Mt. Shaw - Ossipee

[askus3]

Could anyone give me guidance for how well maintained and what the trail is like to follow to the summit of Mt. Shaw. I want to climb this mountain from NH 171. It is on the "52 Peaks with a View list". Are there many changes in the description from the 25th White Mountain Guidebook 1992 edition. What is the elevation gain and is there a map on-line for this hike? Is Black Snout side-trip worth seeing? Any photo logs of this hike out there?

 

[SteveHiker]

the trail was very well maintained and pretty easy to follow back in November. I don't know if there's been any changes since 1992. There aren't many blazes on the lower sections except near junctions, but it's pretty obvious. The old carriage road up top is in good shape. The side trip to Black Snout is well worth it.

some pictures are here

 

[Amicus]

Aaron,

I was with SteveHiker (and Christa and Skiguy) on the November 26 (Friday after Thanksgiving) hike up the Mt. Shaw Trail that his pictures are from. I also climbed the Mt. Shaw Trail from Route 171 in '90. The main difference is that the Trail is better marked and easier to follow now, and logging detritus that messed up one stretch of the Trail in '90 is no longer there.

At the southern tip of the sidetrail to the Black Snout overlook, you'll find a blue-blazed trail known as Big Ball Mountain Trail, which some hikers pointed out to us. We very much enjoyed following it down an open ridge, over the summit knobs of that Mountain. It parallels the Mt. Shaw Trail to the east, and below the summit of Big Ball (a/k/a Tate) Mt., a red-and-green blazed trail heads west to an intersection with the Shaw Trail, less than half-mile from its parking lot. That made for an excellent loop.

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust has published a very good hiking map of that area, but I don't know if it's available on-line. carole from VFTT maintains some of the trails around there and is our resident expert on the Ossipees (and Belknaps too).

Mike

 

[RoySwkr]

http://hikenh.netfirms.com/TDShawMt.htm

 

[askus3]

Do you have mileages for the Big Ball Mountain Trail. I am glad you told me about this trail as I agree it looks like it makes a nice loop hike. So going up the Mt. Shaw Trail is 3.5 miles. To complete the loop is how long?

 

[Amicus]

Do you have mileages for the Big Ball Mountain Trail? ... So going up the Mt. Shaw Trail is 3.5 miles. To complete the loop is how long?

I don't have the exact mileage, but the Big Ball/Tate combo back to the Mt. Shaw Trail, not far above the parking lot, is only a little longer than the Mt. Shaw Trail alternative. I would guess the total distance for the loop is 7.5 miles.

One point to keep in mind - the Tate Mountain "connector" Trail has no sign at either end, just those green-and-red blazes (which, however, are fresh and reasonably numerous). Its beginning W from the Big Ball Mt. Trail is marked by a cairn in the middle of that Trail, below the summit of Big Ball Mt. (but before that Trail swings E toward Little Ball Mt.) Especially at the ledgy beginning, a number of those green-and-red blazes are painted on the rocks, so snow cover could make the Trail a challenge to follow (but it's open woods and would be easy bushwhacking, I think).

 

[carole]

askus3:

I replied to your PM but your message box is full. Empty it some and I'll send my reply.

 

[askus3]

I posted my trip report here for the hike I finally took on June 19, 2007. I was debating whether to add it to this thread or post it as a separate trip report and this here is my decision. Excellent hike that I recommend. This mountain deserves to be on the "52 Peaks with a View" list. It is my 33rd peak bagged on that list. Below is my trip report. Note that from there is a link to my photo album. Also, when viewing my pictures, donot view the slideshow, but look at the pictures individually as each one is captioned.

 

[rocket21]

Be forewarned that that area is very well known for ticks.