North Pack Monadnock - Wapack Trail

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  Wapack Trail (Yellow triangular blazes)
Return Route:  same
Distance:  3.5 miles
Maximum Elevation: 2,270 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 1,030 ft.

Total Time: 4 hrs.

Trail Report

I arrived at the mountain at 9:00 finding only one other car in the parking lot.  Last December, I attempted to reach the summit, only to be turned back by sheets of ice on the upper ledges.  Today would be a lot better with temperature in the 40's and some light and intermittent showers.

The trailhead is the northern terminus of the Wapack Trail which runs all the way down to Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, MA which by coincidence I climbed just last week.  Today was to be an out-and-back to the summit following the yellow triangular blazed from the kiosk in the parking lot.

The trail starts out very level as it makes it's way to the east before gently sloping upwards.  There are a number of streams and water crossings; some have wooden plank bridges, some do not.

Even with the recent rains and hard runoff, all were an easy crossing.  There are some very wet sections at the bas of the mountain but all have been planked by the Friends of the Wapack crews.  Thanks folks!

After an abrupt turn to the right, the trail starts upwards over a carpet of tree roots and mossy rock ledges which were very slippery in the light morning rain.

There are two 50 ft. vertical scrambles which are very easy, although I have to admit falling after slipping on a patch of wet moss.  You can only really appreciate the steepness when you're in the middle of the slope.

At the top of the second scramble I bumped into a 70 year old retiree from NH and his pair of retrievers.  He told me that he climbs 3 mountains a week to keep in shape.......good for him! He suggested taking the cliff trail, which adds 1/2 hour but has some beautiful views. After passing through some pine forest, I arrived at the summit with one of the biggest cairns I've seen to date.

The views from the summit are very nice, with Mount Monadnock peeking through the trees.  The most unobstructed view proved to be to the north.

Through some trees, you could make out the summit of Pack Monadnock to the south with its fire and cell towers.

















The Wapack trail actually heads down from the summit of North Pack to Pack Monadnock which was perhaps another 2 miles away.  I'd like to try this as the weather warms up, leaving a second car at Miller State Park.  Today, however, was not that day.  With rain still coming down and a cold, gusty wind, I did not stay long at the summit and started back down the trail into the shelter of the pines.

On the way down, there were a couple of open meadows near smooth grating ledges that afforded a view of the Pinnacle and Crotched Mountain.

Since the rain stopped and there was some sun peaking through the clouds, it seemed like a good place for a water and snack break.  In no time at all, I was back as the base of the mountain and the car.

Little Monadnock Mountain

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  Yellow rectangular blazes to white rectangular blazes.
Return Route:  Same
Distance:  3.4 miles
Maximum Elevation: 1,881 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 890 ft.

Total Time: 3.5 hrs.

Trail Report

The trailhead is located inside Rhododendron State Park in Fitzwilliam, NH.  This chilly morning, the gate was still locked at 7 a.m. but there were parking sites just outside of the gate.  After parking, it was just a 5 minute jaunt down the loop road parking lot to get to a kiosk and a number of pit toilets.

The trail starts off as part of the Rhododendron Loop trail and passes through archways of rhododendron .  This must be a beautiful place in July.

In about 10 minutes of level walking, a sign pointed the way to Little Monadnock Mountain and split off from the loop trail.  This trail was well blazed by yellow rectangles.  In about 0.8 miles of some gradual uphill climbing, I encountered the one and only scramble on the trip.  It's a small rock outcropping which did require some handholds but was not very high.  I looked as if there was a trail to the right that might walk around this obstacle.

After the short scramble the trail heads down into a shallow col at the base of which was a very well flowing stream called Kemp Brook.  It had enough water flow that I would think it could be a water sourvce in the summer as well.

After crossing the stream, the trail starts a moderate but relentless climb from the lower pine forest up through red oak and mixed hardwoods.  For some of this, the trail follows a stone wall.

Finally, the trail pops out on an open ledge, upon which there is the remnant of a sign identifying the junction with the Metcomet-Monadnock trail.

Following a 90 degree turn to the left, the trail heads up a modest slop for the final tenth of a mile climb to the summit, following white rectangular blazes now.  The summit itself is a bare granite ledge, but the surrounding trees pretty much cut off any views.  There is a summit marker sign, but like the earlier trail marker, is down.

Right next to the sign is a small geo survey marker indicating the summit.

I didn't wait for very long, but instead headed back down the trail to the trail junction which afforded nice views of Mount Monadnock.  This was a pretty place to sit and have a snack and water break.

