Hiking Some Loops in the Shelburne, NH Area (02-Nov-2010)

[1HappyHiker]

The newly organized Shelburne Trails Club (STC) has been doing a fantastic job of reclaiming some of the abandoned hiking trails in the Shelburne area, such as the Middle Mountain Trail, the Scudder Trail, and the Judson Pond connector trail between the Scudder Trail and Mt. Cabot (not the 4K peak in the Kilkenny!).

Thanks to the work completed by the Club to date, I was able to do two relatively short loop hikes. One involved a hike over Mt. Crag and Middle Mountain. The other loop was a hike over Mt. Cabot, which among other trails, involved the reclaimed Scudder Trail which had been abandoned for many years.

So, on this page, I'll give some information and provide a few snapshots relative to the hike to Mt. Crag and Middle Mountain. Then, I'll post a "Reply" to provide a second page that will contain info and photos for the Mt. Cabot hike.

Loop #1 (Mt. Crag & Middle Mountain)

This hike was more of a modified loop than a true loop since it did involve some retracing of a large portion of the route. The trek started on the Austin Brook Trail. This trailhead is the only one that I've come across in the Whites where there is a turnstile at the entrance to the trail. Many years ago I saw a somewhat similar set-up for trails in England.

After a short 0.4 mile walk on the Austin Brook Trail, I headed westerly on the Yellow Trail for tiny Mt. Crag (1,412 ft elevation).
For anyone wanting a huge payoff for miniscule effort, then Mt. Crag is for you! There is a terrific westward view toward the Presidential Range, and a nice eastward view of the Androscoggin Valley. Both of those views are shown in the photos below.

From the top of Mt. Crag I descended westward. Upon reaching the bottom of the mountain there is a junction where you can either head south to North Road, or you can head north on the recently reclaimed Middle Mountain Trail. The STC has done a fabulous job of marking the trail with orange blazes all the way to the top of Middle Mountain. However, the signage at this junction is currently just a temporary paper sign (see photo below). Based upon other brand new permanent signage that the STC has erected elsewhere within this trail system, I'd guess that it's only a matter of time before a permanent sign is erected.

Once you're on the Middle Mountain Trail, there is no problem following it all the way to the top. And you don't need to wonder if you're at the top because there is a huge boulder with the word "TOP" painted on it. I don't know this for a fact, but I don't think the STC is responsible for painting the rock. I bushwhacked to Middle Mountain many years ago, and even back then, this same rock had the word "TOP" inscribed on it.

It's a fun hike to Middle Mountain, but quite honestly, the views have grown in over the years. As a result, I'd have to say that the views are actually better from little Mt. Crag. Below is a photo of the view from Middle Mountain looking toward the Presidential Range.

There is a nice eastward view of the Androscoggin Valley from Middle Mountain which is very similar to the view from Mt. Crag. And, as seen in the photo below, there is a view of a portion of what I think is the ridgeline of Mt. Success which was dusted with snow on the day I was there.

After checking out all the viewpoints on Middle Mountain, I retraced my route back to the junction with the trail that leads to Mt. Crag. However, rather than going back over Mt. Crag, I continued south to North Road. Upon reaching North Road, I came upon a sign which I think might be an old sign that was in place before the Middle Mountain Trail was abandoned. It lists a mileage to something labeled as "Middle Mt Jct". If that junction is where I think it might be, then with the current trail system that's in place, the mileage to that spot is no longer relevant.

Nearly opposite the point where I came out onto North Road, there is an unmarked parking area on the south side of the road. Therefore, one could park at that spot for a trek to Middle Mountain and/or Mt. Crag. However, since that is not where I parked, it was a short 0.6 mile road walk back to my car at the Austin Brook trailhead.

== > My second loop hike (to Mt. Cabot) is described on the page that follows.

