small distance and get out of the muck.  After a 10 minute Bushwack, I rejoined the trail and followed it back down to where it rejoins the orange blazed trail returning from the summit of Blue Job Mountain.  About 20 minutes after leaving the summit of Little Blue Job, I was back in the parking area.