Returning to the car, the entire trip took about 3.5 hours including breaks.

Gunstock Mountai

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  From upper lot:  Blue Trail  to Saddle Trail (White) to Brook Trail (orange)
Return Route:  Brook Trail to Saddle Trail to Blue Trail
Distance:  2.3 miles
Maximum Elevation: 2,240 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 630 ft.

Total Time: 2.5 hrs.

Trail Report

I arrived at the mountain at 8:45 and the gate was already open.  The main parking lot was empty but a few vehicles were pulled up a little farther, near the shed; probably some volunteers conducting trail maintenance activities. Setting out, the sky was overcast and the temperature only 30 degrees so I was sure to check for ice.

There was indeed a small amount of ice on the trail, not enough to warrant microspikes, but enough to make me look carefully before stepping on wet-looking rocks.  The leaves covered most of the trail surface, adding to the slipperiness.  After what seemed like a short time, I reached the junction of the blue, Saddle and Overlook trails.  The temperature seemed colder and there were a few snow flurries as I got rid of my gloves and hat before starting up the slopes of Gunstock.  The initial part of he Saddle trail is set in a nice hemlock grove, but the ascent starts pretty steeply up granite slabs.

There was a lot of mud and running water at the junction with the yellow Brook Trail, but after this, a small scramble was rewarded by the summit.

The summit was the top of the ski lift of the Gunstock ski resort.  Dominating the summit was the Panorama lift, which was not in operation.

I headed past the outhouses, emergency facilities building and to the porch of the Panorama Lodge, which offered a nice view of Winnipesaukee and the ski area parking area.

I could not even make out the Ossipee Mountains through the low clouds and what looked like snowy precipitation to the north; however, to the south I could see Mount Belknap and the fire tower that was the goal of last week's hike.

 

After a water and trail mix break, I geared back up and started back down the trail.  Passing a rather pretty Wood Mushroom, it was no time at all until I reached the Saddle trail junction.

The descent to the parking lot was almost uneventful.  Catching a patch of black ice at one of the stream crossings, I did manager to slip and anded on my face and elbow.  Luckily, there was no damage done and I descended a bit more  carefully back to the lot.

Belknap Mountain

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  From upper lot:  Red Trail 
Return Route:  Blue Trail
Distance:  2.3 miles
Maximum Elevation: 2,392 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 763 ft.

Total Time: 3.2 hrs.

Trail Report

I arrived at the mountain at 9:15 a.m. and much to my surprise, the gate across the Carriage Rd. was open!  Turned out that it will remain open until mid-November, which meant I was able to drive up the Carriage Road to the upper lot, which had ample parking.  The lower lot looks like it may have space for a couple of cars, no more.

The temperature was in the low 40's but the shy was overcast with a pretty staff breeze which made me waste no time in gearing up and starting up the trail.  In no time at all, the trail passes an old shed which pointed the way to the trailheads and reminded me that the gate closed at 6 p.m.  Another hiker emailed me last night with word that the gate would close for the season by Nov. 15th.

I decided to pass up the first green trail which was supposed to be very steep and I thought the better of it with most of the leaves having freshly fallen on the trails.  Just a couple of yards beyond it was the reed trail trailhead so I started up.

The trail itself was moderate in steepness with a lot of standing water and some small brook crossings.  The wind definitely was picking up as I made my way up the trail.  There was lots of evidence of recent trail work where trail was cleared but there had yet to be any rocks put down which made for some muddy sections.  The wet leaves were very slippery indeed so I slowed the pace to be extremely careful that I had good footing.

After a while, the trail made an abrupt turn to the southeast and proceeded into a stand of hemlocks which was very pretty.  However, the shade in this area allowed some fine moss to grow on the larger rock slabs and there were a few times that my hiking poles prevented me from face-planting on the trail.  After two or three short, steep runs, I was just below the summit.  You could hear the wind was quite strong and the temperature had fallen to 40 degrees so I paused for a moment to pull out my rain jacket and woolen cap to try and block some of the wind.

A feet further and I was at the summit and took my token shot of the summit marker.

I met a very nice guy named Bob who had come up the blue trail and was heading back down the white.  We spent quite a while talking about some favorite hikes in the Belknaps over a couple of apples and water.  He set off and I decided to head up the fire tower itself.

Views were very nice but it was a shame that the cloud ceiling was so low.   There was a nice view of Laconia to the northwest.

The best view by far was of the Ossipee Mountains, on the far side of Lake Winnipesaukee.  They were catching just a small amount of sunshine through a break in the clouds.  I could make out Mt. Shaw, Mt. Roberts and Black Snout mountains which are all on my list of summits I'd like to try.

