cog base road

[Grayjay]

Does anyone know if the Cog base road is plowed out? I want to do the Jewell up to Mt. Jefferson.

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

The Cog Ski train is running...so the road should be plowed. I don't believe the Ammo/Jewell parking lot is plowed though.

Just up hill of where the cog loads passengers is a bridge on the far side of the tracks. A trail runs from there over to the Jewell Trail. Park in the lower lot on the left side.

 

[Grayjay]

thanks

Thanks, I seem to remember that there might be a link for the bottom of the Caps Ridge to the base parking lot as well.

 

[TDawg]

Thanks, I seem to remember that there might be a link for the bottom of the Caps Ridge to the base parking lot as well.

Yep, the Boundary Line Tr. and a road walk up to Jefferson Notch will get ya to Caps Ridge Tr.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

As TDawg says, there is a trail called Boundary that angles downhill. I've never taken Boundary, but understand it's a bit difficult to follow in summer. As I recall, it intersects the Jewell below the cutover to the Cog RR, requiring an uphill walk to your vehicle.

However, FWIW - neither Caps Ridge nor Boundary are often done in winter. That might change as more people hike from the side now that the Base Road is maintained in winter for the Cog RR.

 

[Amicus]

I crossed over the Cog Base Road a couple of times yesterday, XC'ing Bretton Woods trails in that vicinity. Several ordinary-looking sedans were tooling along it, so it is passable to all.

 

[RoySwkr]

As TDawg says, there is a trail called Boundary that angles downhill. I've never taken Boundary, but understand it's a bit difficult to follow in summer. As I recall, it intersects the Jewell below the cutover to the Cog RR, requiring an uphill walk to your vehicle.

The Boundary Line Trail is basically level from the USFS parking lot to the JN Road. I've followed it in the dark in October with no trouble.

The cog train doesn't run weekdays so I don't know how well the road is plowed then, it blows in bad and after using a sedan last time I want an SUV. Anybody know about parking fees particularly weekdays?

 

[NewHampshire]

None of us paid any parking fees last winter. I don't know if that has changed, but can't see why not. I understand why they do it in the summer (so the hikers don't take up all the parking space for paying customers/cog riders.) But winter they don't seem to care at all.

Brian

 

[LivesToHike]

Anyone on Caps or Boundary this winter?

Thanks for posting this thread on the base road. I've been wondering the same thing, now that the Cog RR has been running for skiers for at least 2 winters.

Has anyone done the Caps or Boundary trail now that the Base Road is at least plowed on weekends? I doubt I'll get over there anytime soon, as our weekend schedule for March got full, but who knows. Maybe I'll get up there on a Sunday before the winter is over.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[David Metsky]

The Cog Ski train is running...so the road should be plowed.

It's actually no longer a ski train, just a sightseeing train.

-dave-

 

[hikerfast]

I think your right Dave, about it being a sight train only now. Does it still only go up to 3800 feet, as it did for skiiers, or does it go a little higher now?

 

[Toe Cozy]

Open, plowed, free

A group of us were there yesterday and it was plowed right up to the "train station", we were not charged any money to park there and we took the Jewell trail up to Jeff. Head down the stairs behind the building, across the bridge and you're good to go.

Have fun.

 

[NewHampshire]

I think your right Dave, about it being a sight train only now. Does it still only go up to 3800 feet, as it did for skiiers, or does it go a little higher now?

From what I heard they are going higher this year than last. Not sure how high, but I think the number I heard was over the 4000 foot mark.

Brian

 

[LivesToHike]

It's actually no longer a ski train, just a sightseeing train.

-dave-

Whoops. Obviously I haven't checked out Bretton Woods website in quite some time... ...Thanks for the update.

---Mike

 

[LivesToHike]

A group of us were there yesterday and it was plowed right up to the "train station", we were not charged any money to park there and we took the Jewell trail up to Jeff. Head down the stairs behind the building, across the bridge and you're good to go.

Have fun.

Cool. Thanks for the info.
---Mike