Dale&Sherry
New member
SCAR RIDGE WEST PEAK via LOON SKI TRAILS 8/26/2012
Last weekend we headed over to Franconia Notch to hike/bushwhack our final peak of the New England Hundred Highest, the infamous Scar Ridge
After a restless night thinking about past trail reports and hoping to find the “Magic Line” of open woods we started out going up the gondola blue ski trail, then jumped on any blue trails heading toward the right to intersect with the access road that followed the ridge up to the top of Loon Peak. Our goal was to stay off the steep black diamond trails. After a short break we hiked up Sunset a blue ski trail to the North Peak. We easily found the herd path just above the highest yellow "out of bounds sign" its marked with a small cairn. Followed herd path for about 20-25 min, stashed our hiking poles then took a bearing for the ridge on Scar, let the the fun begin. We never found the “Magic Line“ but did find the "Evil Spruce Forest" with plenty of blow downs all the way up to the ridge. The bushwhack was tough going, and the 85 degree day didn't help. Sherry was scratched in the eye by a spruce branch as she pushed through.
Once on the ridge the bushwhack gets easier, we turned east finding flat herd paths all the way to the canister, only 2 entries for August, wonder why
Spent about a 1/2 hour resting and licking our wounds, then pretty much went the same way down to the herd path, over to North Peak, down Sunset to Loon Peak, then again followed ski trails and access road to parking lot.
I don’t think we will go back to Scar Ridge any time soon. We’re still cleaning spruce needles out of the washer and dryer a week later.
Recommend: Long sleeve shirts and eye protection. Suggest doing this peak in the fall with lower temps and no bugs.
Thanks to Tim (bikehikeskifish) for your emails on where you found the “Magic Line” of open woods most of the way, must be a very thin line we failed to find it Your input was very much appreciated.
We will be at the Annual Reunion in April to recieve our NEHH Scrolls
Last weekend we headed over to Franconia Notch to hike/bushwhack our final peak of the New England Hundred Highest, the infamous Scar Ridge
After a restless night thinking about past trail reports and hoping to find the “Magic Line” of open woods we started out going up the gondola blue ski trail, then jumped on any blue trails heading toward the right to intersect with the access road that followed the ridge up to the top of Loon Peak. Our goal was to stay off the steep black diamond trails. After a short break we hiked up Sunset a blue ski trail to the North Peak. We easily found the herd path just above the highest yellow "out of bounds sign" its marked with a small cairn. Followed herd path for about 20-25 min, stashed our hiking poles then took a bearing for the ridge on Scar, let the the fun begin. We never found the “Magic Line“ but did find the "Evil Spruce Forest" with plenty of blow downs all the way up to the ridge. The bushwhack was tough going, and the 85 degree day didn't help. Sherry was scratched in the eye by a spruce branch as she pushed through.
Once on the ridge the bushwhack gets easier, we turned east finding flat herd paths all the way to the canister, only 2 entries for August, wonder why
Spent about a 1/2 hour resting and licking our wounds, then pretty much went the same way down to the herd path, over to North Peak, down Sunset to Loon Peak, then again followed ski trails and access road to parking lot.
I don’t think we will go back to Scar Ridge any time soon. We’re still cleaning spruce needles out of the washer and dryer a week later.
Recommend: Long sleeve shirts and eye protection. Suggest doing this peak in the fall with lower temps and no bugs.
Thanks to Tim (bikehikeskifish) for your emails on where you found the “Magic Line” of open woods most of the way, must be a very thin line we failed to find it
Your input was very much appreciated.We will be at the Annual Reunion in April to recieve our NEHH Scrolls
