Oregon Mountain - Mowglis Mountain: 5/11/2014

Mileage: 10.15
Elevation gain: 2295'
Trails Used: Elwell Trail, Oregon Mountain Trail, Old Dicey Road, bushwhack.

I couldn't waste the nice day on Sunday (especially after our semi successful Saturday moose antler hunting) so I decided to hit some peaks on the northeast side of  Cardigan Mountain, Mowglis and Oregon.   Even though the elevation gain was minor (versus some hikes we have done lately), it felt like a lot more with the PUDS (pointless up's and down's).  

Most of my information for route planning purposes was taken from the recent Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide (3rd edition).

The Elwell Trail is approximately 10 miles long in length from Newfound Lake to the Mowglis Trail.  It is blazed with yellow blazes so pay attention to where these are as some spots took a second look to see where to go.

Both Oregon Mountain and Mowglis Mountain are located in Alexandria, New Hampshire.

This is where I parked my car on Gove Road to walk into the woods.  From this point on, the road is a class VI road and is about 1.5 miles (or a little more) to the Elwell Trail.

I managed to fall of the road and ended up basically bushwhacking my way up.   The woods were wide open from logging in the past, so it wasn't too difficult.  When you come to the first junction, follow the road to the left and head up to the old road.  Eventually, you will hit the trail.  

Finally on a trail.  It was yellow blazed for the complete loop that I did today, minus the roadwalk at the end of the hike. 

Very nice ridge sections like this were the norm for the hike today. 

The first views of the day along the ridge hike.

Logged areas on the north side of the trail.  I wanted to explore these as there was moose scat in abundance along parts of the trail and this is perfect habitat for them but being a Sunday, I did not want to be out for too long.

You climb up this steep pitch to get some really nice views from an outlook ledge.  One of the few up's and down's on this section of trail.

Here are the views ooking towards the Waterville Valley area and points east (Tripyramids/Sandwich Dome/Chocorua, etc).

A closer picture of the one from above.

Now one zoomed out of the above two pictures.

Franconia Ridge (background) with some of the Tenney Mountain wind turbines in the picture.

The wiews looking towards Moosilaukee (South peak/Jim/Blue/Waternomee sub peaks), Kineo and the Kinsmans.

Southern ridge consisting of Orange (Gilman) Mountain on the far right, Crane Mountain, Brown Mountain, etc.

Looking towards Firescrew with Cardigan's summit and tower (barely visible).

Oregon Mountain's summit sign, which shows an incorrect elevation.  It is actually 2230'.

Another really nice section of hiking on this trail.

The summit area for Mowglis Mountain (elevation 2370') which has zero views. 

Commerative plaque on a rock just down from the summit of Mowglis.

I decided (after looking at the map) to make this a loop hike and took the Oregon Mountain Trail back towards Oregon Mountain.

These sections of foresting came to the edge of the trail and while neat to look at, sometimes it is a really big eye sore.

One of the cooler sections of the Oregon Trail that went straight down.

At this point, I didn't feel like doing all the PUDS, so I opted to take the Old Dicey Road back down and road walk back to the car which was about 2 miles away.

Heading down Old Dicey Road which is still being used as a logging road.

Junction of Old Dicey Road and the Back 80 loop.  You could drive your car up to this point as the road is not gated, nor was it in rough shape.

This was a very nice hike for a Sunday (Mother's Day).  I didn't see a single person on this hike except when doing the road walk (when I saw two mountain biker's).  A pleasant day exploring new trails in the woods in a nice area for hiking, period.  I would highly recommend these trails but as I said, you need to pay attention to the blazing and definitely bring a map.