Boundary Peak (HH) to Boston via Canada? Anyone tried this?

[Papa Bear]

I'll be doing some hiking in the near future on the Canadian side of the border near Boundary Peak (Zec Gosford) which is near Woburn Quebec, a few miles west of the broder crossing of Maine Route 27 at Coburn Gore.

I occured to me that this is not all that far far from the NH line and that Quebec Route 212 goes almost due west and connects with Quebec Rte 257 that goes south and connects with Route 3 in Pittsburg NH at the border.

So ....

Instead of crossing back to the US at Coburn Gore, going south on 27 through road construction and finally to Stratton and thence to Farmingham and then Route 4 south to I-95 and on to Boston, (5-6 hours) ...

Why not ...

Go west on Quebec Rte 212 about 18-20 miles to La Patrie then south on Quebec Rte 257 about 15 miles to the NH border crossing at the Third Connecticut Lake and get on Route 3. Then it's straight down 3/I-93 to Boston.

Which is better/faster?

Seems like an interesting idea.

 

[bill bowden]

Your route was recommended by Gene Daniell in an early edition of his routes for NE 100 highest peaks

 

[Gamehiker]

PB, when traveling south on Rt. 3 just before 2nd Conn. Lake take a left on the East Inlet Road and report back on the road condition, please.
Just kidding!
I have to go up there and check it out at some point because after a lot of map studying that looks like the best approach to Maine 3K Rump Mountain. Rump is the large rambling peak seen from Marble, Saddle and due west of Cupsuptic Snow. Enjoy, Gamehiker

 

[Papa Bear]

PB, when traveling south on Rt. 3 just before 2nd Conn. Lake take a left on the East Inlet Road and report back on the road condition, please.
Just kidding!
I have to go up there and check it out at some point because after a lot of map studying that looks like the best approach to Maine 3K Rump Mountain. Rump is the large rambling peak seen from Marble, Saddle and due west of Cupsuptic Snow. Enjoy, Gamehiker

Gamehiker

When I go by there, more likely than not I'll be going in after the other peaks in that area: Salmon, Snag Pond, d'Urban, Kent and or course Rump. And let's not forget Deer, Magalloway and Diamond Ridge. If you're interested I'll keep you in the loop.

 

[RoySwkr]

That's my usual route to central NH but don't know if it's quicker to Boston

The US-3 border closes early, in the old days you were allowed to enter anyway, drive ~25 miles in the US and report to Beechers Falls customs from the back side. Now you may have to stay in Canada through St-Venant-de-Hereford or whatever that place is.

 

[Nate]

When I go by there, more likely than not I'll be going in after the other peaks in that area: Salmon, Snag Pond, d'Urban, Kent and or course Rump. And let's not forget Deer, Magalloway and Diamond Ridge. If you're interested I'll keep you in the loop.

Can I be in that loop too? Getting to those peaks might require using roads that are much rougher than what my car's oil pan is comfortable with.

 

[Gamehiker]

Gamehiker

When I go by there, more likely than not I'll be going in after the other peaks in that area: Salmon, Snag Pond, d'Urban, Kent and or course Rump. And let's not forget Deer, Magalloway and Diamond Ridge. If you're interested I'll keep you in the loop.

I'm interested.

 

[Papa Bear]

Times, Hiking along swath

That's my usual route to central NH but don't know if it's quicker to Boston

The US-3 border closes early, in the old days you were allowed to enter anyway, drive ~25 miles in the US and report to Beechers Falls customs from the back side. Now you may have to stay in Canada through St-Venant-de-Hereford or whatever that place is.

I've been searching the web (with little success) for the hours this customs station is open. One undated page for a snowmobile organization says the US side is open 24 hours a day and the Canadian side is open till midnight.

1) Anyone know for sure the currrent hours for the border crossing at Rte 3, Pittsburg NH?

2) Can anyone point me to a page that has the hours for any of the ports of entry.

On another subject, the guy who heads the Cohos Trail associaltion (Kim Robert Nilsen), told me when he wants to hike along the boundary starting at Rte 3, he lets the officers know and leaves his car there. Anyone know about doing this? I'd like to hike Prospect Hill from the road but was (I guess you could say) afraid to ask.

Thanks

 

[RoySwkr]

..to hike along the boundary starting at Rte 3, he lets the officers know and leaves his car there. ... I'd like to hike Prospect Hill from the road but was afraid to ask.

There is a trail to 4th Lake and the customs officers are used to people hiking along the border, just warn them that you are going further. The Peakmaster & I climbed two 200-highest peaks in the area which kept us out much longer than the agent expected plus it had started raining. When we got back to the road, we met the police chief of Pittsburg and a sgt from Fish & Game that he had called to report us lost. They were happy to see us as they were wearing dress uniforms and probably didn't want a rainy S&R.

I can't tell you the current border hours but in the past it might have been as little as one shift open 8-4 as I've found the border closed on days I drove home 4 hours from there that night. Phone book?

 

[arghman]

Rt 3 to I-93 can be rather slow. (though I do like the North Country!)

Consider heading a little further west (to VT rt 5?) towards I91, then down via your favorite route (I-89 or mass pike or whatever)

 

[Papa Bear]

There is a trail to 4th Lake and the customs officers are used to people hiking along the border, just warn them that you are going further.

Roy
I assume the trail to 4th Lake is a short spur from the boundary swath south to the lake, yes?

The hike to Prospect Hill looks to be about 1.25 miles (and another .8 miles to West Prospect), so I assume unless you stayed a while at the lake (or went on to West Prospect), you could be back in an hour or so, no? Unless the swath is in really bad shape (as it was in a few places a couple of weeks ago up near Coburn Gore).

Thanks

 

[RoySwkr]

>I assume the trail to 4th Lake is a short spur from the boundary swath
>south to the lake, yes?

That's what it was the first time I was there, now there's a loop around the lake

> unless you stayed a while at the lake (or went on to West Prospect), you
> could be back in an hour or so, no? Unless the swath is in really bad shape

The swath is OK but not a superhighway like some of the ME sections

We did both W Prospect & the peak S of the lake which were on the 1st edition of the NH200 list, presumably the border guard thought we were just at the pond and would beat feet back when it started raining rather than continuing our longer hike