Sunday, May 18, 2014

Millen Hill - Mount Dartmouth: 5/18/2014

Mileage: 10.2
Elevation gain: 2020'
Trails used: Jewell Trail, Boundary Line Trail, bushwhack.


Kris asked me earlier in the week if I wanted to join him for a hike on Sunday (since the weather looked better than Saturday's did at the time).  I waited until the last possible minute to say yes, but only because of the long hike Brian and I did the day before in Vermont and I didn't want to slow Kris down if I was spent physically.

Kris wanted to do a couple of bushwhacks and as I was merely along for the ride, he made the decision.  Two of the peaks (from a good list he has left) he wanted to do were Millen Hill and Mount Dartmouth so that was the plan.  I met Kris at the parking ride at exit 17 and we were on our way. 

Mount Dartmouth is on the New Hampshire 100/New Hampshire 200 Highest List, and New Hampshire 3k List.  Millen Hill is on the New Hampshire 200 Highest List and New Hampshire 3k List.  Both Millen Hill and Mount Dartmouth are trail-less peaks and require a bushwhack to reach their summits.



The Dartmouth Range in the township of Low and Burbank's Grant.  The peaks in the range are Millen Hill (elevation 3373'), Mount Dartmouth (elevation 3727'), and Mount Deception (elevation 3661').


We parked at the hikers parking lot below the cog railway that goes up to Mount Washington, which was in the clouds when we arrived.


We walked down the road to get to the Jewell Trail, and then to the Boundary Line Trail and over to Jefferson Notch Road.  Yes, we could have parked on the road across from the trail head but...


The water was raging and we weren't sure how we could get across and then we noticed this bridge!  So we took it to the other side!



We took the Boundary Line Trail to Jefferson Notch Road.


The ever pleasant road walk up Jefferson Notch Road to the HOL (height-of-land).  The road had a damaged culvert so not sure how long it will stay closed.  


Jefferson Notch is the highest point of any public highway in New Hampshire at 3009'.  You can also park here for the hike up the Caps Ridge Trail  to Mount Jefferson.


The woods on the way up to Millen Hill were this nice and open for the most part.


Occasionally we would come across a blowdown patch or some thick woods (in the col between Millen Hill and Mount Dartmouth) but nothing too tough to move around in.


Me, and this really old moose antler, at the summit canister on the summit of Millen Hill (elevation 3376').


We would get occasional glimpses of the higher peaks in the Presidential Range.


The best views of the day from a blowdown area heading up to Mount Dartmouth.  Mount Washington (right) and Jefferson (left) make an appearance.


Kris at the blowdown field taking pictures.  Mount Jefferson is to the right of the tree.


Me at the summit canister for Mount Dartmouth (elevation 3727').


These would be pretty indicative of the woods on both peaks.


Kris walking out of the woods right around where we started the bushwhack for Millen Hill.  Mount Jefferson and Caps Ridge are in the background above the sign.


We got this view of Mount Monroe walking down Jefferson Notch Road.


Kris heading back to the car after a productive day.  Mount Washington was still out in the open and the cog was busy today.


All in all, not a bad day.  Perfect temperatures and decent woods made for a good time in the woods.  There was a few spots in the woods were there were spots of ice, but nothing major to worry about.  The only thing that would have made this hike easier is if Jefferson Notch Road was open, which would have shortened the length of this hike considerably.  With todays company though, you couldn't ask for a better time.

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