Date of Hike:11/18/12
Trail Conditions: Crunchy underfoot, with some icy patches up high but I barebooted
Special Equipment Required: I had microspikes but didnt use them, You do want to bring a map, preferably the RMC map.
Comments: Great Day for a short hike, the trailhead at the end of Randolph Hill road is not open yet so I started the loop at the old trailhead location across from Bill Arnolds (garage with William Arnold Pump Installer sign). The hike up Mt Crescent via the Crescent Range trail was pleasant with lots of good views with the leaves down. I took the Range trail whihc wraps around the east side of the summit. Its steep and there were some icy patches. Just East of the North View there is a blodown patch that completely obscure the route as one of them went down completely covering the path. It took a bit of looking where to go. The north view give a nice long range view of the new Millsfiled wind farm. I skipped the summit spurt and followed the ridge down to Carlton Notch trail, this ia far better graded route but the down side is with snow on the ground there are several spots where the trail coincides with old woods roads and the trun offs may not be as easy, the trail is cut wide enough that skiers might enjoy this run. The run down Carlton Notch trail was pleasant as normal except at the end where it runs parallel with a new very large graded field, Randolph Airport ?. It come out on the extension of Randolph Hill road where the new trails parking and trailhead is supposed to be located and then the trail stops. I expect it may have run across the street but there is no signage and the lot of full of "stuff". I knew where I was so I took a right and walked down the road bearing left as the intersections of a few driveways. A few minutes later I was back at the car.
The Randolph trails off of Randolph Hill road are great "bang for the buck" hiking trails. You start at a high elevation and the views especially when the leaves are down are extensive. The quick hike I did can be extended by heading over to Mt Randolph and then back via Lookout ledge.
Your name: peakbagger
Trail Conditions: Crunchy underfoot, with some icy patches up high but I barebooted
Special Equipment Required: I had microspikes but didnt use them, You do want to bring a map, preferably the RMC map.
Comments: Great Day for a short hike, the trailhead at the end of Randolph Hill road is not open yet so I started the loop at the old trailhead location across from Bill Arnolds (garage with William Arnold Pump Installer sign). The hike up Mt Crescent via the Crescent Range trail was pleasant with lots of good views with the leaves down. I took the Range trail whihc wraps around the east side of the summit. Its steep and there were some icy patches. Just East of the North View there is a blodown patch that completely obscure the route as one of them went down completely covering the path. It took a bit of looking where to go. The north view give a nice long range view of the new Millsfiled wind farm. I skipped the summit spurt and followed the ridge down to Carlton Notch trail, this ia far better graded route but the down side is with snow on the ground there are several spots where the trail coincides with old woods roads and the trun offs may not be as easy, the trail is cut wide enough that skiers might enjoy this run. The run down Carlton Notch trail was pleasant as normal except at the end where it runs parallel with a new very large graded field, Randolph Airport ?. It come out on the extension of Randolph Hill road where the new trails parking and trailhead is supposed to be located and then the trail stops. I expect it may have run across the street but there is no signage and the lot of full of "stuff". I knew where I was so I took a right and walked down the road bearing left as the intersections of a few driveways. A few minutes later I was back at the car.
The Randolph trails off of Randolph Hill road are great "bang for the buck" hiking trails. You start at a high elevation and the views especially when the leaves are down are extensive. The quick hike I did can be extended by heading over to Mt Randolph and then back via Lookout ledge.
Your name: peakbagger
