Mount Kearsarge 4-7-18
Mount Kearsage 2937’
Winslow Trail/Barlow Trail
2.9 Miles 1300’ Elevation gain
Kevin, Judy and Wicket
It was Judy's mom's birthday, she would have been 94. Judy, Emma and I had always hiked on or about her birthday to celebrate her life and wanted to do so again with Wicket. We had been pondering where to go when it came to Judy overnight that we should visit one of her mom & dad's favorite places, Mount Kearsarge.
On a similar trip along the same trails many years before we had found a quiet, out of the way spot to spread some of their mingled ashes. When a gust of wind came we released them and they were spread across the mountaintop. Years later we had done the same with some of her SIL's ashes as well.
Though there had been several cars parked along the road near the entrance to the access road to Winslow State Park we saw nobody until we reached the summit, then only one small group on their way down, unprepared for the icy wind on the exposed summit.
Despite the calendar's claim of Spring, there was fresh snow a few inches deep, and dozens of treacherous ice bulges hidden by the new snow. There were spots where I wished for a little more than microspikes along the Winslow Trail, and we decided we would take our chances on the Barlow Trail to descend rather than face all the ice on the Winslow Trail again.
Stepping out of the fir trees onto the ledgy outcrops to get our first looks around we were met by some icy blasts from the northwest, but the air was clear and the views were long.
As I got my bearings I was able to identify many of the 4k peaks to our north and east, though my visual knowledge of the lesser peaks I find sorely lacking, and I was disappointed I was not able to identify the ridge directly in front of us that lay between us and distant White Mountains.
I was amazed at how much can be seen from this hill, as I am sure I have been before, but I just didn't remember. I was glad we had chosen this again, and I continued to marvel at the views and wrack my brain to name the peaks I was seeing, though I will certainly have to pull out the Scudder's guide to name 90% of what I saw.
As we crossed the ledges I was happy to see the rime ice that covered the evergreens that surrounded us, it was beautiful against the bluebird sky. I knew a place if we went beyond the firetower where there is a depression in the rocks that offers some protection from the wind, so we headed for that.
Here in the sun and for the most part out of the wind I was able to change out of my wet shirt into a dry one that helped me warm back up significantly. We were able to sit here long enough to enjoy a snack and a drink before the wind reminded us it was time to move again.
We made our way back along the ledges to where the Barlow Trail splits to the northeast. It winds along some bare spots and through the stunted trees until it passes an alpine bog which someday I will return to in season to see what treasure it may contain.
Beyond this the trail comes to a northeast facing outcrop that offers just magnificent views to the White Mountains and west to the Green Mountains as well. Local towns, lakes and rivers can be spotted in the landscape below, and I try to take in as much as I can before we descend once again into the conifers.
The descent along the Barlow Trail is a dream compared to the icy ascent on the Winslow. The trail is hard-packed snow, with very little, if any ice. Although almost twice as long in mileage, it takes less than half the time of ascending and we soon find ourselves leaving the conifers for the open hardwoods, followed shortly by our return to Winslow State Park and the snow-covered road walk out.
Wicket did great, and even had good trail manners with the very few other hikers we saw. She continues to learn the ways of a good trail dog , which of course, is very satisfying. There are still some rough edges to smooth out, but she is becoming a great trail companion, though she has huge paw prints to fill....
Read MoreWinslow Trail/Barlow Trail
2.9 Miles 1300’ Elevation gain
Kevin, Judy and Wicket
It was Judy's mom's birthday, she would have been 94. Judy, Emma and I had always hiked on or about her birthday to celebrate her life and wanted to do so again with Wicket. We had been pondering where to go when it came to Judy overnight that we should visit one of her mom & dad's favorite places, Mount Kearsarge.
On a similar trip along the same trails many years before we had found a quiet, out of the way spot to spread some of their mingled ashes. When a gust of wind came we released them and they were spread across the mountaintop. Years later we had done the same with some of her SIL's ashes as well.
Though there had been several cars parked along the road near the entrance to the access road to Winslow State Park we saw nobody until we reached the summit, then only one small group on their way down, unprepared for the icy wind on the exposed summit.
Despite the calendar's claim of Spring, there was fresh snow a few inches deep, and dozens of treacherous ice bulges hidden by the new snow. There were spots where I wished for a little more than microspikes along the Winslow Trail, and we decided we would take our chances on the Barlow Trail to descend rather than face all the ice on the Winslow Trail again.
Stepping out of the fir trees onto the ledgy outcrops to get our first looks around we were met by some icy blasts from the northwest, but the air was clear and the views were long.
As I got my bearings I was able to identify many of the 4k peaks to our north and east, though my visual knowledge of the lesser peaks I find sorely lacking, and I was disappointed I was not able to identify the ridge directly in front of us that lay between us and distant White Mountains.
I was amazed at how much can be seen from this hill, as I am sure I have been before, but I just didn't remember. I was glad we had chosen this again, and I continued to marvel at the views and wrack my brain to name the peaks I was seeing, though I will certainly have to pull out the Scudder's guide to name 90% of what I saw.
As we crossed the ledges I was happy to see the rime ice that covered the evergreens that surrounded us, it was beautiful against the bluebird sky. I knew a place if we went beyond the firetower where there is a depression in the rocks that offers some protection from the wind, so we headed for that.
Here in the sun and for the most part out of the wind I was able to change out of my wet shirt into a dry one that helped me warm back up significantly. We were able to sit here long enough to enjoy a snack and a drink before the wind reminded us it was time to move again.
We made our way back along the ledges to where the Barlow Trail splits to the northeast. It winds along some bare spots and through the stunted trees until it passes an alpine bog which someday I will return to in season to see what treasure it may contain.
Beyond this the trail comes to a northeast facing outcrop that offers just magnificent views to the White Mountains and west to the Green Mountains as well. Local towns, lakes and rivers can be spotted in the landscape below, and I try to take in as much as I can before we descend once again into the conifers.
The descent along the Barlow Trail is a dream compared to the icy ascent on the Winslow. The trail is hard-packed snow, with very little, if any ice. Although almost twice as long in mileage, it takes less than half the time of ascending and we soon find ourselves leaving the conifers for the open hardwoods, followed shortly by our return to Winslow State Park and the snow-covered road walk out.
Wicket did great, and even had good trail manners with the very few other hikers we saw. She continues to learn the ways of a good trail dog , which of course, is very satisfying. There are still some rough edges to smooth out, but she is becoming a great trail companion, though she has huge paw prints to fill....
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