Mount Waumbek 4006’

Starr King Trail/ Kilkenney Ridge Trail

7.2 miles 2500’ Elevation gain

Kevin, Judy & Wicket

We had awoken the day before with the intention of making this hike, but none of us had slept well in the heat and humidity, and with the prospect of more heat and humidity, we decided to do a smaller hike to Table Mountain, new territory to us.

Fast forward to the next morning and we awake after a much better night's sleep, this time more prepared to face a longer hike, and come what may for the weather.

Waumbek is probably one of the furthest in road distance from our camp, with Cabot and Moosilauke probably taking the gold and silver in that category. Actual driving distance came in around 56 miles, an alternate route back came in a couple of miles less.

That's the thing in the White Mountains, you pretty much have to go around the mountains, thankfully there are few roads through them. We hadn't been up that end of the mountains in some time, so it felt a little like coming home.

Jefferson has always been a place we have loved, and these mountains, Starr King and the barely four-thousand foot Mount Waumbek were as much the reason for our affection as the overall pastoral setting which offers intimate views of the Presidential Range and beyond.

While many who have hiked here would probably argue that the scenery on the drive there was better than the views available from either summit, I would disagree. The views of the Northern Presidentials which can be gained from near the summits of each peak might be unsurpassed in my humble opinion.

It was another warm and humid day, though visibility was a bit better. Along the trail the flora represented more of a late spring than an early summer.

Lady-slipper, trillium and clintonia had all passed, giving way to bunchberry which was on the wane down low, but more abundant and robust up high, and everywhere the Common Wood Sorrel was smiling out in the sun.

I still maintain that no 4k is "easy", some may be less miserable than others, and there are always a host of factors that come into play. Weather, especially heat and cold, snow or rain can always be deciding factors on whether to continue.

No matter how "easy" the hike is, there is always the ever present rock and root making it important to watch almost every step along the trail, and the "easy" trail up Starr King and Waumbek certainly has it's share of both. We picked our way through them at a reasonable pace.

After about the umpteenth time thinking we were almost there, we finally scrambled up the little rise to the highpoint and side-stepped to the rock with the benchmark for Starr King. Wicket plopped in the shade, incredulous that we would make her do this on two hot days in a row.

Less than a hundred yards beyond this spot the trail leads you into a clearing where the former cabin used to be. All that remains is the chimney, but the clearing still offers excellent views southeast to the Northern Presidentials.

I am always amazed to find many field-type wildflowers like Orange Hawkweed and Yarrow in this clearing, it makes me smile. We all eat and drink and take a good rest while Wicket plops in the shade again.

Replenished, we continue on, down into the col between summits, and back up and on towards Mount Waumbek. Dappled sunlight filters through the trees and lights the shadows in the understory.

We talk along the trail about memories of Emma who made this hike numerous times, even backpacking and staying over-night. One of our favorite photos of her was taken in the boreal forest between these two summits.

We soon arrive at the cairn which marks the unremarkable summit. Wicket hops up on the cairn and looks at me as if she knew what to do without being told. Her eyes seem to be pleading, "OK, can we get out of here now?" July hiking is really not for dogs, good thing she is young.

Just beyond the summit cairn there is a new blow-down patch which now gives a spectacular view towards the Northern Prezzies. We soak in the view for a while as Wicket lies in the shade. We take a long last look and begin the trek back over to Starr King.

Before we knew it we were back at the clearing where the chimney still stood guard. We stopped again to take in the long views south and southeast, and if we stretched, we could make out mountains to the southwest towards Franconia Notch.

The hike back down was uneventful. Again, dappled sunlight filtered through the trees and lit our way, down through the pine and spruce and onto where the forest slowly became integrated with hardwoods again, and eventually gave way to a deciduous forest once altogether.

The trip back to camp had us continue in a counter-clockwise fashion to see if we could cut off any mileage. It began with an almost immediate stop to visit the gas station with the best pizza in the White Mountains.

From there we travelled through Jefferson Meadows, and then continued on along Cherry Mountain Road all the way to Rte. 302. I found the Canada Lily and some still blossoming lupine along through there. The trip back was about 2 miles shorter, but wouldn't have been if we didn't use Cherry Mtn. Rd.