Big Bickford Mountain (NH) 1/30/2016

Big Bickford Mountain

Location: Franconia, New Hampshire
Mileage: 4.5 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1700 Feet
Trails Used: Skookumchuck Trail, Bushwhack
Views: None, Wooded Summit
Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Lists: NH 200 Highest/NH 3000 Footers

What a difference a few months makes, especially from one hiking season to another. The first time I did this bushwhack with Desi, it was slightly overcast.  A few months ago, I did this hike with Kris on a rainy day. Now it was time to give it a go in winter since the snow conditions were light and I could bare boot from the trailhead to the summit, without the need for snowshoes. I would only be doing Big Bickford Mountain and skipping Scarface Mountain on today's hike. When I arrived at the Skookumchuck Trailhead parking area, it was lightly snowing and I was the only car parked there. Gearing up quick, I headed up the Skookumchuck Trail on a light layer of fresh snow.

I started off hiking on the Skookumchuck Trail but ended up bushwhacking to the summit of Big Bickford Mountain after the first water crossing, which was a bit tricky to cross.

I took the southern ridge up to the summit of Big Bickford Mountain and came across these fresh moose rubbings on the trees. I followed the rubbing patterns for a bit, but I saw nothing.

I bushwhacked through this old logging landing where the snow was almost knee deep in spots.

I hit this wide-open birch glade just before the summit of Big Bickford Mountain. I followed recent moose tracks and found several places where the moose had bedded down.

The jar register, not a canister like normal, on the summit of Big Bickford Mountain, elevation 3261 feet

You can see my tracks as I follow them back down to my car, once again through open woods.

A fairly quick return trip had me back at the car just as the snow showers were ending. I managed to get this picture of Cannon Mountain and Mittersill Mountain.

This would be a quick round trip hike, as the snow depths were firm and made it easy to walk on top of the snow. I wore Microspikes from the car to the summit of Big Bickford Mountain and back down. As soon as I returned to the car, I decided to call it a day and head home. This bushwhack is always enjoyable as there really isn't a bad route to the summit.