 

[1HappyHiker]

CONTINUATION: Hiking Some Loops in the Shelburne, NH Area

Loop #2 (Mt. Cabot)

As indicated earlier, this Mt. Cabot (only 1,512 ft elevation) is NOT the 4K peak of the same name in the Kilkenny Range. Anyway, there are two ways to begin this hike. One could either begin at the trailhead for the Austin Brook Trail, or one could begin by parking on Mill Brook Road at the trailhead for the Scudder Trail. I began at the Austin Brook Trail, and then took the Yellow Trail eastward to hook up with the Red Trail that leads to the top of Mt. Cabot. From Mt. Cabot I then took the newly reclaimed Judson Brook Trail connector to the Scudder Trail which I followed southward to rejoin the Yellow Trail which I then followed westward back to the Austin Brook Trail.

At the trailhead on Mill Brook Road and at other points along the route, there is obvious brand new signage for the Scudder Trail. One of these signs is shown below.

I'm of the impression that the fantastic job being done by STC is still very much a work in progress. For example, there is a segment of the Yellow Trail that passes through a logged area after the trail crosses Mill Brook Road. This segment is flagged with pink ribbons rather than blazed. However, it's very well done and the trail is easy to follow. Most likely, more permanent blazing will be done at some point. And although there is an obvious path on the north side of the Yellow Trail which leads over to the Red Trail, no signage currently exists at this particular spot. Once on the Red Trail, it is well blazed and easy to follow all the way to the top of Mt. Cabot. (The photo below shows an example of the pink ribbon flagging, as well as one of the red blazes on the Red Trail.)

Near the summit of Mt. Cabot there are two outlooks. At present, both are unsigned. One of the outlooks is a ledge located a few hundred feet south of the summit, and it provides a restricted view eastward. The other outlook is located a few hundred feet nearly due west of the summit. It is reached by following a faint path leading downward from the summit to a ledge. The ledge itself is flat and provides a nice spot for lunch, but the view is too restricted for any eye-popping photos. The photo below shows this ledge.

From the top of Mt. Cabot, I retraced my route for less than a tenth a mile and then hooked up with the newly reclaimed Judson Pond Trail. The reclaimed portion of this trail provides a connector route between Mt. Cabot and the reclaimed Scudder Trail, thus enabling me to do the loop that I described at the top of this page. And although the Judson Pond Trail used to go to Judson Pond, it does not currently do so. I took a short (0.3 mile) side-trip by bushwhacking to the pond. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My impression of Judson Pond is that it is not particularly attractive. However, a photo is shown below, and you can decide for yourself.

I took one more side-trip before starting the return leg of my trek. Rather than heading southward, I went perhaps 0.2 mile further north on the Scudder Trail to some open trailside ledges. If the day had not become hazy, and/or if the sun had been higher in the sky, then I think these ledges would've provided a fantastic westerly view toward the northern Presidentials. However, on this particular day, the photo below pretty much represents the view that I had.

After my short foray to the trailside ledges, I then turned around and headed southward on the Scudder Trail to begin the return leg back to my parked car at the Austin Brook trailhead. On the lower segment of this trail, there were some nice open-field types of views. But once again, I was shooting toward the sun which was low in the western sky. Not an ideal situation for my point & shoot camera!

I'm looking forward to doing other hikes to other destinations via the trails in the Shelburne area.


1HappyHiker

 

[Lefty E]

Shelburne

John thanks for the info on the efforts in Shelburne..in the winter that parking spot at Middle Mt. trail where it starts or ends on N Road is not plowed but that does not stop local snowshoers from doing the loop with the road walk in either direction..Austin Brook Trailhead is plowed with spots for a few vehicles..Middle Mt has a nice viewpoint towards the Presidentials on the left a tenth or two before the summit, similar/better than Crag's view..new trail continues to First Mt. from Middle as that trail takes a sharp right to climb the ridge..Scudder Trail all the way to summit of Ingalls is a nice one now.. wish there were trails to N Bald Cap and Bald Cap Peak but of course serious hikers could easily bushwhack them to nice cliffs on both peaks (with of course a side trip to the Tri Dents!!) Someday...Lefty E

 

[vegematic]

I was on Middle Mtn the day before you. I enjoyed the views from Middle Mtn more than because they look off to the Mahoosucs and not Rt 2 and the Andro. I followed a few other unmarked paths in the area for short distances but only had limited time for exploring.