In the photo, Mount Washington is just to the the left of Black Snout but with the low, ragged ceiling, it was difficult to make it out.

It was starting to get cold, so I geared up once again and headed down the blue trail.  This trail was much less slippery, with a huge amount of trail work in the form of stairs made out of granite that made the descent wonderful.  In no time at all, I arrived at a major (and well marked) trail junction of the blue Overlook (orange) and Saddle (White) trails.  This junction is actually on the saddle point between Belknap and Gunstock mountains with the white trail ascending 250 feet up to the summit of Gunstock.

The ski lifts were running buy I decided to keep going down the blue trail and back to the parking lot, saving Gunstock for another day.  The rest of the blue trail was very well maintained with a pretty waterfall and stream crossing just before the trail flattened out prior to the junction with the red.  Another fun hike in the Belknaps. 

Skatutakee & Thumb Mountain Loop Hike

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  Harriskat to Thumbs Up to Thumbs Down to Harriskat Trails
Return Route:  Loop
Distance:  5.5 miles
Maximum Elevation: 2,028 ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 1,181 ft.

Total Time: 4.8 hrs.

Trail Report

This was to be an extension of a hike I did a couple of weeks back, to Skatutakee Mountain.  This time, however, I was going to continue on to a second summit, Thumb Mountain.  Arriving at the trailhead about 7:30 a.m., the temperature was hovering around freezing.  Donning a fleece and gloves, I left the Harris Center parking lot and made my way through the forest along the HArriskat trail which was already covered in leaves.

After a mostly level walk through numerous boulder fields, i found the junction of the HArriskat and Thumbs Down trails and headed up the Harriskat.  in no time at all, I was sweating and stopped to get rid of the fleece and gloves.  The temperature had risen into the 40's with the wind decreasing somewhat as I continued the climb, past two rock walls, a short but steep ledge and onto the familiar open ledge of the Skatutakee summit.

The trees have all but obscure the view of Monadnock but the Wapack trail ridge could be seen clearly.  Someone had left a mini-cairn made from some unique white rock, probably quart.

After a brief water and apple break, I geared up and headed down the Thumbs up trail which descended steeply a ridge between the two summits.  The mile long walk was pretty easy through very open hemlock forest until it finally intersected with the Thumbs down trail just below the Thumb Mountain summit.

The beginning if the summit spur was quite steep but there were plenty of rock to provide adequate footing.  After the initial, very steep 100 feet, the trail became less steep as it approached the summit. At the summit, I was greeted with a "Thumb Mountain" sign and a circular rock bench surrounding a cairn.  The ledges just beyond this point offered excellent views of Mount Monadnock.

After a sandwich and water break, I headed back down the mountain to the Thumbs up-Thumbs down trail junction.  At the junction, I continued down the mountain and hiked along the pretty lebel mountain base to the shores of Jack's pond.

The leaves were absolutely stunning.  After a brief respite, I continued on, intersecting the Harriskat trail again and proceeding back to the Harris Center parking lot.

Mount Rowe

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Route to Summit:  Mount Rowe Trail (blue) to Ridge Trail (white)
Return Route:  Ridge Trail to North Spur Trail (orange) to Benjamin Weeks Trail (purple) to Mt. Rowe Trail.
Distance:  5.2 miles
Maximum Elevation: 1,690ft.

Cumulative elevation gain: 1,257 ft.

Total Time: 3.9 hrs.

Trail Report

I started the day with a show of courage; namely, stepping out of the car at 8.a.m. into a 47 F rain for a couple of hours hiking.  When the cold rain wasn't falling, there was a pervasive mist that chilled me to the bone.  The trailhead was in the back of the Gilford Elementary School parking lot and was equipped with a convenient, though shaky, porta-potty.  About 10 yard beyond the lot stood a kiosk which contained a detailed map of the mountain and it's numerous trails.  Crossing a brook and swamp is a short wooden boardwalk.  The wetlands themselves were peppered with birdhouses, although I saw no birds during the brief crossing.  Once  off of the boardwalk, the red  blazed Gilford Elementary School nature trail departed to the left while the Mt. Rowe Tail, blazed in blue, headed up the hill ahead.

