Pemigewasset East Side Hike: 1/26/2014

Mileage: 8.9 miles
Elevation gain: 830 feet
Trails Used: East Side Trail, Pine Island Trail.
Highlight(s): none.

Brian was getting over a cold so instead of heading out for a solo hike, I had decided the day before to hike with Mike and do a bushwhack to Mount Hitchcock-North Peak (he wanted to do a recon mission). The day was going to be bitterly cold, like most of this winter has been so far, so we were going to have to be well prepared. Mike parked at the Lincoln Woods parking area, paid the fee this time, and we proceeded to get changed/ready in the restrooms there (it had a propane heater!). We headed out into the bitter cold for a fun hike.

We would be heading into the Pemigewassett Wilderness, which is part of the White Mountain National Forest and heavily logged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

(Wait, did I say I was hiking with Mike?   Queue dream sequence....................)

The day started like almost any other winter hiking day; really early and very cold.  The thermometer on the Ranger station says 0 degree's but with the windchill I would imagine it was about -15.

 The always pleasurable road hike along the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. Notice the washed out section alongside the East Side Trail.

Into the woods we go as we begin the bushwhack towards Mount Hitchcock-North Peak. We come across an old logging road in really nice open woods.

  We aborted the bushwhack so back to the East Side Trail we go. There were XC ski tracks from a day or two ago, as it snowed last night. We decided to go as far as we could before "someone" got tired (Mike, it was Mike).

We came along this magic red box. It said "Food Only, No Trash" so Mike figured he could get a quick snack.....

.....luckily, I was there to save him after the box tried to devour him. Or maybe it was spitting him out. It does say "No Trash" on the side.

Walking along another washed out section of the East Side Trail.

Several pictures of the icy East Branch. We thought about crossing it several times but thought better of it. The ice was pretty thin in spots so definitely a smart idea not to cross.

We made it to the Cedar Brook crossing. This is as far as we would go today. The ice was deceptively thin in a lot of areas with no real easy way to cross.

The views looking towards Whaleback Mountain and Mount Flume from along the East Side Trail. It was almost clear but brutally cold.

The start of the Pine Island Trail which we would do on the way back to the car.

The area here was damaged by Hurricane Irene in 2011. The trail was relocated in spots.

Another washed out section along the Pine Island Trail.

Although it was an easy hike, there was really not much variation in this particular section of the Pine Island Trail.

After awhile, and with tired legs, this is where Mike decided he could not go on. I decided I would have to go back for him in the spring.

The last picture of the East Branch from the suspension bridge near Lincoln Woods looking towards the Kancamagus Highway.  

This is when i woke up and realized it all had to be a dream.  Or was it.....

Not a bad day overall. Yes it was cold and while we did not manage to do what we had planned, I did get to hike with Mike, which is extremely rare in winter, and also added some mileage to the totals for the month/year.  At this time of the year, thats always a plus.