Mount Major and Straightback 1-19-14
1-19-14
Mount Major 1786’ and Straightback Mountain1840’
Boulder Trail/ Straightback Mountain Trail/ Brook Trail/Mount Major Trail
5 Miles 1200’ Elevation gain
Linda, David, Blue, Kevin and Judy
We had the opportunity to hike with Linda and David again, and of course Mr. Blue, and so we were happy to get out despite a gray day which brought snow during our entire hike. They had agreed to a hike in the Belknaps with the promise of great views, but it was a promise we couldn’t keep as the snow and overcast skies kept visibility below the mile or so to the edge of Winnepesaukee. We spent the day instead enjoying the frosty scenery that surrounded us as we hiked through 4-5 inches of new powder. Despite my cranky leg I managed to lead and break trail for all but a few minutes throughout the day, so I was happy for that at least.
The new powder presented little in the way of resistance and I was able to trudge along nicely. We chose the Boulder Trail for the ascent and we were able to gain the ridge to the south of the summit with relatively little effort. The section through the boulders could have used more snow for our snowshoes as it had become rather bony during the thaws of the last week or so. I often chose to find a way around the rocks rather than over and I’m sure my trail looked akin to that of a staggering drunk.
Linda gave up on the snowshoes and switched over to micro-spikes while David made the entire hike in his micros. Judy and I stayed in the snowshoes the entire trip. I’m not sure about her, but my reasoning was that I would rather use them than carry them. It snowed the entire hike which was fine by me, though I think the others may have wished for clearing skies and some views. Maybe next time...
As we approached the summit we were greeted by two friendly Golden Retrievers and a not so friendly Dachsund who was very cute as he ferociously defended the foundation of the old hut from the approaching intruders. The owners were just packing up as we arrived and we chatted for awhile as Judy made friends with all the dogs, but they soon headed back down the cliff face they had come up by, the Dachsund now wrapped in his owners sweatshirt and being carried as he had begun to shiver.
In the shelter of the old stone foundation we had some lunch and I changed my soaking shirt as I always do when hiking in winter. The others found it amusing enough to see me bare-chested as they were pulling on extra layers to take my photograph, so when you see it understand that it was only long enough to change out of wet things and into dry. I have not yet completely lost my mind, though some may argue that...
We were soon off on our way as the others were beginning to get cold, maybe they should have changed their shirts? We took a route west from the summit along the Brook Trail and were soon off the ridge and down into the forest where the wind didn’t penetrate. The stillness and the falling snow was soul-soothing, and watching Blue crash through the woods following a multitude of scents brought smiles to everyone.
There had been some discussion of whether we would follow our original plan and actually go to Mount Straighback as there was little to see and it was still snowing. At the trail junction we decided to go for it and were glad we did as it added some mileage to an otherwise meager day. As we reached the flattish summit of Straighback Judy and I recalled that when we had first begun to come here the summit was nearly devoid of anything but saplings but now there was a path cut through spruce which now stood a few feet over our heads.
At the summit we recalled a day last May, shortly after Emma had passed away when we had visited this place and we had discovered a spot where the Rhodora was thick and in full bloom which we had never seen there before despite our many visits. It was as if her spirit had led us to that spot that day, and it had helped to ease the pain a little. Of course the memory brought a tear or two to my eye, but also a warmth to my heart on a cold January day in the blowing snow.
The hike back to the Brook Trail, and then down from there proved to be a bit tricky in some spots as ice flows under the new powder sent each of us the the ground once or twice. As we got further down there was flowing water to cross at several places, and each time we managed to get our snowshoes or micros just wet enough for the snow to clump on them, so there were many stops to whack the slush off of them. As predicted, the skies were clearing on our descent and the sun made an appearance as we reached the parking lot, but there was a football game to get home to see...
Read MoreMount Major 1786’ and Straightback Mountain1840’
Boulder Trail/ Straightback Mountain Trail/ Brook Trail/Mount Major Trail
5 Miles 1200’ Elevation gain
Linda, David, Blue, Kevin and Judy
We had the opportunity to hike with Linda and David again, and of course Mr. Blue, and so we were happy to get out despite a gray day which brought snow during our entire hike. They had agreed to a hike in the Belknaps with the promise of great views, but it was a promise we couldn’t keep as the snow and overcast skies kept visibility below the mile or so to the edge of Winnepesaukee. We spent the day instead enjoying the frosty scenery that surrounded us as we hiked through 4-5 inches of new powder. Despite my cranky leg I managed to lead and break trail for all but a few minutes throughout the day, so I was happy for that at least.
The new powder presented little in the way of resistance and I was able to trudge along nicely. We chose the Boulder Trail for the ascent and we were able to gain the ridge to the south of the summit with relatively little effort. The section through the boulders could have used more snow for our snowshoes as it had become rather bony during the thaws of the last week or so. I often chose to find a way around the rocks rather than over and I’m sure my trail looked akin to that of a staggering drunk.
Linda gave up on the snowshoes and switched over to micro-spikes while David made the entire hike in his micros. Judy and I stayed in the snowshoes the entire trip. I’m not sure about her, but my reasoning was that I would rather use them than carry them. It snowed the entire hike which was fine by me, though I think the others may have wished for clearing skies and some views. Maybe next time...
As we approached the summit we were greeted by two friendly Golden Retrievers and a not so friendly Dachsund who was very cute as he ferociously defended the foundation of the old hut from the approaching intruders. The owners were just packing up as we arrived and we chatted for awhile as Judy made friends with all the dogs, but they soon headed back down the cliff face they had come up by, the Dachsund now wrapped in his owners sweatshirt and being carried as he had begun to shiver.
In the shelter of the old stone foundation we had some lunch and I changed my soaking shirt as I always do when hiking in winter. The others found it amusing enough to see me bare-chested as they were pulling on extra layers to take my photograph, so when you see it understand that it was only long enough to change out of wet things and into dry. I have not yet completely lost my mind, though some may argue that...
We were soon off on our way as the others were beginning to get cold, maybe they should have changed their shirts? We took a route west from the summit along the Brook Trail and were soon off the ridge and down into the forest where the wind didn’t penetrate. The stillness and the falling snow was soul-soothing, and watching Blue crash through the woods following a multitude of scents brought smiles to everyone.
There had been some discussion of whether we would follow our original plan and actually go to Mount Straighback as there was little to see and it was still snowing. At the trail junction we decided to go for it and were glad we did as it added some mileage to an otherwise meager day. As we reached the flattish summit of Straighback Judy and I recalled that when we had first begun to come here the summit was nearly devoid of anything but saplings but now there was a path cut through spruce which now stood a few feet over our heads.
At the summit we recalled a day last May, shortly after Emma had passed away when we had visited this place and we had discovered a spot where the Rhodora was thick and in full bloom which we had never seen there before despite our many visits. It was as if her spirit had led us to that spot that day, and it had helped to ease the pain a little. Of course the memory brought a tear or two to my eye, but also a warmth to my heart on a cold January day in the blowing snow.
The hike back to the Brook Trail, and then down from there proved to be a bit tricky in some spots as ice flows under the new powder sent each of us the the ground once or twice. As we got further down there was flowing water to cross at several places, and each time we managed to get our snowshoes or micros just wet enough for the snow to clump on them, so there were many stops to whack the slush off of them. As predicted, the skies were clearing on our descent and the sun made an appearance as we reached the parking lot, but there was a football game to get home to see...
