Elevation gain: 2255 feet
Trails used: Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack.
Highlight(s): open woods bushwhack, register on the summit of Engine Hill South.
I messaged Kris about a month back and asked him what his plans were for the next few weeks/weekends (around Christmas and New Years). He told me the second of January would probably be doable so we waited to see how the weather would be before we planned anything out. His only stipulations would be a short hike since he hadn't hiked for some time and has had knee issues for awhile. Not a problem as Desi and i went out for a short hike on New Years Day.
Our original pick for the day was Kearsarge North, but unfortunately I did not get a good sleep the night before and felt a bit under the weather so we settled on another peak that he needed to do: Engine Hill South. Since it was supposed to be cloudy and snow showers all day I figured this would be a better peak to do anyways, if we were to have a low chance for views. Plus, the mileage was about comparable with a little less elevation gain.
Engine Hill South is located in Sargents Purchase, New Hampshire. The Rocky Branch Trail is usually well trodden in the winter, as people use this trail to reach Mount Isolation. There are no trails that go to the wooded,view-less summit of Engine Hill South so it requires a combination of trails and a bushwhack to reach its high point.
Engine Hill South is on the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List and New Hampshire 3K List.
Kris heading up the start of the Rocky Branch Trail. We used Microspikes for the round trip hike to the summit of Engine Hill South.
Some sections of the Rocky Branch Trail were a muddy mess despite the recent snow. There hasn't been enough cold nights and snow to cover up the water crossings and low land areas.
Its beginning to look like true winter on this section of the Rocky Branch Trail before the height of land.
We started the bushwhack shortly after we crossed into the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness at the height of land.
Kris led us to the summit of Engine Hill South through mostly open woods, like this birch glade. The snow was about mid calf high but easy to walk in.
The jar register on the summit of Engine Hill South (elevation: 3244 feet). The moose antler has been there since the first time I was here in 2011.
Summit selfie with Kris on the summit of Engine Hill South. It was a quick sign in and snack break, and then following our tracks back to the Rocky Branch Trail.
The views of Engine Hill North peak from the birch glades we passed through on the bushwhack up to Engine Hill South.
We made it back to the cars at a decent time despite a later start. The weather wasn't bad although snow showers were a constant until we headed back to the cars and then slight views opened up. It was a quick hike back down. We met a couple who attempted the Engine Hill bushwhack with thoughts of doing Mount Isolation today but the bushwhack portion of the hike was not tracked out very well and it was slow going for the two of them, despite wearing snowshoes. Kris and I did not have that problem though, when we made the bushwhack wearing just microspikes. It was a nice hike overall.
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