Elevation gain: 1455 feet
Trails used: Old Clough Road, Dave Roberts Quarry Trail.
Highlight(s): old quarry site.
Type of hike: Trailed.
Views: Yes
I did a quick hike on Saturday, but Desi wanted to get out for a hike and Sunday was going to be a perfect weather day to get out and enjoy one, so I mentioned a hike in the Belknap Range. I only had two peaks left to do, West Quarry and Rand Mountain, and then I would be done with all twelve peaks in the Belknap Range. Plus, we could red-line some trails while we were out hiking and Desi needed the three peaks that we would get along the days hike so it was a win-win all around.
We headed out kind of late in the morning and made the drive into Gilford. I had attempted to do these peaks in the late winter/early spring but the road into the trailhead was snowed over and I would not have made my car too far up. There was a pile of plowed snow as well, and I didn't feel comfortable parking in front of the house that is near there. This time we were able to drive up the rough road, where we parked and geared up quickly to begin the hike.
West Quarry, East Quarry and Rand Mountain are located in Gilford, New Hampshire. I only needed to do West Quarry and Rand Mountain, but we would see how the day went and try to do more. We brought along a map of the Belknap Range, to see what we could string together if we wanted to continue on.
Desi walking up Old Clough Road. We drove as far as we could (right around this spot) and parked in the tall grass. Right away, it was tick city.
Old Clough Road was tall grass to start, then it transitioned to mostly dirt and old tire tracks as we neared the Quarry Trail junction.
The junction of Old Clough Road and the Dave Roberts Quarry Trail. We would turn left and head towards West Quarry and East Quarry first.
Just before you make the steady climb to the summit of West Quarry, you come across an old stone quarry site.
Several metal cables and artifacts are in the area. Please respect and leave these relics of our past in the same spot you found them for others to enjoy.
We decided to take the Quarry Trail spur path up towards the summits of West Quarry and East Quarry, which was rather steep.
A section of the Quarry Trail, as it makes its way to the summit of West Quarry.
The West Quarry summit sign, which is not the actual high point for West Quarry. It's about 100 feet nearby and reachable by herd path.
The wooded, view-less high point for West Quarry (elevation: 1894 feet).
Another section of the Quarry Trail as we head over to East Quarry.
The wooded, view-less high point for East Quarry (elevation: 1880 feet), which I had visited with Brian in the past.
We took the Quarry Trail back down to the old quarry site, which was just as steep and with quite a few ledges like the Quarry Trail spur path.
A view from some ledges along the Quarry Trail looking towards Rand Mountain, Gunstock Mountain and Mount Rowe.
Another steep section of the Quarry Trail, which looked like there was ten different ways people climb up through here.
There were quite a few snakes out sunning themselves along the Quarry Trail, as we headed towards the summit of Rand Mountain.
The wooded, view-less high point for Rand Mountain (elevation: 1883 feet).
After hitting my final peak in the Belknap Range (and with little celebration), we reversed course off of Rand Mountain, where we saw the only other hikers today (coming down as we were heading up) and made it to the col between Rand Mountain and West Quarry. We walked back down Clough Road and back to the car rather quickly (tick control). Desi actually had more ticks on her than I did today, surprisingly.
This was a nice day to be out. I finished my Belknap Range peaks finally (on Rand Mountain) and we both managed to red-line a few trails in the area. Since these peaks are relatively close, and always make for a good time, I am sure I will go back to continue hiking more of the trails in the Belknaps.
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