Mount Cabot * The Bulge * The Horn: 1/12/2014

Mileage: 10.9 miles
Elevation gain: 3260 feet
Trails used: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Unknown Pond Trail, road walk.
Highlight(s): Unknown Pond, views from the summit of the Horn, former fire tower summit.

With Saturday's weather less than desirable Brian and I decided to head out Sunday for what was supposed to be a much better day. The target for the day would be the big Mount Cabot-The Bulge-The Horn loop starting from York Pond Road. Oddly, once through Franconia Notch the snow literally disappeared and gave us the feeling of mid spring with temperatures to match. Alas, the grand day the weathermen predicted did not quite pan out, and we spent the bulk of the day being snowed on, sleeted on, and fairly well blown about in very strong winds.

Mount Cabot, the Bulge and the Horn are located in Kilkenny, New Hampshire and Mount Cabot is the highest peak in the Pilot Range. It is also the northernmost 4000 footer of all the New Hampshire 4000 foot peaks. There isn't much for views from the summit of Mount Cabot, and no views from the wooded summit of The Bulge, but there are good views from the summit of The Horn. There used to be a fire tower on the summit of Mount Cabot, but it has long since been taken down although the old fire wardens cabin is still in place and can be rented.


Mount Cabot is on the New Hampshire Four Thousand Footer's List. Mount Cabot, The Bulge and The Horn are on the New England One Hundred Highest List, the New Hampshire One Hundred Highest List, the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List, and the New Hampshire 3K List. 

We started at the York Pond Trailhead, right across from the fish hatchery. A quick jaunt to the Bunnell Notch Trail junction and it is easy 4.5 miles to the summit of Mount Cabot.

The Kilkenny area is noted for it's nice and beautiful open hardwood stands. Brian is heading up the Bunnell Notch trail in very minimal snow conditions down in lower elevations.

The hardest crossing of the day, as you had to cross on this two downed trees. These were also the only other hikers we would come across on today's hike.

The Bunnell Notch Trail passes along many streams down low on the hike up to Mount Cabot, offering plenty of cascades and waterfalls for one to enjoy along the way.

These very nice woods as we move our way up to Mount Cabot. There was some snow down low but not a lot. Most of it was probably melted from the previous days rain.

The Bunnell Notch Trail heading up was a mixture of hardpack snow and ice.

We made our way up the Bunnell Notch Trail to its junction with the Kilkenney Ridge Trail as we are getting closer to the summit of Mount Cabot.

Higher up the open hardwoods give way to spruce (and snow) heaven. It got a bit icy in this spot with a light blanket of freshly fallen snow.

Brian taking a picture of the Mount Cabot cabin, which is just below the summit of Mount Cabot. You can stay overnight in the old fire wardens cabin, for a fee.

Normally the views from the cabin are decent; today, not so much.

Me on Mount Cabot's summit (elevation: 4170 feet). This hike would make WNH36 for me.

We continued along the Kilkenny Ridge Trail on our way to The Bulge and Horn. This is the always exciting summit of The Bulge (elevation: 3950 feet). Always is a bit of an exaggeration since there are zero views from this summit.

Usually, The Horn (elevation: 3905 feet) offers wonderful views that are some of the best in the Whites, but today it was nothing but a whiteout. No way would we be climbing on top of this since there was just enough ice to make it too much of an ordeal.

Brian trying to take a picture from the ledges below the summit of the Horn.

We left our bags at the spur trail to the Horn as it was easier than lugging them to the summit.

Still continuing on, we came to Unknown Pond which typically offers a classic view of The Horn rising over the pond. Alas, again it was just a whiteout with even more snow coming down.

Several pretty good sized water crossings along the Unknown Pond Trail, such as this one. This trail looked like it had seen no recent foot traffic on it.

Brian heading down a nice birch glade area along the Unknown Pond Trail.

I think Brian was trying to break dance here, but I am not sure. With the low snow levels, there was plenty of ice to make us slip and fall.

The hike out was tough as the Unknown Pond Trail is difficult to follow and the snow was pretty deep on this side. Finally though, we made it to the Unknown Pond Trail head after a tiring hike. From here it was a short road walk back to the car.

While the weather for the day was not the greatest it was far better than what would have been encountered Saturday (rain, rain and more rain). Brian and I have both hiked the Unknown Pond trail from York Road before, and today reminded me why it is one of my least favorite trails (I am looking at you, Valley Way and 19 Mile Brook!!) . 

Uncanoonuc Mountains-South Mountain: 1/5/2014

Mileage: 2.05 miles
Elevation gain: 805 feet
Trails used: Incline Trail, Walker Trail, Summit Trail.
Highlight(s): decent views from the summit, former fire tower summit.

