Drake's Brook Trail to Sandwich Dome is one of my favorite trails, and as it is close to home I hike it often.
The first 2.6 miles along the brook have gentle grades, with many places were you can see the brook. The footing is simply excellent. Then the trail leaves the brook and heads up to the ridge, the grades steepen but are still reasonable, and while the footbed becomes rockier it is never rough. The first part along the ridge (to the Smart's Brook Trail junction) is almost flat, to allow you to recover from the moderate climb to the ridge. The final section is moderately steep, but still with footing that is excellent by White Mountain standards. There are decent views from both the summit and Jenning's Peak. Fortunately it is not a 4,000 footer, so the real peakbaggers avoid it, leaving it to those who know how to enjoy the mountains!
Nothing special about today's trip, except that I met a group of VFTTers on the summit, but only realized it when I returned to the parking lot and saw the sticker on one of the cars. If he/she/they read this, please holler!
The first 2.6 miles along the brook have gentle grades, with many places were you can see the brook. The footing is simply excellent. Then the trail leaves the brook and heads up to the ridge, the grades steepen but are still reasonable, and while the footbed becomes rockier it is never rough. The first part along the ridge (to the Smart's Brook Trail junction) is almost flat, to allow you to recover from the moderate climb to the ridge. The final section is moderately steep, but still with footing that is excellent by White Mountain standards. There are decent views from both the summit and Jenning's Peak. Fortunately it is not a 4,000 footer, so the real peakbaggers avoid it, leaving it to those who know how to enjoy the mountains!
Nothing special about today's trip, except that I met a group of VFTTers on the summit, but only realized it when I returned to the parking lot and saw the sticker on one of the cars. If he/she/they read this, please holler!
