bryan
New member
date: 5/31/13
trails: cohos trail/windfarm access road, old snowmobile trail
conditions: after hiking kelsey i got back on west branch road and followed it to where it turns hard right to ascend dixville peak. at this junction the old kelsey notch road continues straight ahead. this is also a turn in the cohos trail which currently used the access road to climb over dixville as it used to do with the snowmobile trail which still cuts up the mountain avoiding some of the new roads switchbacks higher up. i could have driven within a couple minutes of the summit, but wanted to make it a legit hike so i parked at that major corner and walking up the cohos trail/access road. part way up i started using the old snowmobile route to avoid the switchbacks and came out just below the summit where the main road is gated, but the old trail continues up to the short loop trail over the summit which has been blasted and houses a wind tower. there was some signage warning you away from the towers, but no direct prohibitions posted.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: another summit i regret not getting to before it was developed, but the walk up was quick with a nice breeze to keep things reasonable. some really great views from the access road to the nash stream area peaks and beyond. sadly it was to hazy for any real long distance views. its quite the thing to stand under one of those giant windmills as it whooshes around, but it is also apparent just how much damage is being done to these mountain tops and ridges due to their installation. having had enough of the windmills i next headed out to south baldhead.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: cohos trail/windfarm access road, old snowmobile trail
conditions: after hiking kelsey i got back on west branch road and followed it to where it turns hard right to ascend dixville peak. at this junction the old kelsey notch road continues straight ahead. this is also a turn in the cohos trail which currently used the access road to climb over dixville as it used to do with the snowmobile trail which still cuts up the mountain avoiding some of the new roads switchbacks higher up. i could have driven within a couple minutes of the summit, but wanted to make it a legit hike so i parked at that major corner and walking up the cohos trail/access road. part way up i started using the old snowmobile route to avoid the switchbacks and came out just below the summit where the main road is gated, but the old trail continues up to the short loop trail over the summit which has been blasted and houses a wind tower. there was some signage warning you away from the towers, but no direct prohibitions posted.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: another summit i regret not getting to before it was developed, but the walk up was quick with a nice breeze to keep things reasonable. some really great views from the access road to the nash stream area peaks and beyond. sadly it was to hazy for any real long distance views. its quite the thing to stand under one of those giant windmills as it whooshes around, but it is also apparent just how much damage is being done to these mountain tops and ridges due to their installation. having had enough of the windmills i next headed out to south baldhead.
bryan
[email protected]
