Silverfox
New member
Last week on our powder filled fun day on Mt Israel we talked about making the loop down to Guinea Pond Trail and then working our way via Sandwich Notch Road and Bearcamp River Trail back to Mead Base...
What better snow and what better day than today looked to be helped us cement our plans on Monday.. We had a few first year..and one really first time winter hikers in the group but with proper gear and adequate determination we set out from Mead Base at the very civilized start time set by benevolent leader Helen at 10:00am...
The Wentworth Trail nicely packed to the ridge..we had an assortment of footwear..2 bareboot..2 microspikes..2 msr's...everything worked though the msr's seemed best on the steeper terrain.. We made great time on this bluebird day, some stopped to delayer a bit as the air warmed..the rest were happy to pause and enjoy the open woods and views..We put on shells for the ridge part of the hike as the winds picked up dramatically but still a much more moderate day then last weekend for sure.. After lingering a bit at the summit..we dropped back to the Mead Trail for the fun part of the day..While snacking everyone got the snowshoes on and soon we headed down..
Moose had broken the snow in places but no sign of human intervention for quite some time on the descent..loose powderey snow 3 feet plus deep at the top..a little less in some sunny places.. a little more in some dark hollows... What a blast taking big moon steps down in the deep forgiving powder...we alternated leaders so everyone had a taste of the fun and made pretty good time down to the Guinea Pond Trail... Black Mt and Sandwich Dome off to the east towered over this somewhat remote spot.. I say somewhat remote as from here back to the car the trail and road well packed out by snowmachines making for a smooth even footbed and quick passage..it was quite a bit windier in places as we were now more out in the open but we kept chugging along..occaisionally stopping at a place of historical interest..the old cemetary, Pulpit Rock, etc which Helen was able to point out and explain..After passing the Crawford Ridgepole Trail..(Not Packed Out) we soon reached the start of the Bearcamp River Trail and stopped briefly at Beede Falls and Cow Cave and made quick time on this lovely stretch of woods back to the cars...A great day in the woods with OTHH
a few pics at
http://flickr.com/photos/silverfox777/sets/72157613063259852/
What better snow and what better day than today looked to be helped us cement our plans on Monday.. We had a few first year..and one really first time winter hikers in the group but with proper gear and adequate determination we set out from Mead Base at the very civilized start time set by benevolent leader Helen at 10:00am...
The Wentworth Trail nicely packed to the ridge..we had an assortment of footwear..2 bareboot..2 microspikes..2 msr's...everything worked though the msr's seemed best on the steeper terrain.. We made great time on this bluebird day, some stopped to delayer a bit as the air warmed..the rest were happy to pause and enjoy the open woods and views..We put on shells for the ridge part of the hike as the winds picked up dramatically but still a much more moderate day then last weekend for sure.. After lingering a bit at the summit..we dropped back to the Mead Trail for the fun part of the day..While snacking everyone got the snowshoes on and soon we headed down..
Moose had broken the snow in places but no sign of human intervention for quite some time on the descent..loose powderey snow 3 feet plus deep at the top..a little less in some sunny places.. a little more in some dark hollows... What a blast taking big moon steps down in the deep forgiving powder...we alternated leaders so everyone had a taste of the fun and made pretty good time down to the Guinea Pond Trail... Black Mt and Sandwich Dome off to the east towered over this somewhat remote spot.. I say somewhat remote as from here back to the car the trail and road well packed out by snowmachines making for a smooth even footbed and quick passage..it was quite a bit windier in places as we were now more out in the open but we kept chugging along..occaisionally stopping at a place of historical interest..the old cemetary, Pulpit Rock, etc which Helen was able to point out and explain..After passing the Crawford Ridgepole Trail..(Not Packed Out) we soon reached the start of the Bearcamp River Trail and stopped briefly at Beede Falls and Cow Cave and made quick time on this lovely stretch of woods back to the cars...A great day in the woods with OTHH
a few pics at
http://flickr.com/photos/silverfox777/sets/72157613063259852/
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