Loop over Terraces; Hatchery Bridge Out

For my number 82 NH HH I elected to do a loop over the Terraces, clockwise starting on the York Pond Trail, continuing on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail, and finishing up on the Bunnel Notch Trail.

When I arrived at the Berlin Fish Hatchery after a drive from Concord, I was surprised to learn that the short bridge which spans a brook right inside the entrance to the hatchery was in the process of being demolished, to be replaced over the next few months. Parking was available either inside or outside the gate (which closes at 4 pm), but since I had not brought a bike, I was forced to add 1.8 miles of road walk onto each end of my hike, to and from the TH.

Since it was a beautiful day, short sleeves and short were in order. I did the road walk in about 30 min, and set off down the York Pond trail. The first mile is muddy, but there was no standing water, and the brook crossings were easy. After a mile the trail gained elevation, and the mud disappeared.

Throughout the day, bunchberries, Clintonia berries, Trillium berries and whorled asters were prolific alongside the trails.

The sign at the first Kilkenny Ridge trail junction, where the KR trail heads left (south) over the Weeks range, is partially missing and in need of repair.

A hundred yards further on the KR trail heads right (north) over the Terraces. This trail gains 1000 feet to a junction with a spur trail that heads left (south) to the summit of South Terrace, where there are limited views over the Weeks and to the south.

The KR trail then heads north along the ridge, easy walking with good footing, passes over the next two Terraces, and plummets into Bunnel Notch.

The Bunnel Notch trail was dry except at the bottom, but even there no standing water was found. I did find a huge patch of blackberries, and grabbed a lot of them . No bears were to be seen.

The only hiker I met all day was coming out just ahead of me on the BN trail; he had camped overnight at Unknown Pond and traversed the Horn, Bulge and Cabot today.

A reminder: anyone contemplating starting a hike from the Berlin Fish Hatchery area is advised to bring a bike to avoid the 1.8 miles of road walk in each direction.

Thanks, it was going to happen soon... now we know.

According to this TR the bridge was still there last Sunday, bummer for you and me, I'm going this Sunday.

Warning for NH4K seekers

docross said:

A reminder: anyone contemplating starting a hike from the Berlin Fish Hatchery area is advised to bring a bike to avoid the 1.8 miles of road walk in each direction.

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Not to be a wet blanket but I thought I should point out that if you want the ascent (of Cabot, Bulge and/or Horn) to count for the Four Thousand Footer Club, you'll have to do the road walk on foot. The road has to be publicly accessible to a normal car on the day of the hike. The same problem occurred when the Sawyer River Rd. was washed out a few years back.

Eric Savage said:

Not to be a wet blanket but I thought I should point out that if you want the ascent (of Cabot, Bulge and/or Horn) to count for the Four Thousand Footer Club, you'll have to do the road walk on foot. The road has to be publicly accessible to a normal car on the day of the hike. The same problem occurred when the Sawyer River Rd. was washed out a few years back.

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Eric, you must be quoting from a rule when you say the "road must be publicly accessible to a normal car...." Did the 4K committee make that rule? If so, it is up to them (and I know you're canvassing them) to decide whether to change the rule to include mtn bikes, 4WD vehicles, etc.

In essence, the whole 4K experience is on the honor system; nobody knows for sure if you did the peaks in question, unless you have witnesses along, much less took a mtn bike on the Zealand or York Pond Rd instead of walking.

I am sure that there will be many opinions on this subject!