The Twin Range:Another Look Back to the 1936 Guidebook

The Twins- There wasn’t really too much different stuff in this section, however there were some trails no longer in use today that I thought were kind of interesting, so I thought I would post those. Compared to today, in 1936, this section only consisted of 7 pages, 300-307.
P. 300- Twinway Trail- “ trail descends the long NE ridge, climbs to a small peak and continues over the ridge to the cliffs overlooking Zeacliff Pond. It descends to the L of the Pond, where a side trail leads R 300 yds. To Zeacliff Shelter, (3800 ft.) an open log shelter accommodating 8 persons in a patch of old green forest W of the Pond.
P. 301-Galehead Trail- “the watershed of the N branch of the Gale River, in which lie the Galehead and Gale River Trails and the Twin Range Trail below North Twin, is part of the water supply of the town of Littleton. Camping in this watershed is prohibited and trampers are cautioned to use the utmost care not to pollute the stream.” I noticed a similar warning in today’s guidebook, though it only lists it as the water supply for a municipal area.
No mention of the following trails in today’s book that I could find:
P. 303-Nubble Mountain Trail-“runs SE from Daniel Webster Highway .3m SW of the WMNF boundary at Seymours “Last Chance”Cabins and runs to the Gale River Trail 1 1/2.m. from Five Corners. At 2.05m a side trail L leads in 1/4m. to the ledgy summit of the Nubble. DISTANCE Highway to Nubble 2.3m, 2h 45m, to Gale River Trail, 4.15m, 4h 45m.”
P. 305-Baby Twins Trail-“diverges L from the Tuttle Brook Trail just inside the National Forest Boundary, at the farm house .6m from the Twin Mountain Station, and runs 1.3m to the col between the North and Middle Sugar Loaves where it meets the Sugar Loaf Trail.”
P. 306-Tuttle Brook Trail-“follows to its end the road which passes the freight house of the now abandoned B&M RR station at Twin Mountain. Here the Baby Twins Trail diverges L (N) of the farmhouse. The Tuttle Brook Trail passes to the R (W) of the house. It crosses the Bethlehem pipeline 1m. from the station and climbs by easy grades to the Hale Brook Trail 1/2m. below the summit of Mt Hale.DISTANCE Station to Baby Twins Trail .6m; to Mt Hale 4 1/2m., 3h.”
P. 306-Mount Hale Trail- " Take the road (former route to North Twin) which leaves the S side of the Daniel Webster Higway 1/2m. W of the B & M RR Station at Twin Mountain and leads up the Little River Valley. It is passable for autos about 1 1/2m. to the first crossing of the river. About 1/8m. beyond the third crossing (all bridges down) the path, built in 1928 as a tractor road, diverges L from the main logging road and at once crosses the river a fourth time. It runs N a short distance, soon swinging R and ascending by easy grades and numerous zigzags. A large part of the ridge has been burned over but the young growth of birch and cherry shades the path. Near the summit the trail passes about 1/2m. through a patch of old spruce. In a slight col just before reaching the summit, water can be obtained in the ranger's spring on a side trail to the L (E). DISTANCES. D.W. Highway to: first crossing of Little River 1.4m. (35 min.); fourth crossing 3 1/2m. ( 1 hr. 30 min.); summit 5 1/2m. (3hrs. 30 min.)."
P. 307-Little River Trail-“diverges R from the Mt Hale Trail 3 1/4m. from the Daniel Webster Highway and continues up the Little River Valley on the old railroad grade and logging roads. In 1m. the North Twin Trail diverges R. The main trail continues up the headwall of the valley 3 1/2m. to the Twinway. DISTANCE Daniel Webster Highway to Twinway 7 1/2m., 4h 30m.”

Interesting what a difference 70 plus years will make. Wonder what the next 70 will bring for the WMNF.

Some of these trails have been in use far more recently, I've used the one up the back side of Sugarloaf

And apparently the one from Gale River to North Twin that shows on 15' maps was already gone

skiguy said:

Interesting what a difference 70 plus years will make. Wonder what the next 70 will bring for the WMNF.

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Here's a sample:

P. 306-Tuttle Brook Trail-“follows to its end the highway which passes the Wal-Mart of the new shopping mall at Twin Mountain. Here the Baby Twins Trail diverges L (N) of the condo complex. The Tuttle Brook Trail passes to the R (W) of the condos. It crosses the Bethlehem pipeline 1m. from the civic center and climbs by an asphalt trail to the Hale Brook Trail 1/2m. below the summit of Mt Hale.DISTANCE Station to Baby Twins Trail .6m; to Mt Hale 4 1/2m., 3h.”

Fisher Cat said:

The Twins- There wasn’t really too much different stuff in this section, however there were some trails no longer in use today that I thought were kind of interesting, so I thought I would post those.

