KPMMBM
Member
I left home at about 5:45am hoping to be on trail by 9:00am. Much darker, much earlier now. Pretty clear until I made it to the Kangamangus Pass and I hit a cloud bank. Pit stop at Mickey-Ds in Lincoln and then it was off to find the trailhead near the Dartmouth Lodge. Easy to find and the roads in were no problem. I got set and was off at 8:45, a bit ahead of schedule with temps in the mid 40s.
There were only two other cars at the trailhead. I was headed for the Gorge Brook trail and found it fairly easily after a short detour in the direction of the ski trail that runs east of the Gorge Brook trail. The trail up to the summit area is relatively easy with some moderate grades and no really steep sections. I could hear planes landing and taking off frequently during my hike up. Looking at a map afterwards, I’m not sure where the airport was for what sounded like large planes. Still overcast and there were no views whatsoever along the way up. Just short of two hours in, I hit the open area above tree line and headed for the summit. Temps were in the 30s with some wind, maybe 20 mph. I made it to the summit and hunkered down in one of the areas of built up stone. Had some lunch and was hoping for either a break in the clouds or a visit from some other hikers. I got neither so I headed for the south peak along a short section of the AT.
The trail to the south summit is a very nice walk through some trees after getting down out of the alpine zone. I took the short spur trail out to the south summit and still no views. I did hear a long train whistle down below as I was standing on the south summit. I made my way back to the carriage Road and headed down towards the Snapper Trail. The Carriage Road is just that, a wide smooth path through the woods. Just before reaching the Snapper Trail, I met the first group of hikers I had seen all day. Only saw two other hikers from here until the finish. I guess the weather kept people away today plus it was a weekday.
Arriving back at the start, I walked around the Lodge area. There are many bunkhouses and a main lodge. I read afterwards that it was closing weekend at the lodge. Back at the car and there were many more cars then when I started in the morning. I spotted a few VFTT vehicles, looks like I just missed seeing some folks. Based on the route I chose, this was a fairly easy 4000 footer. #25 for NH. Another peak that owes me some views!
There were only two other cars at the trailhead. I was headed for the Gorge Brook trail and found it fairly easily after a short detour in the direction of the ski trail that runs east of the Gorge Brook trail. The trail up to the summit area is relatively easy with some moderate grades and no really steep sections. I could hear planes landing and taking off frequently during my hike up. Looking at a map afterwards, I’m not sure where the airport was for what sounded like large planes. Still overcast and there were no views whatsoever along the way up. Just short of two hours in, I hit the open area above tree line and headed for the summit. Temps were in the 30s with some wind, maybe 20 mph. I made it to the summit and hunkered down in one of the areas of built up stone. Had some lunch and was hoping for either a break in the clouds or a visit from some other hikers. I got neither so I headed for the south peak along a short section of the AT.
The trail to the south summit is a very nice walk through some trees after getting down out of the alpine zone. I took the short spur trail out to the south summit and still no views. I did hear a long train whistle down below as I was standing on the south summit. I made my way back to the carriage Road and headed down towards the Snapper Trail. The Carriage Road is just that, a wide smooth path through the woods. Just before reaching the Snapper Trail, I met the first group of hikers I had seen all day. Only saw two other hikers from here until the finish. I guess the weather kept people away today plus it was a weekday.
Arriving back at the start, I walked around the Lodge area. There are many bunkhouses and a main lodge. I read afterwards that it was closing weekend at the lodge. Back at the car and there were many more cars then when I started in the morning. I spotted a few VFTT vehicles, looks like I just missed seeing some folks. Based on the route I chose, this was a fairly easy 4000 footer. #25 for NH. Another peak that owes me some views!
