Elevation gain: 1385'
Trails used: Cohos Trail, snowmobile trails, bushwhack, roadwalk.
Saturdays hike was another "what are we going to do" kind of hike. We met at the usual time at the exit 17 park n ride and made our decision as we drove north. It was supposed to be a decent day weather wise, with mostly sunny skies but still with colder temperatures. Driving through Colebrook, we noticed the bank displayed -9 degrees. My cellphone was almost identical in its temperature for the area at -6. With the windchills later in the hike though, it was face numbing cold (literally).
Tumble Dick Mountain is located in Dix's Grant, New Hampshire. Sugar Hill is located in Stewartstown, New Hampshire and also in Coleman State Park. Both peaks are trail-less and require a mixture of snowmobile/ATV trails and short bushwhacks to reach their summits.
Tumble Dick Mountain and Sugar Hill are both on the New Hampshire 200 Highest List. Sugar Hill is also on the New Hampshire Fire Tower List.
We started at the parking area at the Coleman State Park entrance and got ready for the hike.
We would be utilizing the vast snowmobile trail system to access these two peaks. Some of these trails are also used by ATVs in summer. The snow was better for snowmobiling this far up north, as evidenced by the numerous snowmobiles we saw.
You can see the yellow Cohos Trail blaze on the tree with the CT signage.
Eventually we jumped off of the snowmobile trail and headed for the summit of Tumble Dick Mountain. It was a mixture of ankle deep hard packed snow to knee to crotch deep soft snow.
Brian signing in the register on the summit of Tumble Dick Mountain (elevation 2907').
The woods were open up to the summit so instead of breaking new trail through the snow, we opted to reverse course and to head back down on our tracks we took up.
Looking back at Tumble Dick Mountain from the snowmobile trail in the col between it and Sugar Hill.
The snowmobile trail just before the summit area of Sugar Hill. Since this is a long plateau like peak, it is a bit of a chore to find the high point especially with snow on the ground.
Eventually we found it and it was just as bad as I remember the first time we went looking for it. This time it was knee deep snow hiking and snow squalls, plus a cold wind blowing.
Once we were done, we headed down the snowmobile trails as they zigzagged their way back down. At this point, the winds were whipping around and snow was falling so getting back to the warm car was our priority.
Brian walking to the warming hut for the Swift Diamond Riders snowmobile club. We walked the road back to my car.
A short day of hiking but a long day of driving. That's the norm when you drive north of the White Mountains to do some day hikes. We couldn't decide which time we liked hiking these peaks; when it was hot and muddy out, or when it was cold and snow covered. I think I would still prefer the hot.
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