Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak: 2/28/2016

Mileage: 4.10 miles
Elevation gain: 1375 feet
Trails used: Stinson Mountain Trail, bushwhack.
Highlight(s): register on the summit of Stinson Mountain-North east Peak.


After hiking Middle Sugarloaf, North Sugarloaf, Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain the day before, Keith asked me if I wanted to join he and Julie as they did a sweep for moose antlers near Stinson Mountain. Last year, around the same time, Desi and I did Stinson Mountain and I saw a herd of about five moose. So, the area is ripe for possibly having antlers especially at this time of year. Keith wanted something light and easy to do as he was in the tail end of having an illness and with the elevation gain and lack of deep snow, it wouldn't be too bad for him to do. I met them at their house and I followed them north to the trailhead parking area.

Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak is located in Rumney, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded, view-less summit of Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak so it requires a combination of trails and a bushwhack to reach its high point.

Heading up the Stinson Mountain Trail, which was a mixture of snow and ice. We had to put the Microspikes on at the trailhead parking area and leave them on, round trip.

Julie and Katahdin setting the pace, with Keith carrying Gianna up the Stinson Mountain Trail. You can see sections of ice showing through from under the light blanket of snow.

We branched off of the Stinson Mountain Trail to begin the bushwhack into the woods below and around Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak.

The register from the jar on the summit of Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak.

A well known hiker/bushwhackers entry in the register on Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak. Nefarious Nate's entries always make for good reading. I added our signatures as we were only the third entry in here since 2001.

Keith and I at the summit register for Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak (elevation: 2806 feet).

Keith at the summit register on Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak.

I found one moose antler and the register I missed when I came up around the summit of Stinson Mountain-Northeast Peak last winter. No moose were sighted during todays hike but there were plenty of tracks in the hard packed snow. Weather-wise, it remained dry with zero precipitation and temperatures on the cold but not freezing side.

Little Wildcat Mountain: 2/20/2016

Mileage: 3.15 miles
Elevation gain: 1765 feet
Trails used: XC ski trail, bushwhack.
Highlight(s): canister on the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain.


Brian and I had planned to do a good sized hike today on some peaks near Berlin, New Hampshire and while bushwhacking conditions have been pretty good lately, we would be doing a good portion of our hiking on snowmobile/ATV trails which did not turn out so well. There was a new layer of fresh snow over a ice base which made it hard to walk on and Microspikes were useless. After a few falls between the two of us, we decided to turn around and try something else. We decided we would do a short bushwhack near Jackson, New Hampshire and on a peak that we had not done since my New Hampshire 3K finish. Arriving at the parking lot for the Great Glen XC ski area, we geared up and headed out.

Little Wildcat Mountain is located in Beans Purchase, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded, view-less summit of Little Wildcat Mountain so it requires a combination of trails and a bushwhack to reach its high point.

Little Wildcat Mountain is on the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List and New Hampshire 3K List.

We parked at the Great Glen Base Lodge parking area with the views looking towards Mount Washington obscured by the cloud cover.

We stared off on Sages Path XC ski trail but quickly hopped off of the ski trail to begin our bushwhack to the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain.

We bare booted southwest through open woods with a fresh layer of snow down.

Brian taking a break in these open woods before we hit some scrappy stuff and steep icy cliff bands below the summit area of Little Wildcat Mountain.

Brian looks ever so happy as we are about to begin the steep ascent to the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain.

Me on the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain (elevation: 3350 feet) with its Kitten sign.

Instead of reversing course and heading back the way we came up, we decided to head east a little bit, and although steep to start, was a better choice. We got this view of South Carter Mountain on the way down.

Brian heading down from the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain. From here we made it back to our old tracks and hiked out to the car pretty quick.

A similar hike to the one we did for my New Hampshire 3K finish several years ago, made a tad bit difficult with the ice and snow near the summit of Little Wildcat Mountain but still a pleasant hike. While we did not manage to do our planned hike, this was still a nice alternative on a winter day that did not turn out so bad.

Cone Mountain * Blake Mountain: 2/15/2016

I took today off to do a few hikes. There are many hikes that I wanted to do but I had a lack of ambition today and it was going to be a cold one, but sunny with a possibility of good views. I picked a few peaks that I had seen trip reports for recently and headed north to try my luck. Arriving in the area for my first hike, I decided to throw on some warm clothing but left my backpack in the car since it shouldn't be a long hike.

Cone Mountain

Mileage: 2 miles

Elevation gain: 845 feet

Trails used: none. bushwhack.

Highlight(s): register on the summit of Cone Mountain, slight views from ledges around the summit of Cone Mountain.

I had read of a recent trip report on this peak so I thought with the good snow conditions I would give it a go finally. I tried this peak several years ago but was turned around by private property issues and I didn't ask for permission at the time. I tried coming from the south again but again, private property and no trespassing signs dominated the route that I wanted to use to reach the summit of Cone Mountain. I had to move around the boundary area enough so that I wasn't trespassing which made this hike longer than it needed to be.

