Elevation gain: 3085'
Trails used: Lambert Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail), Smarts Ranger Trail.
The decision was given to Desi for Saturday's hike as it was her birthday, so after kicking around a few ideas, she choose Smarts Mountain as that was the last peak she needed to finish the 52 With A View list. Brian and I would be joining her for the hike, and then Joe would be coming over to join us for a tailgate afterwards.
Smarts Mountain is located in Lyme, New Hampshire. It is the highest peak in southern New Hampshire along the Appalachian Trail, which crosses its summit. Lambert Ridge Trail is known for its quartzite ledges and is a nice hike up a long ridge to the summit area of Smarts Mountain. There were two plane crashes on the mountain in 1966 and 1971.
Smarts Mountain is on the New Hampshire 200 Highest List, and the New Hampshire 3k List.
It was a cold, windy day for this hike which has been rare for Memorial Day weekend in the past. The bonus was that because of the wind, the bugs would be kept at bay. I don't think it even made it out of the 50s while we were doing this hike.
The start of the Lambert Ridge Trail. It is pretty steep to start with a few switchbacks but the payoff with the ledges later in the hike is worth it.
A section of the Lambert Ridge Trail. It is blazed with white squares and easy to follow as it is a part of the Appalachian Trail system.
Our first views of the day of Holts Ledge and the Moose Mountains from some ledges along the Lambert Ridge Trail.
Its like a mini Bondcliff picture opportunity waiting to happen. The Lambert Ridge Trail runs alongside this cliff so use caution if its wet.
We could see Mount Kearsarge and Mount Cardigan from here, as well as the Tenney Mountain windfarm area and the Sandwich Range (both not shown here).
We had to talk Brian down from this ledge. He almost got blown away by the wind.
The upper part of Lambert Ridge has quite a few ledges so its always nice to hike like this.
If you like forest hiking too, this hike has that in spades. Here is a blurry shot of the Lambert Ridge Trail in between a few ridges.
Smarts Mountain makes an appearance. You can almost make out the fire tower. It always looks so much further away than it really is.
Another section of nice woods just before we get to the junction of the Lambert Ridge Trail and the Smarts Ranger Trail.
Just after the junction for the Lambert Ridge Trail and Smarts Ranger Trail, these wooden steps and iron rungs were installed and for good reason: it is steep and wet.
Making the final climb up to the summit of Smarts Mountain.
Desi and Brian on the summit of Smarts Mountain (elevation 3238'). The fire tower is closed so we couldn't climb to get some decent views.
The old fire warden's cabin just below the fire tower and Smarts Mountain summit.
Coming down the Smarts Ranger Trail, the trail wasn't too bad. It then turned into a rock hopping stream bed (dry today).
We found several of these cairns holding the poles for the telephone wire that ran down from the summit of Smarts Mountain.
One of the few water crossings on the Smarts Ranger Trail. With the lack of rain lately, these were easy to cross and very low.
An old garage used by the fire wardens that looked like it gets some use by campers and just people out having a good time.
Finishing off the last stretch of the Smarts Ranger Trail. Brian is holding up an Indian Cucumber in the picture. They are edible plants.
The Smarts Ranger Trail starts from the same parking area as the Lambert Ridge Trail. Notice the sign for the tower closure below the trail sign.
A good time on this hike today. As we were coming down the Smarts Ranger Trail, Joe was already there so we proceeded to have ourselves a small tailgate with chips/salsa, burgers and hot dogs, and buffalo chicken sausages. Too bad Joe couldn't join us as he is still recovering from a broken ankle.
The hike up Lambert Ridge is always a blast. There are decent views from the ledges looking east into New Hampshire and also looking into Vermont. Since the fire tower is currently closed, there are really no views from the summit of Smarts so that was a downer. The bugs were pretty much non-existant (until we were at the bottom) so that was a plus. Smarts Ranger Trail was only good on the knees; otherwise, there's not much to redeem this trail.
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