THE NUBBLE: 9/17/12

I joined Allen Koop, avid hiker and White Mountain historian, for a late afternoon trek up to The Nubble (aka Haystack Mountain, 2713 ft.), a remarkable plug of rock on the north side of North Twin Mountain. I hadn't been up there in about 20 years, so it was long past time for a return visit. The well-beaten unofficial trail that leads to The Nubble seemed a lot more obvious than it did 20 years ago.

The path leads through some fine hardwood forest along the way.

A break in the trees provides a glimpse up to The Nubble. Looks pretty inaccessible from this angle. I once read that this is thought to be the remnant of an ancient volcanic plug, but I can't find the reference.

A pretty brook vignette along the path.

Allen crosses a small slide/brookbed as we ascend towards the base of the peak.

There's a somewhat tricky scramble near the top.

Looking west across the cliff face.

Allen admires the view. What a great little summit!

Looking towards the Presidentials and the north ridge of Mt. Hale.

The Sugarloaves, Mt. Oscar and the Presys.

Mt. Garfield and Mt. Lafayette.

Looking up at the massive north ridge of North Twin.

Northeast to Cherry Mountain and the Pilot Range beyond the town of Twin Mountain.

Looming close by to the south is 3813-ft. Peak Above the Nubble, one of New England's Hundred Highest summits. Both times I've climbed PATN, we've scouted our route from here on The Nubble. The first time, with Bill Vecchio, we ascended the curving slide whose cut can be seen on the R. the second time, with Mike Dickerman, we took a more direct route up. On the way down we inadvertently came out at the top of the "Check-Mark Slide," part of which can be seen on the L. It was April, and with deep firm snow we were able to snowshoe right down the slide.

Allen descends the tricky spot, with a major dropoff on the side. This was a fun little jaunt to a cool rocky peak.