Cone Mountain is located in Thornton, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded,view-less summit of Cone Mountain so it requires a bushwhack to reach its high point. There are several ledges around the summit area of Cone Mountain that offer views to nearby peaks.

The views from ledges below the summit of Cone Mountain looking towards Jennings Peak, Sandwich Dome and Acteon Ridge with its numerous ledgy bumps.

The jar register on the summit of Cone Mountain (elevation: 2132 feet).

The views from ledges below the summit of Cone Mountain looking towards Peaked Hill, Plymouth Mountain and Mount Kearsarge (in between).

The views from ledges below the summit of Cone Mountain looking towards Mount Dickey and Mount Welch, a popular hike at any time of year.

On the bushwhack back down to the car, I came across this little shelter overlooking Cone Pond. It even has a small bench inside.

The views from the ledge above Cone Pond looking towards Jennings Peak, Sandwich Mountain and Acteon Ridge.

A quick round trip hike and I was back at the car. The approach from the north is the preferred method of doing this hike as hiking from the south is posted No Trespassing and would require permission to do (if permission can be obtained). I had enough energy for a second hike, which I didn't think would take that much time to do so after throwing my gear in the car, I headed out for the next objective.

Blake Mountain

Mileage: 3.15 miles

Elevation gain: 830 feet
Trails used: none. bushwhack.
Highlight(s): views from the logging cuts below the summit of Blake Mountain.


This would be another hike that I had read about recently so I decided to give it a go as it was somewhat nearby to where I hiked my first hike. My only issue was where to find the trailhead parking area where I would begin my hike and not necessarily take to my end destination. 

Blake Mountain is located in Thornton, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded,view-less summit of Blake Mountain so it requires a bushwhack to reach its high point. There are several logging cuts leading up to the summit of Blake Mountain that offer views to nearby peaks.

I parked at the end of the Peaked Hill Pond Trail and walked a short distance to a logging cut, where I would begin the bushwhack to the summit of Blake Mountain.

The snow was hard packed and the woods were open to start the bushwhack.

Eventually, I hit this forest boundary line and followed it awhile through open woods. Eventually I would start the climb to the summit of Blake Mountain.

The boundary line started heading in a different direction than the summit of Blake Mountain so I started heading up through these old logging cuts.I looked back and got this view of Peaked Hill, the Mount Kineo-East Peak ridge, and Mount Moosilauke.

The views from a logging cut looking north towards Franconia Notch, Franconia Ridge, and Cannon Mountain.

The views (through the trees) from the summit area of Blake Mountain of Campton, New Hampshire, Mount Weetamoo, Campton Mountain, Mount Percival, Mount Morgan and Mount Prospect.

The high point of Blake Mountain (elevation: 1561 feet). You can get views from just below the summit and through the trees (in winter when the leaves are down).

Heading back down through the logging area looking north towards Franconia Notch, Franconia Ridge, Scar Ridge, Cannon Mountain, the Cannonballs, North Kinsman, South Kinsman, and Mount Wolf.

Heading down one last logging cut with views looking towards Mount Tecumseh.

While hiking in logging cuts can be slow going (and painful) due to the pricker bushes, sometimes you have no choice eventually but go up towards the summit. It was definitely weird hiking through them with the low snow winter we have had so far as they are usually buried under snow. On the plus side, it was a bonus to get views from Blake Mountain, as well as Cone Mountain, and have decent weather as well.

Bear Mountain: 2/13/2016

Mileage: 5.10 miles
Elevation gain: 2100 feet
Trails used: road walk, bushwhack.
Highlight(s): views from logging cuts, register on the summit of Bear Mountain.


Kris emailed me about possibly doing a hike with him this weekend so we threw some ideas back and forth before we decided on something he needed to do, that both Brian and I had already climbed (but never in winter) and decided to re-do. A plan was set in place to meet Kris at the park n' ride and he would drive north to Bear Notch Road, where we would start the hike. This was going to be a cold hike today, so after we geared up, we headed down Bear Notch Road to where we would start the bushwhack.

Bear Mountain is located in Bartlett, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded, view-less summit of Bear Mountain so it requires a bushwhack to reach its high point. There are views along the bushwhack, depending on how you attempt this hike.


Bear Mountain is on the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List and the New Hampshire 3K List.

We followed some day old tracks initially through open woods and logging cuts, with the views looking towards Mount Paugus, Mount Passaconaway and Hedgehog Mountain.

A better view (without trees in the way) from a logging cut looking towards Mount Paugus, Mount Passaconaway, Hedgehog Mountain, Potash Mountain, East Sleeper, West Sleeper and the Tripyramids.

Heading up through another logging cut with the summit of Bear Mountain coming into view.

Views galore from the various logging cuts we passed through despite the cold windy day.

Brian and I at the canister and sign (rare to see signs on bushwhack peaks, nowadays) on the summit of Bear Mountain (elevation: 3200 feet).

