6-13 Plymouth Mtn/Brock Hill

[grouseking]

Somehow I was able to squeeze this hike in before yesterday's rain. Plymouth Mtn has some really nice views, especially looking north towards Plymouth State, and the White Mtns. Despite being only 2187 feet high, the mountain has some impressive ledges and has great bang for the buck. Also, the solitude is fairly unmatched in that region. We didn't see one person the entire hike till the very end when a man was taking a trail jog. We also saw a large deer, a turkey, and an a very aggressive ruffed grouse who wouldn't let us into his territory until he led us out of it. It was quite a site to behold...a bird smaller than a chicken leading us around his territory. Grouseking lives on.

Trail used: The Fauver Link trail, which is a nice link trail thru some attractive woods that leaves from Old Hebron Rd in Plymouth. I'm replaces the old road walk and scooting by the house with the big dog that liked to bark and growl. Then, we took the Sutherland trail the rest of the way to the summit. Its a great trail, with alternating sections of coniferous and hardwoods. Also, its narrow enough that you feel like the trail is seldom used. Green moss still covers most of the rocks, and this adds to the feeling.

Weather for the day: Partly sunny early, then clouds slowly increased towards evening. Temps were in the 70s at the bottom, and the upper 60s at the top. Bugs were horrible because there was no wind to speak of. Also, humidity was a bit high, and I saw later that dew points were about 60 all afternoon.

The pictures:

Clay Brook, beginning of the trail


Sandwich Mtn


Plymouth State University


Very hazy view to Squam Lake
]

summit, and a very sweaty dude


View to Lake Winnepausaukee


Very interesting clouds beginning to move in


Overall view from Pikes Peak


North to Franconia Notch/Ridge


Looking towards the Presidentials, I think.


Plymouth to Waterville Valley


Continued in a moment

 

[grouseking]

Part two-Brock Hill

One of my hiking buddies lives in Bridgewater NH near this viewpoint, so he drove us up to it. It has a fantastic view of Newfound Lake across to Cardigan, and northwest to Tenny, and what I think are Mts Crosby and Oregon Mtn.... It also has a view south of the lake but I'm not sure of the name of those mtns. Elevation of this viewpoint: around 1400 feet.

What a great property




Picnic anyone?


Check out the rays






Back on the quintessential New England country rd


Enjoy! Lighting was terrible for pictures, but oh well.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/573013378QOGkBV

grouseking

 

[rocket21]

Nice job! Plymouth Mountain is an underrated gem!

 

[Paradox]

I can see Plymouth Mtn from my window, but could never figure out how to get up there. Well done.

 

[1HappyHiker]

Great Trip Report, Phil!

Nice job! Plymouth Mountain is an underrated gem!

Agreed!

I can see Plymouth Mtn from my window, but could never figure out how to get up there.

In addition to the route used by Grouseking, the Plymouth Mountain Trail is the one that I know. Beware, these directions are from memory (not always the most reliable source!). Off of Route 3A (roughly midway between Bristol & West Plymouth), you make a turn onto an unpaved road named Pike Hill Rd that heads east. Go up this road for roughly 1.3 miles to a turnaround spot and you should see a place to park and an obvious beginning of the Plymouth Mountain Trail.

 

[DiamondRidge]

Gotta love Plymouth Mountain - great pictures!

 

[grouseking]

Great Trip Report, Phil!


Agreed!

In addition to the route used by Grouseking, the Plymouth Mountain Trail is the one that I know. Beware, these directions are from memory (not always the most reliable source!). Off of Route 3A (roughly midway between Bristol & West Plymouth), you make a turn onto an unpaved road named Pike Hill Rd that heads east. Go up this road for roughly 1.3 miles to a turnaround spot and you should see a place to park and an obvious beginning of the Plymouth Mountain Trail.

Yeah, I haven't hiked that trail yet. IMO, the Sutherland way is best, and that was my third hike up to Plymouth/Pikes Peak. The first time Mattl and I walked to the trailhead from Plymouth State, hiked the trail, and then walked back into town. It was quite a day and we were pretty shocked by the views from "Pikes Peak."

grouseking

 

[Barkingcat]

One of my hiking buddies lives in Bridgewater NH near this viewpoint, so he drove us up to it. It has a fantastic view of Newfound Lake across to Cardigan, and northwest to Tenny, and what I think are Mts Crosby and Oregon Mtn.... It also has a view south of the lake but I'm not sure of the name of those mtns. Elevation of this viewpoint: around 1400 feet.

What a great property


grouseking

The peaks south of Cardigan -- on the left in your picture, in the background -- are (from L to R): Brown, Church, Crane, and Orange (Mount Gilman) Mountains. Moving to the right some more is the low bump of the South Peak of Cardigan, followed by the bald dome of Cardigan Mountain, Firescrew (aka the "North Peak" of Cardigan), then Oregon Mountain. Further to the right is Mowglis Mountain, and then heading toward the viewer into the range in the foreground of the picture, along Newfound Lake, is Bear Mountain -- then, moving R to L is Sugarloaf Mountain and Little Sugarloaf Mountain.

The entire ridge is horseshoe-shaped, with Brown Mountain on one end, Little Sugarloaf on the other, and Cardigan/Firescrew roughly in the middle.

The Elwell Trail crosses over the Sugarloaves, Bear Mountain, and Mowglis and Oregon Mountains (the latter via a spur trail).

All of these peaks offer great hikes with nice open ledges -- the Sugarloaves are just as nice as Plymouth Mountain (the trailhead is easier to find!), even if the elevation change is not as great. If you need a bit more elevation, tack on Bear Mountain -- that will get the blood pumping (700 feet elevation change in under a half mile).

With its open ledges, Orange Mountain (Mount Gilman) -- the peak immediately to the left of the "Cardigan massif" -- in my ever-so-humble opinion, should be a candidate for 52WAV. It offers quite a bit of bang for the buck.