WeRmudfun
New member
The intention was to hike Hedgehog Mountain, but the closer we got to the White Mountains the more conditions started to deteriorate. First the party sunny skies turned to mostly cloudy, then the flurries started. By exit 27 on RT 93, the road was covering and the skies were getting darker, there was also a sign warning of snow covered roads ahead. Seeing how Hedgehog was on 52WAV, we decided to abort and took the exit. Probably a good thing as the exit ramp was extremely slippery. 
Heading back down 93, we were trying to come up with a Plan B. We got off at RT 3 and started looking for something to do. Soon we saw a sign for Gunstock and remembered we wanted to hike Cobble someday, that day turned out to be today.
Cobble Mountain had a ski slope on it back in 1940, but due to subpar snow that year and it’s distance from the lodge, it was only operated for one season. The footings from the 1750’ rope tow still remain there today.
Getting to the summit and the remains involve using cross country ski trails and bushwhacking. There are many trails for the skiers including one that looks like a super skier highway. There is snow making and lights also on that trail.
Staying carefully off to the side of the trail so not to damage the trails we worked our way along until we started our bushwhack. There are areas that are still hard packed, but other areas that are starting to get soft, but not soft enough to require the snowshoe we carried with us the whole way.
The remains of the rope tow are just below the summit and there is a sign that someone posted with blue arrows leading to them. We approached the summit to the left of the remains and had walked right by them, then saw the sign that pointed the way. There are limited artifacts that we saw, but there is still a lot of snow cover too. Leaving the remains, we bushwhacked straight down looking for more artifacts and did find another footing and an old storage chest.
Overall it was a nice hike, but a quick one the vertical gain is only 473’. We had nice blue skies unlike what we would have had on Hedgehog I’m sure.
Heading back down 93, we were trying to come up with a Plan B. We got off at RT 3 and started looking for something to do. Soon we saw a sign for Gunstock and remembered we wanted to hike Cobble someday, that day turned out to be today.
Cobble Mountain had a ski slope on it back in 1940, but due to subpar snow that year and it’s distance from the lodge, it was only operated for one season. The footings from the 1750’ rope tow still remain there today.
Getting to the summit and the remains involve using cross country ski trails and bushwhacking. There are many trails for the skiers including one that looks like a super skier highway. There is snow making and lights also on that trail.
Staying carefully off to the side of the trail so not to damage the trails we worked our way along until we started our bushwhack. There are areas that are still hard packed, but other areas that are starting to get soft, but not soft enough to require the snowshoe we carried with us the whole way.
The remains of the rope tow are just below the summit and there is a sign that someone posted with blue arrows leading to them. We approached the summit to the left of the remains and had walked right by them, then saw the sign that pointed the way. There are limited artifacts that we saw, but there is still a lot of snow cover too. Leaving the remains, we bushwhacked straight down looking for more artifacts and did find another footing and an old storage chest.
Overall it was a nice hike, but a quick one the vertical gain is only 473’. We had nice blue skies unlike what we would have had on Hedgehog I’m sure.