P. 306-Mount Hale Trail- " Take the road (former route to North Twin) which leaves the S side of the Daniel Webster Higway 1/2m. W of the B & M RR Station at Twin Mountain and leads up the Little River Valley. It is passable for autos about 1 1/2m. to the first crossing of the river. About 1/8m. beyond the third crossing (all bridges down) the path, built in 1928 as a tractor road, diverges L from the main logging road and at once crosses the river a fourth time. It runs N a short distance, soon swinging R and ascending by easy grades and numerous zigzags. A large part of the ridge has been burned over but the young growth of birch and cherry shades the path. Near the summit the trail passes about 1/2m. through a patch of old spruce. In a slight col just before reaching the summit, water can be obtained in the ranger's spring on a side trail to the L (E). DISTANCES. D.W. Highway to: first crossing of Little River 1.4m. (35 min.); fourth crossing 3 1/2m. ( 1 hr. 30 min.); summit 5 1/2m. (3hrs. 30 min.)."

P. 307-Little River Trail-“diverges R from the Mt Hale Trail 3 1/4m. from the Daniel Webster Highway and continues up the Little River Valley on the old railroad grade and logging roads. In 1m. the North Twin Trail diverges R. The main trail continues up the headwall of the valley 3 1/2m. to the Twinway. DISTANCE Daniel Webster Highway to Twinway 7 1/2m., 4h 30m.”

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This is very interesting! Not at all certain I correctly understand it, but below is what I’m getting out of it. Is this anywhere near correct??

Mt. Hale Trail: Began somewhere off the present day Little River Road. A portion of that trail is now what we call the North Twin Trail. This trail continued on up to Mt. Hale on what we now call the Fire Warden Trail.

Little River Trail: Branched off the Mt. Hale Trail and continued up the Little River valley to the Twinway.

North Twin Trail: Branched off the Little River Trail and continued on up to North Twin summit. Assuming that to be true, did the old North Twin Trail begin at the current day 3rd crossing of the Little River (and then more or less follow the course of the current day North Twin Trail)??

1HappyHiker

1HappyHiker said:

This is very interesting! Not at all certain I correctly understand it, but below is what I’m getting out of it. Is this anywhere near correct??

Mt. Hale Trail: Began somewhere off the present day Little River Road. A portion of that trail is now what we call the North Twin Trail. This trail continued on up to Mt. Hale on what we now call the Fire Warden Trail.

Little River Trail: Branched off the Mt. Hale Trail and continued up the Little River valley to the Twinway.

North Twin Trail: Branched off the Little River Trail and continued on up to North Twin summit. Assuming that to be true, did the old North Twin Trail begin at the current day 3rd crossing of the Little River (and then more or less follow the course of the current day North Twin Trail)??

1HappyHiker

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Poring over the map (they're pretty delicate considering they are attached to the binding of the book)revealed what I think are the answers:
MT HALE TRAIL: Yes, as far as can be seen, that is correct.
LITTLE RIVER TRAIL: The Little River Trail continues in a southerly direction right toward the Twinway. It emptied out onto the Twinway at an imaginary intersection made by straightlining east from what was then called Bear Pond and crossing the Twinway. Bear Pond can be found on today's MAP #2(Franc-Pemi), it is that little blue dot at the top of Redrock Brook, which in turn can be found by following its crossing of the Franconia Brook Trail.
NORTH TWIN TRAIL- As opposed to today's trailhead for North Twin Trail from Haystack Road, in 1936 it was gained via an abandoned/private road off the DW Highway farther east of Haystack Road. It did start at the same point and follow the same course of today's North Twin Trail, but gaining access to it from off the Little River Trail required (as far as I can tell from the map) an additional 2 river crossings, bringing a total back in 1936 to 5 crossings before reaching its start.
I hope this helps answer the questions. Old maps are fun!

Fisher Cat said:

Poring over the map (they're pretty delicate considering they are attached to the binding of the book)revealed what I think are the answers:

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Hey, thanks for taking the time to unfold ye olde maps and do some research on my question. Much appreciated!!

1HappyHiker

Fisher Cat said:

NORTH TWIN TRAIL- As opposed to today's trailhead for North Twin Trail from Haystack Road, in 1936 it was gained via an abandoned/private road off the DW Highway farther east of Haystack Road.

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This is the (public) Little River Rd past 7 Dwarfs, often used for winter approaches to Twins, see http://vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21606

It did start at the same point and follow the same course of today's North Twin Trail, but gaining access to it from off the Little River Trail required (as far as I can tell from the map) an additional 2 river crossings, bringing a total back in 1936 to 5 crossings before reaching its start.

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Yup, one crossing near end of Little River Rd and one near bridge on Haystack Rd