Mount Starr King - Mount Waumbek (NH) 3/24/2018

Mount Starr King - Mount Waumbek

Location: Jefferson and Kilkenny, New Hampshire
Elevation Gain: 2600 Feet
Trails Used: Starr King Trail
Views: 180 from Summits of Mount Starr King and Mount Waumbek
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Mount Waumbek : AMC NH 4000 Footers/AMC New England 4000 Footers/NE 115 4000 Footers/AMC 100 Highest/NH 200 Highest/NH 300 Highest - Mount Starr King: NH 52 WAV
Mileage: 7.3 Miles

I didn’t have the energy or motivation to hike the week before, so I decided to get out for a hike on Saturday. I wanted something quick and easy since I needed to make it to our March AMC Four-Thousand-Footer committee meeting ahead of the annual awards ceremony in April. A few days earlier, Brian messaged me saying Renee and Amy were planning to do Mount Isolation, but that was out for me due to the time and distance involved. His next suggestion was Mount Waumbek. At first, I thought it wouldn’t work for the same reasons, but after reconsidering, I decided to go for it. I met Brian and Renee at the exit 23 park in New Hampton, and we drove north to meet Amy and some of Renee’s friends at the trailhead parking area in Jefferson, New Hampshire. We geared up and crossed US Route 2 to start the hike.

The summer trailhead parking area for the Starr King Trail wasn’t plowed, so we had to leave the car in the winter lot on US 2 and walk up Starr King Road.

We stumbled across an old well along the Starr King Trail, which was once an old logging road.

The Starr King Trail was well-packed by snowshoes, making it very easy to follow.

I remember hiking this section of the Starr King Trail for the first time several years ago in winter, when the snow-covered trees made it feel like walking through a snow tunnel.

When we reached the summit of Mount Starr King, at an elevation of 3,915 feet, people were snapping photos of a Northern Cardinal enjoying some leftover trail mix.

From the summit of Mount Starr King, the view stretches toward Mount Washington and the Presidential Range, their peaks hidden away in the clouds.

Brian stands atop the fireplace remains, all that is left of the shelter that once stood on the summit of Mount Starr King.

Our next stop, Mount Waumbek, is just a mile away, nestled behind the trees.

After descending from the summit of Mount Starr King, we headed toward Mount Waumbek. The snow along the Starr King Trail was a little soft here, so most of the group had switched to snowshoes by then.

The summit of Mount Waumbek, at 4,011 feet, is clearly buried under deep snow, judging by how much of the sign is hidden.

Panoramic view from the lookout just below the summit of Mount Waumbek.

Brian, Renee, and Amy at the scenic spot just below the summit of Mount Waumbek.

Brian and I at the Mount Waumbek viewpoint, taking peak-level nerd selfies.

After one final break at the summit of Mount Starr King, we made great time hiking back down to the car.

It was a great day for a hike with good company. The winter conditions were just right, and the trail was packed enough to skip the snowshoes. The views were pretty good for winter, and I still made it back in time for the committee meeting call.

Mount Starr King is the highest point in the town of Jefferson, New Hampshire and is located in the Pliny Range.