Desi wanted to do a snowshoe hike to get out and stretch her legs so I mentioned to her we could get a short hike/snowshoe in and go up Uncanoonuc Mountain-South Mountain. The temperature's were much warmer than the previous days hike and there was a nice snowshoe track already laid down from the previous days hikers. We would use snowshoes start to finish for this hike, although we probably didn't need them. We even went sans backpacks since it was a short hike and easy to follow trails.

Uncanoonuc Mountain-South Mountain is located in Goffstown, New Hampshire and would be the highest point in Goffstown, if not for Uncanoonuc Mountain. There are two peaks to the Uncanoonuc Mountains, the North and South peak's. Uncanoonuc Mountain-South Mountain has numerous communication towers on its summit and once had a fire tower on it's summit.  There also used to be a ski area and incline railroad that went up the South Mountain.


Uncanoonuc Mountain Ski Area

We parked at the the South Uncanoonuc Trailhead. We opted to go up the Incline Trail to start the hike today.

The Incline Trail lives up to its name. It goes straight up for the first part of the hike. This would definitely be a decent sledding area. 

Desi stopping to admire the old rock wall. Yes, that is a power line that runs along side the trail to the summit.

Desi at the viewpoint right off the Walker Trail, looking into Maine.

A few of the antenna arrays on the summit. The road was plowed to the summit for access to the antenna's which are owned by several news/tv stations.

One of the few antenna arrays on the summit of Uncanoonuc Mountains-South Mountain.

An old dilapidated building just below the gated off summit of Uncanoonuc Mountains-South Mountain (elevation: 1315 feet). This makes the fire tower remains off limits.

This was a nice wooded section of the Walker Trail that runs just below the summit.

A viewpoint looking towards Ragged Mountain and Kearsarge Mountain.

It was a quick hike down and back to the car. Overall, this was an enjoyable hike made better since we did not have to break trail, like the prior days endeavors. Also, the weather wasn't too bad and it was not that cold. 

Seeing how well the trail system was, we both agreed we will go back to visit and also check out North Uncanoonuc, which looks to have better views.  A short hike but worth it, if not to just get out and stretch one's legs.

Nancy Pond (NH) *1/4/2014*

Nancy Pond

Location: Livermore, New Hampshire
Mileage: 7.25 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2220 Feet
Trails Used: Nancy Pond Trail
Views: From Nancy Pond
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

It was another bitterly cold morning, with the trailhead temperature at -16 degrees. On days like this, you’d think only the daring would venture out, yet there we were. Our plan was to climb Mount Nancy first, then bushwhack over to Mount Bemis before descending via the old abandoned fire warden’s trail (Bemis still holds the remnants of a fire tower). Brian and I had been to these peaks before, but never in winter or with the promise of clear views. Unfortunately, the snow would prove to be the real challenge of the day.

Mount Nancy sits in Livermore, New Hampshire, surrounded by Mount Bemis, Mount Anderson, and Duck Pond Mountain. Most of these peaks are trail-less, except for Mount Nancy and Mount Bemis. Mount Nancy can be reached by a herd path from a nearby campground, while Mount Bemis has an old fire warden’s trail that’s still mostly followable up to the remains of its fire tower. The true summit of Mount Bemis offers no views and requires a bushwhack to reach.

We started at the Nancy Pond Trailhead off Route 302. The trail stays fairly steady until you reach the Nancy Cascades, where it gets steep before climbing up to Nancy Pond and Norcross Pond.

It seems a hefty amount of snow has fallen recently, ranging from over two to three feet with some drifts. This is a shot of the first water crossing.

At times the older snowshoe track disappeared completely, especially around Nancy Brook crossing. It was fun trying to find a route to hike across without falling in the water. This is the hardest water crossing to do, especially after heavy rains.

This part of the Nancy Pond Trail involved some traversing, or “side-hilling,” to stay upright and avoid slipping on the incline.

The view of Nancy Cascades wasn’t very lively today, with only a gentle flow, but it’s still a lovely spot to visit on a warm summer day and relax by the water.

Soon the steep climb began, and the old trail vanished, giving way to powdery snow that reached up to the shins and, at times, the knees. Brian was trying to get a closer shot of the Nancy Cascades.

The views toward Stairs Mountain and Mount Resolution from an open spot just above Nancy Cascades along the Nancy Pond Trail are stunning.

We were getting close to Nancy Pond, but the snow was knee-deep, with a few drifts nearly waist-deep, slowing us down since there was no visible snowshoe track.

Our first look at the frozen Nancy Pond, sitting at an elevation of 3,114 feet.

Brian snaps a photo of Nancy Pond, with Mount Anderson towering in the background.