Kris getting a snack on the summit of Bear Mountain as we prepare to follow our tracks back out and back to the car.

The views from a logging cut of Owls Cliff and Mount Tremont, with Mount Carrigain in between the two (and in the clouds).

The views from a logging cut of the Mount Paugus, Mount Passaconaway, Hedgehog Mountain, Potash Mountain, East Sleeper, West Sleeper, the Tripyramids and Scaur Peak as the sun makes an appearance on the hike back to the car.

We used Bear Notch Road, which is closed to automobiles in the winter but snowmobiles can travel it in winter. There were several snowmobiles out today even though this is supposed to be closed due to low snow depths.

A fairly quick round trip hike/bushwhack through mainly open woods on a windy, cold winter day. We saw several snowmobiles zoom by on Bear Notch Road, even though it is supposed to be closed to them due to the low snow conditions (which helped us out immensely) as we wore Microspikes or bare booted for the entire trip. It is good hiking with Kris as usual, and after we changed quickly and threw our gear in his car, we headed into Lincoln for some nice after hike food.

Foss Mountain (Eaton, NH): 2/6/2016

Mileage: 2.55 miles
Elevation gain: 740 feet
Trails used: road walk, Foss Mountain Trail.
Highlight(s): almost 360 degree views from the lower summit of Foss Mountain, blueberry bushes (in season).


Some days you feel like hiking; other days, not so much. This would be one of those days. It was a bitterly cold, windy day to be out hiking but I went anyways with quite a few plans in place but in the end, nothing really panned out. I spent too much time on roads that are not maintained in winter so I had to backtrack several times and find new routes. So, after a little searching online and in the Gazetteer, I found a hike that shouldn't be too hard albeit with unknown snow conditions.  

Foss Mountain is located in Eaton, New Hampshire. Foss Mountain has two summits, the northern summit which is where the views are and northern (higher summit) which is wooded and further along the summit ridge. There are blueberries (in season) so please check the trailhead kiosk to see where it is okay to pick them.

I had to park at the hiker parking area (can't drive to the summer trailhead parking area) and walked up Foss Mountain Road, which had about 5-6 inches of fresh light snow.

The summer trailhead and parking area for the Foss Mountain Trail, which starts behind the metal gate. It's roughly a half mile hike or less with very little elevation gain.

The views from the northern summit of Foss Mountain looking towards Mount Shaw and the Ossipee Range, with the Belknap Range in the distance to the left.

The views from the northern summit of Foss Mountain looking Lyman Mountain, Mount Chocorua, Mount Passaconaway (in the clouds), Mount Carrigain, and the Moat Range.

The views from the northern summit of Foss Mountain looking towards the Moat Range, the Presidential Range (in the clouds), the Wildcat Range and Carter Dome (also in the clouds).

The views from the northern summit of Foss Mountain looking east into Maine.

Note, I did not go to the higher summit of Foss Mountain today only because I didn't feel like making the less than half mile trek over to it through the soft snow without snowshoes. I ended my hiking day early as I really wasn't feeling like hiking anything else at this point so I drove into North Conway for some shopping therapy. I will have to come back here in better weather and when the blueberries are ripe for picking.

Mount Hitchcock-West Peak: 2/1/2016

Mileage: 4.75 miles
Elevation gain: 1990 feet
Trails used: bushwhack.
Highlight(s): canister on the summit of Mount Hitchcock-West Peak.


I took Monday off to do a hike or two, so with the nice temperatures and low snow levels I decided to do a bushwhack and test the conditions. I left the house a bit later than normal but the drive up to Lincoln, New Hampshire was quick. Once I made it to the Lincoln Woods parking area, I geared up quickly and headed out. It was overcast and a bit on the cool side but the snow was firm so I wore Microspikes for the whole hike/bushwhack.

Mount Hitchcock-West Peak is located in Lincoln, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded, view-less summit of Mount Hitchcock-West Peak so it requires a bushwhack to reach its high point.


Mount Hitchcock-West Peak is on the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List and New Hampshire 3K List.

The ranger station located at the Lincoln Woods parking area. There was no one staffing it today, possibly because of the cold weather.

Once I was past the ranger station, I hopped into the woods and headed directly west through open woods towards the summit of Mount Hitchcock-West Peak.

I hit the southern part of the summit ridge and this was about as thick as the woods would get for the days hike.

Me at the canister on the summit of Mount Hitchcock-West Peak (elevation: 3064 feet ).

Heading back across the summit ridge, this is where all the deeper snow was located. I followed my tracks in reverse which made for a quick trip down.

I deviated from my tracks (heading up to the summit of Mount Hitchcock-West Peak) a bit but still headed down through open woods, where I got this view of Whaleback Mountain and Mount Flume.

This would turn out to be the only bushwhack I would do today. Although snow conditions were perfect, and the temperatures decent enough, I ran out of energy to try for Mount Hitchcock (which is the highest peak of the five Hitchcock peaks in New Hampshire). Being in the woods still beats being at work any day.