bryan
New member
date: 1/26/14
trails: logging roads, herd paths
conditions: from rt. 3 south of colebrook we took washburn road (near irving station) for a bit over a mile to a fork where an active logging road goes right and the road to cleveland notch goes left. to this point the road was plowed and in good shape. we went left into about 3 inches of new snow and parked a ways up in a reasonable turnout. this road is part of a snowmobile corridor and as such the gate a short distance up the road that is closed in summer was open. with more snow parking could be a trick so as not to block the snowmobile corridor or logging road. if no other options there is plenty of room to leave a car back near rt. 3. hiking up the road we had anywhere from a few inches of powder to areas that had been wind blown down to dirt with evidence of snowmobile and wheeled vehicle use in spots. we hiked the road until it dropped to cross cone brook on a bridge and took a road branching off to the right up to a small landing then turned right again and continued up to a larger open landing. once off the main road we had 6-8 inches of new snow underfoot. from that large landing a narrower road continued up towards the north ridge of blue eventually contouring north to the ridgeline at an old landing. at this point we picked up the herd path that follows old roads up to just below the summit. along the ridge we had a foot to foot and a half of new snow with some deeper drifts. from there it was about 30 yards to the highpoint with a moose leading the way.
equipment: snowshoes.
comments: a bitterly cold and windy, but beautiful day up north. down low the woods looked much like farther south with pretty minimal snowcover, but on the ascent we hiked into what finally felt like winter in the mountains with loads of fresh powder snow on the ground and in the trees. some nice views to the surrounding mountains and over into vermont. thanks to jeremy for a good hike.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: logging roads, herd paths
conditions: from rt. 3 south of colebrook we took washburn road (near irving station) for a bit over a mile to a fork where an active logging road goes right and the road to cleveland notch goes left. to this point the road was plowed and in good shape. we went left into about 3 inches of new snow and parked a ways up in a reasonable turnout. this road is part of a snowmobile corridor and as such the gate a short distance up the road that is closed in summer was open. with more snow parking could be a trick so as not to block the snowmobile corridor or logging road. if no other options there is plenty of room to leave a car back near rt. 3. hiking up the road we had anywhere from a few inches of powder to areas that had been wind blown down to dirt with evidence of snowmobile and wheeled vehicle use in spots. we hiked the road until it dropped to cross cone brook on a bridge and took a road branching off to the right up to a small landing then turned right again and continued up to a larger open landing. once off the main road we had 6-8 inches of new snow underfoot. from that large landing a narrower road continued up towards the north ridge of blue eventually contouring north to the ridgeline at an old landing. at this point we picked up the herd path that follows old roads up to just below the summit. along the ridge we had a foot to foot and a half of new snow with some deeper drifts. from there it was about 30 yards to the highpoint with a moose leading the way.
equipment: snowshoes.
comments: a bitterly cold and windy, but beautiful day up north. down low the woods looked much like farther south with pretty minimal snowcover, but on the ascent we hiked into what finally felt like winter in the mountains with loads of fresh powder snow on the ground and in the trees. some nice views to the surrounding mountains and over into vermont. thanks to jeremy for a good hike.
bryan
[email protected]
