Bear Mountain (NH) 2/13/2016

Bear Mountain

Location: Bartlett, New Hampshire
Mileage: 5 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2100 Feet
Trails Used: Road Walk, Bushwhack
Views: From Logging Cut, Wooded Summit
Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Lists: NH 200 Highest/NH 3000 Footers

Kris messaged 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 (never in winter) and decided to give it a re-do. A plan was set in place to meet Kris at the park n' ride in Penacook, and we 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.

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

Better views from logging cuts 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 old sign on the summit of Bear Mountain, elevation 3220 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 Mount Carrigain in between Owls Cliff and Mount Tremont

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 walked Bear Notch Road to and from the summit of Bear Mountain, which is closed in winter but can be used by snowmobiles. 

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 due to the low snow conditions. 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.