Toe Cozy
New member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2004
- Messages
- 497
- Reaction score
- 102
I've been putting off a hike up Mansfield due to my dislike of crowded peaks with stuff on the top. But I have to say that my Sunday hike up Hell Brook Trail across the exposed summit and over the Cliff Trail was one of the best and most memorable hikes I've ever done. I think I saw two people on the trails I took.
I started out at the Big Spring parking area on Rte 108 just before Smugglers Notch. You gotta love starting a hike that says the parking area and the trail are not marked. Just gotta hope you interpreted the written description correctly! I assumed I did and headed up the trail at 8 a.m. Immediately the trail was steep. Wicked steep. Lots of using my arms and legs both to get up and over rocks and roots. The weather was gorgeous, a light summery breeze was blowing through the trees and nothing but the sound of songbirds and my heart pounding in my ears...okay and the occasional four letter word uttered in sheer happiness and amazment at the relentless angle of this trail!!
There were on 4 people quietly lounging on the summit. One was the summit caretaker person and a friend with her. I couldn't believe how quiet it was. I was also pleasantly surprised that the towers and small building on Mansfield were not at the summit on the Chin, but over much further.
I took the Cliff Trail down. Of course it didn't really go down at all but more across the side of Mansfield with more going up than going down. Ladders, narrow cave-like passages some with snow still piled up. Finally I got to the Haselton trail and was headed down on a ski trail called Nose Dive. It was killer on the knees. By this time I was thoroughly exhausted and my legs were like silly putty. On a really easy mellow section about 1 miles from the end I stumbled, couldn't catch myself and did a face plant down onto my knees and shins and then over onto my shoulder and cheek while I slid/bounced across about 4 small boulders. Luckily I was relatively okay and and just banged up enough to look really tough!!
This was a fabulous, strenuous hike that puts all four limbs in direct contact with the rocks, mud, cave walls and tree roots! Mansfield was much better than I had hoped for and anyone who likes a lot of scrambling and a decent challenge should take this route up and down Mansfield. Of course it would be a b#tch if it was rainy, not impossible, but pretty dangerous and frustrating I think.
There was a 1.6 mile road walk on rte 108 to get back to the car. No big deal and if you don't mind hitching I bet it wouldn't be too hard to snag a quick ride. I was so euphoric from my happy hiking I floated along the road without a care in the world!
I patted myself on the back because book time for this hike due to it difficulty was 6 hours for 5.8 miles and I did it in 4:40 with a about 40 minutes of hanging out at various points above treeline.
Solo hiking at it's absolute peak!(pun intended)
I started out at the Big Spring parking area on Rte 108 just before Smugglers Notch. You gotta love starting a hike that says the parking area and the trail are not marked. Just gotta hope you interpreted the written description correctly! I assumed I did and headed up the trail at 8 a.m. Immediately the trail was steep. Wicked steep. Lots of using my arms and legs both to get up and over rocks and roots. The weather was gorgeous, a light summery breeze was blowing through the trees and nothing but the sound of songbirds and my heart pounding in my ears...okay and the occasional four letter word uttered in sheer happiness and amazment at the relentless angle of this trail!!
There were on 4 people quietly lounging on the summit. One was the summit caretaker person and a friend with her. I couldn't believe how quiet it was. I was also pleasantly surprised that the towers and small building on Mansfield were not at the summit on the Chin, but over much further.
I took the Cliff Trail down. Of course it didn't really go down at all but more across the side of Mansfield with more going up than going down. Ladders, narrow cave-like passages some with snow still piled up. Finally I got to the Haselton trail and was headed down on a ski trail called Nose Dive. It was killer on the knees. By this time I was thoroughly exhausted and my legs were like silly putty. On a really easy mellow section about 1 miles from the end I stumbled, couldn't catch myself and did a face plant down onto my knees and shins and then over onto my shoulder and cheek while I slid/bounced across about 4 small boulders. Luckily I was relatively okay and and just banged up enough to look really tough!!
This was a fabulous, strenuous hike that puts all four limbs in direct contact with the rocks, mud, cave walls and tree roots! Mansfield was much better than I had hoped for and anyone who likes a lot of scrambling and a decent challenge should take this route up and down Mansfield. Of course it would be a b#tch if it was rainy, not impossible, but pretty dangerous and frustrating I think.
There was a 1.6 mile road walk on rte 108 to get back to the car. No big deal and if you don't mind hitching I bet it wouldn't be too hard to snag a quick ride. I was so euphoric from my happy hiking I floated along the road without a care in the world!
I patted myself on the back because book time for this hike due to it difficulty was 6 hours for 5.8 miles and I did it in 4:40 with a about 40 minutes of hanging out at various points above treeline.
Solo hiking at it's absolute peak!(pun intended)
