MORNING SNOWSHOE ALONG THE EAST BRANCH: 2/26/12

Snowshoeing has been in short supply this winter, so before opening the store on Sunday I decided to take advantage of the fresh 5-6" of snow that fell Friday night and do a little 'shoeing at Lincoln Woods. I went up the less-used Pemi East Side Trail, which after a half-mile offered this view of the snow-covered East Branch of the Pemigewasset. This vista was expanded by Tropical Storm Irene.

I turned off onto the Pine Island Trail, parts of which were completely obliterated by Irene. The trail has been officially closed by the Forest Service since then, but still sees some use. It is intact for the first 0.25 mi. from its south end. My wife and I had adopted this trail in July, a month before Irene ravaged it. The Forest Service plans to relocate and reopen the trail this year, hopefully; it will be moved back into the woods farther from the river.


After crossing Pine Island Brook on a snow bridge, and a smaller open brook on snow-covered rocks, I followed a nice new snowshoe track through the pleasant open woods typical of the Pine Island Trail.

Here is where the trail comes to the first section that disappeared into the river; note the blaze on the tree on the right.

From this spot, there's a view eight miles up the valley to Southwest Twin (on the R); Galehead Mountain can be seen on the L.


By moving a few yards to the south, you can also see South Twin, still socked in at the top by a morning wisp of cloud.


On the way back, I had this view of Black Mountain (near Loon Mountain) from the Pemi East Side Trail. What a beautiful morning!

CHAMPNEY & PITCHER FALLS: 2/21/12

One of the nicest half-day walks along the Kancamagus Highway is the trek into Champney and Pitcher Falls along the Champney Falls Trail and part of a loop path. The trail is easy to moderate, and the ice formations on Pitcher Falls are especially beautiful. Plus, there's a good chance you'll get to see some ice climbers in action.

Champney/Pitcher Falls has been a popular destination since the late 1800s, and in the 1870s geologist Joshua H. Huntington deemed Pitcher Falls "the most picturesque of the many falls and cascades around the mountains."


Surprisingly, there were only a half-dozen cars in the lot for this popular trail, even though it was a fine day during school vacation week. As expected, the trail was a smooth hard-packed sidewalk of snow, with the occasional icy patch, ideal for Microspikes.

After a half-mile through mostly hardwoods, the trail hops up onto a bank and ascends through hemlocks, then drops down near Champney Brook.

I always stop to admire this old yellow birch.

A trailside view of Champney Brook.

Nearing the falls loop path, I encountered the first of just a few hikers along the trail.

The loop path splits left at 1.4 mi. and 500 ft. in elevation above the trailhead.

In 0.2 mi. of down-and-up, I reached the base of Champney Falls, just a bulging ice flow in winter.

Just to the east is the beautiful flume into which a tributary brook drops over Pitcher Falls. And there was an ice climber scaling one of the pillars.

For someone who's never been on a climbing rope, it's always a treat to see a climber in action.

I went up the first pitch on the loop trail to a shelf atop the lower part of Champney Falls, and had a good view up to the frozen upper part of the waterfall. From here the loop path climbs very steeply alongside the falls, and though I've done it in winter it looked too icy for my liking this day. I did want to visit the top of Champney Falls, where there is a good viewpoint looking north, so I returned along the loop path to its lower junction with the main trail and headed up that way.

As you climb up the side of the valley, damage from the 1998 ice storm is still much in evidence.
This area was hit hard; a month after that storm my nephew Mike and I bushwhacked up the ridge west of Champney Brook and then descended along the trail. The trail part was actually harder due to the many trees fallen at crazy angles across the footway, necessitating awkward detours on the side slope.


At one point there is a view up to the ledgy knob that rises on the north side of the falls. This area is called "Hobbitland" by rock climbers. If you bushwhack to the top of that knob, you'll find some good views around the rim in various directions.

The upper falls loop junction, 1.7 mi. from the trailhead.

I dropped a short distance on the loop path to rocks and ledges above Champney Falls, including this neat overhang. Caution is advised in this area, as there are some steep dropoffs.


From rocks in the brookbed, I had a view of Owl Cliff and Mt. Tremont.

Looking up Champney Brook in the flat area above the top of the falls.

I carefully made my way on a mini-bushwhack to an open overhanging ledge, flat on top, on the east side of the brook. I stepped gingerly on the hard crust, which held my weight most of the time even without snowshoes. This spot grants a unique view north down the Champney Brook valley to distant peaks.

