Doubleheads 8-15-21
Ski Trail / Old Path
3.9 miles 1700’ Elevation gain
Kevin, Judy & Wicket
We had a perfect day with clean, cool, dry air, a rarity this summer, and to make it even better we barely swatted a mosquito, a vicious & ruthless adversary who has plagued our southern NH forests for weeks now... it felt like mid-September rather than mid-August!
There is a lot to be said for these shorter, beautiful hikes when you can have an Alpine start of 11:26am...
Deciduous forest down below...
Quickly gives way to mixed and eventually to a mainly coniferous forest when we reach the summit...
You learn quickly when hiking in the Whites that the word "short" is synonymous with "steep"...
A view back towards Washington from the trail...
North Doublehead Cabin
View northwest to Washington from the cabin...
View southeast to Mountain Pond from ledges near the cabin...
View of Mountain Pond and "The Geminis" on the right...
"The Geminis" -Pleasant Mountain is near center, barely visible on the horizon...
Always squadrons of dragonflies every summer on these twin hills...
Mixed forest again in the col between North & South D...
Junction in the col where Old Path meets New Path smack dab in the middle...
Despite looking for it, I missed the short herd path to a ledge with a view on the way down to the col from North Doublehead.
This is the view from the ledge looking west near the summit of South Doublehead...
First view of the town of Jackson and the numerous White Mountains beyond before stepping out on the ledge...
View to our right, northwest, to Mount Washington center, & Carter Notch, right... Black Mountain Ski Area lower left...
Zoomed view towards the Wildcats & Carter Notch.
View southwest Tripyramids...
West towards Carrigain...
South Doublehead 1st Summit Cairn...
South to Mount Shaw in the Ossipee Range on the distant horizon, Moat Range to the right...
Zoom of the Moat Range, Mount Chocorua's summit cone peeks over North Moat. Whitehorse & Cathedral Ledge in the bottom left...
Cathedral LedgeDoubleheadsMiddle MoatMoatsMount ChocoruaNorth MoatSouth MoatSummerWhite Horse Ledgehiking
South Doublehead Double Summit Cairn...
View northeast, North Doublehead left, Chandler, Sable, South Baldface center, Eastman right...
North towards Carter Notch, North Doublehead center...
Steep terrain as we descend the Old Path...
