*Round Mountain (Milan) - Location Hill 4/23/2016

I would be heading out solo today, so I had a few peaks on the radar that I wanted to get done. I have seen the first mountain I wanted to do in Milan many times and have always had the urge to hike/bushwhack to it so today was the day. After asking my friend Keith about some information on access the night before, I made the long drive north Saturday. Another reason I was heading in this area was to look for moose antlers. The further north you go, the better your chance at finding moose sheds. I set out rather later than I usually head north but made it to Berlin in decent time. I think it took longer to drive down the old forest road to the place where I would park and begin my hiking day.

Round Mountain

Location: Milan, New Hampshire
Mileage: 3.95 Miles
Elevation Gain: 995 Feet
Trails Used: None. Road Walk, Bushwhack
Views: From Ledges below summit of Round Mountain
Hiking Lists: None

I had heard there was some sort of bootleg trail or herd path that went to the summit area of Round Mountain, but I wasn't sure exactly where it started. I knew where I needed to go to start my search for it though, and it was an area in which Brian, and I tried to get to several years ago but were stopped by misinformation and various closed gates. This time there were no gates closed and I managed to make it all the way to the old forest road that I would use to either find the trail or bushwhack to the summit. I grabbed my backpack and headed up the forest road so I could try and find the bootleg trail.

I drove down Forest Road 105 off of York Pond Road, to Forest Road 106 which I would use to hike towards the summit of Round Mountain.

The only water crossing of Fogg Brook, which was flowing nicely but easy to cross.

I made it to this old logging landing in between Deer Ridge and Round Mountain. I headed towards a boggy area on the way to the summit of Round Mountain and found a moose antler.

The woods on the summit of Round Mountain were open and scrappy in spots.

The views from some ledges below the summit of Round Mountain looking towards the wind turbines on Jericho Mountain.

The pill bottle register on the wooded summit of Round Mountain elevation 2149 feet.

I bushwhacked my way down from the summit of Round Mountain through these open woods, looking for more moose antlers. After finding nothing, I hit Forest Road 106 and hiked back out to the car.

I never did find the trail that runs to the summit of Round Mountain, nor did I see any trace of where it possibly could be. Regardless, walking back out on the forest road was quick. Once back at the car, I threw my backpack in and after a quick restroom break, I headed off towards my next hike. It was nearby so in a short 15 minutes I was heading up the road and to my destination. The gloomy skies at this point turned into sunshine so it was going to get a bit warmer for this next bushwhack.

Location Hill

Location: Stark, New Hampshire
Mileage: 2.45 Miles
Elevation Gain: 935 Feet
Trails Used: None. Road Walk, Bushwhack
Views: From Logging Cut below summit of Location Hill
Hiking Lists: None

I saw a report from this over the winter, so I decided to give it a go, since what little snow we received was all gone. The only issue was that I knew at some point I would probably pass through a clear-cut area, and sometimes that means pricker bushes and slash leftover from the loggers, as well as muddy sections. I arrived at the spot where I parked my car and heard the local landowner cutting down some trees, so I grabbed my backpack and headed into the woods. The sun was partially out so the heat of the day was going to be a real challenge for this hike.

I parked at the end of Short Road, before it went to a private residence and began my bushwhack towards the summit of Location Hill. I came across this recent logged area which I picked my way through (massive amount of pricker bushes).

The views from the top of the logging cut looking towards the Long Mountain area, with North Percy Peak and South Percy Peak to the left.

Once I was through the logging cut, I walked through mostly open woods towards the summit area of Location Hill.

The pill bottle register on the wooded summit of Location Hill elevation 2005 feet.

Open woods bushwhack all the way back to the car.

Finding another moose antler on my first hike was a neat find. Open woods bushwhacking for both of these peaks made for a nice time outdoors. I probably had time for another hike or two in the area but decided to call it a day and head home. Since I hike solo a lot now, it is kind of boring hiking all day like I used to and getting home late. It still beats working or staying at home, any day.