Hanock is on the far L, then the cliff-faced Captain can be seen below, and the mighty Mt. Carrigain. The top of Bondcliif can be glimpsed over the col to the L of Carrigain. Continuing to the R are Vose Spur, Owl Cliff with the tip of Mt. Lowell peeking over, Mt. Tremont, Mt. Nancy and Mt. Bemis.

This photo taken from the loop trail across the brook shows the view ledge, the one on the L.

On the way back down the Champney Falls Trail, a glimpse of Mt. Washington and Boott Spur through the branches.

Colorful Forest Service map at the trailhead. This hike is highly recommended, and the trip in to the lower end of Champney Falls is suitable for winter novices. Use caution if visiting the area at the upper end of the loop trail.

DICKEY NOTCH: 2/14/12

On a warm, almost spring-like Valentine's Day, I made a leisurely trek into one of my favorite little nooks in the mountains: Dickey Notch, the quiet pass between Dickey Mountain and Cone Mountain. The notch is in the town of Thornton, SW of Waterville Valley. The Brown Ash Swamp Mountain Bike Trail leads along the floor, passing several beaver ponds.

The bike trail leaves the Dickey side of the Welch-Dickey loop just 0.1 mi. from the trailhead.


It follows an old woods road at easy grades. The trail was hardpacked, even icy in places. I suspect most use of this trail is from local residents.

The forest is mostly hardwood, though it does pass through this nice hemlock stand.

The little string of beaver ponds is reached at about 0.9 mi. Rising behind is a rocky knob, a northern spur of Cone Mountain, which I planned to bushwhack to after walking through the notch.

Beaver pond #2.

A closer look at the knob.

The upper (northernmost) beaver pond has a lodge. Not sure if it was occupied or not.

Looking back down the beaver ponds, with a glimpse of the Campton Range.

The trail meanders between boulders.

Beautiful hardwood forest on the floor of the notch.

After passing the steep eastern slopes of the knob, I put on my snowshoes and headed into the woods, approaching it from the north. There was a bit of hobblebush tussling at first.

The snow was crusty, my snowshoes barely denting the surface at times.

An icy ledge in the forest.

I emerged first on a lower ledge with a view of Fisher Mountain. There was a direct line of ledge leading up from here, but it looked too steep for my liking, so I circled back into the woods.

I made a fairly steep ascent through conifers, then turned left for a final semi-open scramble to the top of the 1689-ft. knob.

At the open summit you get a close-up view of the north face of Cone Mountain. The prominent ledge in the center is a great viewpoint that I've visited several times.

It was balmy in the sun with no wind, and the glacial erratic in the center made a convenient seat. I was surprised to find tracks from a single hiker who had visited recently.

By moving around, I had views in various directions, here looking west to Mt. Kineo and Mt. Cushman.

I dropped to a ledge on the east side for a view of Sandwich Dome and the two Black Mountains, beyond the east side of Dickey Notch. The whitish area of the beaver ponds can just be seen at the bottom.

A zoom on Sandwich.

Looking across the notch at the broad mass of Dickey Mountain.


A couple of years ago I visited an off-trail ledge on Dickey, visible in the photo above, that had a neat view back to the knob and Cone Mountain.


Another ledge on the knob offered a long view to the north.

The Franconias (L) and Scar Ridge (R).

Looking NE to many spurs of Mt. Tecumseh, a very wild area with no official trails, and a wonderful place for bushwhack exploration.

In this photo are (L to R) Fisher Mountain, the tip of Tecumseh, Hogback Mountain under the cone of SW Green, and Green Mountain.

Bald Mountain rises in the middle of the long ridge extending SW from West Tecumseh. There's a great little viewpoint on the SE side of Bald, and several open ledges on the lower shoulder seen on the L.

A hazy view of Moosilauke.

After enjoying the views, I dropped off the knob to a flat little ridge on the SW side, which connects with the main mass of Cone Mountain. Here there was a pair of large oak trees.

A good bear tree, they do love the beech nuts.

Ruffed grouse tracks (I believe) in the snow.


I took a more direct route back to the bike trail, dropping steeply to the SE for 200 ft. of elevation, then more moderately, all through hardwoods.

Just before reaching the trail, I crossed the small brook that drains from the beaver ponds. The day's trail and bushwhack loop totaled a leisurely 3+ miles, getting me home in plenty of time to go out for Valentine's dinner with my sweetheart.