Sunny November Days

Got out in the woods two afternoons in a row at the start of an amazing stretch of sunny and unusually warm November weather.

BROOKS FISHER TRAIL & MT. WEBSTER: 11/4/20

The Brooks Fisher Trail, opened in 2017 by the Squam Lakes Association (SLA), provides a wonderful easy-graded climb with many switchbacks to the crest of the Squam Range on the south shoulder of Mt. Webster. In 1.3 miles it climbs just 450 ft.

SLA trail markers where the Brooks Fisher Trail (red) meets the Crawford-Ridgepole Trail (yellow).

The Crawford-Ridgepole Trail passes through a ridgecrest stone wall.

An inviting corridor.

The trail comes out to the east edge of the ridge at an excellent viewpoint.

Mt. Chocorua and its long south ridge.

Squam Lake and Red Hill.

 

 Nice ridge walking.

From an outlook on a side path farther north along the ridge of Mt. Webster: Sandwich Dome, East Sleeper and Mt. Whiteface behind Mt. Percival and Mt. Squam.

Another nice lake view here. The round trip to this second outlook via Brooks Fisher Trail and Crawford-Ridgepole Trail is a very enjoyable 5.6 miles with 1100 ft. of elevation gain. The 2077-ft. summit of Mt. Webster is a half-mile farther north along the ridge, but it is wooded and off trail.

 

 DICKEY MOUNTAIN WANDER: 11/5/20

Walked through Dickey Notch from the Welch-Dickey trailhead, then explored woods and ledges on the west side of Dickey Mountain, with descent via the loop trail from Dickey's south shoulder.

A scene by one of the beaver ponds in Dickey Notch.

Bare trees and blue skies.

Interesting landforms here - possibly the base of an old slide off the steep wall of Dickey Notch?

An expansive open hardwood forest on the west slope of Dickey.

Ferns provide a touch of greenery in November.

A steep ledge slab that looked too wet and slippery to ascend.

The upper slopes of Dickey are cloaked in spruce forest.

Granite expanse.

View from the top of the slab: Carr, Kineo, Cushman and Moosilauke.

Zoom on Moosilauke, with South Peak on the L and Mt. Blue on the R.

More ledges.

And more views.

Snowshoe hare.

Welch Mountain and Sandwich Dome/Black Mountain from the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail.

Dickey and Welch in late-day light.