Beginning my annual ASAP (April Snow Avoidance Program), I enjoyed a long, leisurely bushwhack on a favorite route in the little-visited country north of Rattlesnake Mountain in Rumney. This loop had a variety of interesting features: several ledgy spots with partial views, many acres of hardwood forest, an old cellar hole, interesting rock formations, and a nameless brook with a long string of cascades. It was a raw, gray day, but dry, and the trip was 99% snow-free - yay!
I started out with a short walk up the piney lower section of the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail.
From there I bushwhacked up onto a small ridge and followed an old logging road steadily uphill.
After the road petered out, it was time for bare ground hardwood bushwhacking.
An historic artifact seen along the way.
A not-so-historic artifact seen along another old logging road.
A remote stone wall, a mile or more in from the road, and 600 feet higher.
Crossing a pretty little brook.
A cellar hole across the brook from the stone wall. The old 15-minute USGS Rumney quad shows a building at this location.
Perhaps the foundation of an outbuilding.
I worked my way across to a second, larger brook. From a previous trip I knew I could enjoy a cascade show by following this upstream.
The first of many.
This twin drop is the largest waterfall I saw. Were it on a trail, it would have a name.
An attractive hemlock forest lines the banks.
Rollin' and tumblin'.
It seemed like there was always another cascade in sight above.
Moss-fringed.
A long sluice.
Last of the group.
It looked like Wild Turkeys had been foraging amidst the leaves, and I did spot one farther along.
After ascending along a hardwood ridge, I approached the col on the east side of a flat-topped peak known as Bald Ledge (1740 ft.). Below the col this crag was hidden in the forest.
Fine hardwood forest leading up to the col.
A stout old sugar maple.
There were a few moose pellets and many clusters of deer scat in these woods.
The east side of the broad top of Bald Ledge is cloaked in oak woods.
This looked like some kind of monument or boundary marker. Not sure what it signifies. There is no town boundary atop Bald Ledge.
The west side of Bald Ledge's top is a series of interconnected mountain meadows, with the cairn on the left marking the high point.
Taking care not to trample fragile lichens, I took a late lunch break at the largest meadow, with a peek at Smarts Mountain in the distance. A peaceful spot.
From another meadow I found a glimpse of Mount Cube and Black Hill. These vistas have grown in considerably since I first visited Bald Ledge in 2005.
A closer look at Smarts.
An open corridor leads out to the southernmost meadow.
This is the most open spot on Bald Ledge, with a distant view south to Mount Cardigan.
Furry scat.
I dropped back down to the col east of Bald Ledge and followed a hardwood ridge northeastward.
After a level stretch, the ridge ascended steeply.
Approaching a jumbled cliff that is one of the outstanding features of this area.
Rocky chaos.
A palisade in the forest.
Overhangs.
Looking down from the top of the cliff.
Looking out.
Peering down into a hardwood valley from another cliff, along the edge of the ridge.
A large but viewless ledge along the ridge.
This scene reminds me of hardwood ridges in the Catskills.
It's now officially a bushwhack!
A beautiful ledge farther up the ridge.
A partial view out to Moose Mountain, along the Appalachian Trail in Hanover.
Pretty spot.
Smarts again.
Another ledge just above, my turnaround point. Getting on to 5:00 pm, time to head down.
Not going down that way. Against my ASAP principles.
This looks better.
Crossing the headwater of the nameless brook that drops over all the cascades.
Following that brook down.
Another rock jumble.
Pileated Woodpecker dining establishment.
What a beautiful little valley.
Looking downstream.
Upper end of the cascades.
The double waterfall from a different angle.
Take me home, old logging road.