There was no pause as the trail started an immediate climb, which although relentless, was neither particularly steep nor rocky.  The trail climbed into dense forest which were even more dark in the gloom of the rainy overcast.  This initial part of the trail was once a commercial sugaring operation but I did not find and taps or equipment  that identified it as such. After 0.3 miles the trail intersects with the Benjamin Weeks Trail, blazed in purple, which came in from the right.  The blue trail  jogged slightly to the left and continued to climb, a bit more steeply.  At 0.6 miles, an old abandoned logging road appears on the left and the trail made an abrupt, 90 degree turn to the right. There was a reprieve as the trail continued along a level stretch until encountering the Yellow Trail on the left at 0.7 miles. This trail is a straight, unmaintained trail to the ridge line but is not maintained and may not be the best choice in rainy weather, so I continued on.

At 0.8 miles I came across a cellar hole on the left which is the last remnant of the Benjamin Weeks mountain house.

On the right side of the trail were the remnants of the old barn foundation.  The house was originally built in 1793 and a sign near the site describes the many generations that have lived on the mountain.

Just  0.1 miles beyond the cellar hole, the blue trail merged with the purple trail for a short distance until a Y in the trail.  At this point, the blue trail split to the left and began a relentless series of switchbacks that ascended the steepest portion of the mountain.  looking up the slop, I saw the remnants of an old marble quarry, some of the angular blocks still lying there as if waiting to be loaded and carried off.

At 1.5 miles, the switchbacks continue but the trees become noticeably smaller with white birch and pine predominating.  Because of this, there was much more light, in spite of the dreary sky, and I made out small clearings full of low blueberry bushes, although well past the season for finding any berries.  At this point, a small clearing opened up with views toward the south and east and one such clearing had a pair of tables made of branches and boards.  This made for an inviting stop so I doffed the pack and took a water and snack break.   After a 10 minute break, it was off again. Just beyond this clearing, at 1.6 miles, there stood an interesting, bonsai-like tree with a long, serpentine branch, a good photo op.

The switchbacks continued with more and more concrete ledges and decreasing slope.  Finally, at 1.9 miles, the trail leveled and intersected the top of the yellow trail, the North Spur Trail (orange) and the Ridge Trail (white) in rapid succession.  All  trails were well-marked with wooden signs and I tuned left to follow the Ridge Trail, which broke out of the trees and followed the open ledges along the ridge.

Not too far down the white trail, there were nice open vistas to the north- and southeast.  To the northeast, I could see a portion of Lake Winnipesaukee.

To the base of the ridge was the parking area from Gunstock Ski area and I could see how much easier it would have been to summit Mount Rowe from this site of the mountain which is about 350 feet higher than the Elementary school.  You could see the Quarrys, Mt. Rand and Mt. Klem.

Further to the south, Mts. Belknap and Gunstock predominated the skyline with the prominent ski slope of Mt. Gunstock.

The rain had stopped but the wind was whipping so although the temperature had risen into the low 50's, it was still chilling.  I cinched down my hood and closed the vents on my rain jacket as I made my way to the communications tower on Mt. Rowe, a short and level walk down the ridge line.  Since it was so windy, I decided not to rest at the summit, but rather head back to wind the Benjamin Weeks trail and rest in the shelter of the trees.

So restarting my mileage, I headed back along the white trail, meeting up with the North Spur Trail (orange) junction in 0.4 mile.  I followed this a short distance until at 0.6 miles, it joined the Benjamin Weeks (purple) trail.  At this point, I found some warm bear scat so I decided to make some noise by whistling a little as I descended down the trail.  The purple trail starts very wide and smooth, full of soft pine needles.  As it descends steeply, it becomes more narrow, rocky and less obvious, even though there are plenty of trail markings.  At 0.7 miles from the summit, the purple trail took a hard right turn.  Going straight would have led eventually to Old Weeks Rd. and away from the trailhead.

After descending into darker and damper forest, the trail winds up intersecting and sharing the blue trail at 1.4 miles.  After a very short period of time, I decided to take the purple trail as it again split off from the shared trail and plunged into deep hemlock forest.  This path turned out to be considerably longer and more strenuous that if I'd have kept on the blue trail.  There is a stream which had flowing water inspire of this summer's drought and the trail steeply descended about 20- feet toward the stream.

The trail plunged in and out of this ravines a number of times before it finally turned north to intersect the Blue Trail again at 2.0 miles from the summit.  The trail here was pretty mucky and rocky in spite of it being a pretty dry year.  I'd expect this would not be a favorable way to go in a very wet season.

Finally, at 2.4 miles I emerged from the dark woods to the waiting boardwalk for the short walk back to the parking area.

During the whole 4 hour excursion, I did not find a single person.  A nice morning of solitary hiking, inspire of the rain!