Last night I went to a Mahoosuc Land Trust talk in Shelburne and caught up with one of the local residents who is working to reopen some of those old trails. One of them that I had started to follow around First Mtn crosses his private property and I've gotten permission to use it. Another which is not yet complete will hook up with the Peabody Brook trail and they are hoping to open one from Ingalls over to the Austin Brook Trail.

These are definitely works in progress as you said.
-vegematic

 

[audrey]

My avatar was taken on Crag, one of the places we explored last winter after being turned back by semi-frozen Austin Brook further up the trail. Leo was all too eager to venture out on the submerged ice sheets.
It was so wonderfully hushed there with no wind and the snow falling.

 

[1HappyHiker]

. . . Middle Mt has a nice viewpoint towards the Presidentials on the left a tenth or two before the summit . . .

Lefty . . . mega-thanks for the additional info you provided about parking, winter hiking, etc.
And, regarding the nice Prezie view that's a bit off the summit of Middle Mtn, I think I know where you mean. On the day of my hike, I was trying to accomplish a lot, and didn't take the time that I should've to do Middle Mtn justice. However, I'll certainly be back over in that area and will be on the lookout for the view you mentioned.

I was on Middle Mtn the day before you. I enjoyed the views from Middle Mtn . . . because they look off to the Mahoosucs and not Rt 2 and the Andro.

Last night I went to a Mahoosuc Land Trust talk in Shelburne and caught up with one of the local residents who is working to reopen some of those old trails. One of them that I had started to follow around First Mtn crosses his private property and I've gotten permission to use it. Another which is not yet complete will hook up with the Peabody Brook trail and they are hoping to open one from Ingalls over to the Austin Brook Trail.

You have a good point about those views from Middle Mtn that look off to the Mahoosucs. It's a wild & remote feel which is very nice.

Regarding First Mtn, the folks who own that mountain are very active in the hiking community. And as you indicate, they are willing to grant hikers access to their property, but understandably do want folks to ask for permission.

My avatar was taken on Crag, one of the places we explored last winter . . . It was so wonderfully hushed there with no wind and the snow falling.

Audrey, you are so right about Mt. Crag being a wonderful destination for a short hike in winter.

I've previously posted the photo shown below which was taken atop Mt. Crag one winter when I hiked there with my friend Marty. When we arrived at the summit we were greeted with an unusual sight. We had a great laugh trying to decide which was more comical, i.e. the thought of a literate moose with a sense of humor, or the thought of some human picking up the moose droppings one-by-one to spell out the word "HELLO".

 

[NeoAkela]

John, thanks for this report - it is great to hear these trails are back in business! I certainly had quite a different experience attempting to climb Mt Ingalls via the logging-obliterated Scudder trail a year or so ago. Between slash piles, jagged sapling spikes, mazes of ribbons and No Trespassing signs, it is not one of my fondest hiking memories. Overall, my first and favorite view of the day was from little Mount Crag - looks like this is still the case!

That last photo looks like the area near the Ingalls/Cabot col - there were many nice open fields with views when I was making my way up the old logging roads. I guess now I'll have to go back someday.

 

[1HappyHiker]

John, thanks for this report - it is great to hear these trails are back in business! I certainly had quite a different experience attempting to climb Mt Ingalls via the logging-obliterated Scudder trail a year or so ago. Between slash piles, jagged sapling spikes, mazes of ribbons and No Trespassing signs, it is not one of my fondest hiking memories . . .

Hey Chris . . . as they say in the medical world, it sounds like you had an "adverse experience" during at least a portion of your trek in the Shelburne vicinity. But yup, the STC has done a great job of reclaiming many of the abandoned trails in that area.

Below is a link to a news article about the STC that I meant to include in my original posting, but forgot to do so.

http://www.newhampshirelakesandmoun...zed_Shelburne_Trails_Club_gains_momentum.html