Despite all our efforts snowshoeing in these conditions, the 3.5+ miles of trail-breaking proved too much for just the two of us. By then, our energy was fading, the day was slipping away, and reaching the Mount Nancy herd path was no longer a realistic goal. With the cold only growing harsher, turning back felt like the smart choice. A little past the east end of Nancy Pond, we decided we’d had enough and retraced our steps to the car. Even though we didn’t meet our original goal, it still felt like a solid effort.

About 7.2 miles of challenging snowshoeing to kick off the year, with plenty more hikes ahead. Sometimes you achieve exactly what you planned; other times, you simply do what you can. In the end, as long as you’re having fun, nothing else really matters.

Mount Osceola-East Peak - Mount Osceola (NH) *1/1/2014*

Mount Osceola - Mount Osceola-East Peak

Location: Lincoln/Livermore, New Hampshire
Mileage: 6.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2280 Feet
Trails Used: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mount Osceola Trail
Views: Views from ledges on Mount Osceola 
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: NH 4000 Footer/NH 3000 Footers/NH Hundred Highest/NH 200 Highest/NH 300 Highest/NE Hundred Highest/NE 115 4000 Footers

Ringing in the new year, Brian and I started 2014 with the first of many adventures ahead. The day was bitterly cold and windy, but the payoff was breathtaking winter scenery. Between steep climbs and soft snow, the 7.6-mile round trip took some real effort. Thankfully, a fresh snowshoe track had already been laid, making the hike a little easier.

I’m still working on finishing my Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Winter 48 list, which has been nearly six years in the making, and I needed both Osceola peaks to chip away at the few remaining ones. With so many hikers out there, especially in winter, we figured it would be an easy out-and-back hike. We were well-prepared, so after getting ready, we set off.

The Greeley Ponds Trail begins off the Kancamagus Highway at the Greeley Pond trailhead parking area. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground, but a well-packed snowshoe track was already laid out.

This is the first junction, and the trail gets steeper from here. It’s where the Greeley Ponds Trail meets the Mount Osceola Trail.

We start heading up and catch a great view of Mount Osceola-East Peak. The trail gets pretty steep in some spots as we make our way to the main summit area.

The Mount Osceola Trail was straightforward to navigate as it climbed toward the summit of Mount Osceola’s East Peak.

A beautiful ledge on the side of Mount Osceola-East Peak as we make our way up.

From the top of the old slide on the way up to Mount Osceola’s East Peak, you can take in stunning views of Mount Chocorua, Flume Peak, Scaur Peak, and the Tripyramids.

It’s a bit chilly, but I’m having a great time. This photo was taken on the wooded summit of Mount Osceola-East Peak, at an elevation of 4,160 feet.

The stretch between Mount Osceola-East Peak and Mount Osceola is called the "chimney." Heading left takes you straight into it, but we opted for the easier bypass to the right. With a bit of ice on the trail today, it didn’t seem too welcoming for our snowshoes.

Brian snapped a photo of our next goal, Mount Osceola, which seems so far in the distance.

Along the way, we enjoyed views of the Waterville Valley ski slopes and the Sandwich Mountain area to the south.

It definitely felt like winter along the stretch between Mount Osceola-East Peak and Mount Osceola, with this being the deepest snow we came across on the entire hike.

Snow squalls passed through the area, but we didn’t see any snow today. They did, however, create some pretty cool lighting.

From the summit of Mount Osceola, the view stretches back to Mount Osceola-East Peak with Mount Kancamagus rising in the distance.

A great view of the Tripyramids, with the North Tripyramid Slide clearly visible from the summit of Mount Osceola.

The old fire tower foundations, blanketed in snow, sit atop Mount Osceola’s 4,328-foot summit. On a clear day, the views from up here are spectacular.

From the summit of Mount Osceola, looking north reveals the Huntington Mountains and Mount Carrigain in the distance.

Watch that first step! The Waterville Valley ski trails stretch out with Mount Tecumseh in the background, as snow squalls start to roll in.

Heading back down, passing over Mount Osceola-East Peak with its viewless summit. The temperature is definitely dropping outside.

The views toward Mount Kancamagus, Greens Cliff, and Mount Chocorua along the Mount Osceola Trail are stunning.

More winter beauty on the way down. It’s so cool to see the trails looking like this in winter.

Hikes always feel like a long journey to and from, and this view is looking back toward the summit of Mount Osceola.

The cliffs along Mount Kancamagus with a view of one of the Greeley Ponds.

We’re almost back to the Greeley Pond trail, passing through beautiful open woods on the way down to the car.

With tired legs, we made our way back to the parking lot feeling triumphant. It was a great way to kick off the first day of 2014 and an exciting start to the winter season ahead! About 7.6 miles down, with a whole year of hikes to look forward to. Cold weather and playful snow navigation made it all the more enjoyable—it’s shaping up to be a great year for hiking.