TDawg
Well-known member
It had been over two months since I had last taken a serious day hike in NH. So needless to say I had been itching to get out, 1 hour nature walks around my town just don't compare. So after sitting in miles and miles worth of afternoon vacation traffic from before the Concord tolls to exit 16, I made it to the open roads of northern NH, the end of Haystack Road, and the start of the North Twin Tr. passing 2 wild turkeys just before the trailhead.
A shower passed through minutes out of the car and in my scramble to get things together and on the trail and semi out of the rain, I managed to forget my camera. In the words of Homer Simpson, "Doh!!" I didnt realize this until I was maybe 10 minutes up the trail, so I promptly turned around and began a jog back to the car. Arriving back at the trailhead, there was my camera, in it's case and on top of the car roof. "Real smart, Todd..."
After begin held up by the camera forgetting, traffic, and just a late departure, period, I didnt officially start again until 1:56pm. So back on the trail I went, the rain had let up by this time and I made good time to the first crossing, where I took one look at the river and said, "not today," and continued on the very obvious, easily followed herd path up the eastern side of the river. I had pretty much already planned on heading this way after hearing about the more difficult first 2 Little River crossings. On the way to rejoining the N. Twin Tr. I found the old fire wardens trail and looked up it a ways and it looks to be easy enough to follow. After enlarging the cairn marking it, I continued on my way along the Little River to the third crossing where two well placed logs helped in my crossing. I stopped to filter water and drink up on the other side and continued on to begin the real climbing. The trail is never insanely steep by any means but it is continuous up with a few breaks of easier sections. While climbing I began to hear distant rumbles of thunder which made me rethink my idea of shooting out and back to S. Twin as well.
I made it to the first view ledge and the views were pretty good and kept going to the western view ledge near the true summit which I reached in about 2.5 hours at 4:30pm. I loved the unique perspective North Twin gives you of Garfield and its ridge to Galehead and South Twin, and Owls Head as well. The sky looked ominous and I could still hear some rumbles of thunder so I decided being caught in a thunderstorm above 4000 ft. wouldn't be good and scratched S. Twin from the plan. After soaking up the western view ans having a bite to eat I returned to the eastern view ledge and did some more of the same. The views of Zealand, Hale, and the Willey Range from this ledge are also very unique and overall I was delighted with the N. Twin summit area.
The hike down was pretty uneventful and I was trying to keep my pace up in order to shorten the amount of time hiking in the rain. I did get rained on a couple separate times on the way down but it was warm so I didn't mind much. I took the herd path again down the east side of the river just strolling along thinking how much nicer it is to be in the woods of NH and actually have some topography to look at rather than flat, boring central Mass.
It was also kind of an emotional return because this was also my first time back in NH since graduating from Plymouth State University in the spring. And while I really enjoyed being around the area while in school, it still never seems as good as it really is when your there living the dream. Further strengthening this idea was a drive past my old houses and other old stomping grounds in Plymouth. Living within minutes of hundreds of hiking possibilities and good snowboarding is something you can really begin to take for granted and get used to, especially with all the free time of college life. But, what makes me happy is knowing I'll be back time and again to visit places that have become special to me.
Well thats enough of a rant
, but overall a great hike and a good time to reflect and, to quote a Beatle, get back to where I once belonged.
#41 of 48
Pictures here...enjoy...
A shower passed through minutes out of the car and in my scramble to get things together and on the trail and semi out of the rain, I managed to forget my camera. In the words of Homer Simpson, "Doh!!" I didnt realize this until I was maybe 10 minutes up the trail, so I promptly turned around and began a jog back to the car. Arriving back at the trailhead, there was my camera, in it's case and on top of the car roof. "Real smart, Todd..."
After begin held up by the camera forgetting, traffic, and just a late departure, period, I didnt officially start again until 1:56pm. So back on the trail I went, the rain had let up by this time and I made good time to the first crossing, where I took one look at the river and said, "not today," and continued on the very obvious, easily followed herd path up the eastern side of the river. I had pretty much already planned on heading this way after hearing about the more difficult first 2 Little River crossings. On the way to rejoining the N. Twin Tr. I found the old fire wardens trail and looked up it a ways and it looks to be easy enough to follow. After enlarging the cairn marking it, I continued on my way along the Little River to the third crossing where two well placed logs helped in my crossing. I stopped to filter water and drink up on the other side and continued on to begin the real climbing. The trail is never insanely steep by any means but it is continuous up with a few breaks of easier sections. While climbing I began to hear distant rumbles of thunder which made me rethink my idea of shooting out and back to S. Twin as well.
I made it to the first view ledge and the views were pretty good and kept going to the western view ledge near the true summit which I reached in about 2.5 hours at 4:30pm. I loved the unique perspective North Twin gives you of Garfield and its ridge to Galehead and South Twin, and Owls Head as well. The sky looked ominous and I could still hear some rumbles of thunder so I decided being caught in a thunderstorm above 4000 ft. wouldn't be good and scratched S. Twin from the plan. After soaking up the western view ans having a bite to eat I returned to the eastern view ledge and did some more of the same. The views of Zealand, Hale, and the Willey Range from this ledge are also very unique and overall I was delighted with the N. Twin summit area.
The hike down was pretty uneventful and I was trying to keep my pace up in order to shorten the amount of time hiking in the rain. I did get rained on a couple separate times on the way down but it was warm so I didn't mind much. I took the herd path again down the east side of the river just strolling along thinking how much nicer it is to be in the woods of NH and actually have some topography to look at rather than flat, boring central Mass.
It was also kind of an emotional return because this was also my first time back in NH since graduating from Plymouth State University in the spring. And while I really enjoyed being around the area while in school, it still never seems as good as it really is when your there living the dream. Further strengthening this idea was a drive past my old houses and other old stomping grounds in Plymouth. Living within minutes of hundreds of hiking possibilities and good snowboarding is something you can really begin to take for granted and get used to, especially with all the free time of college life. But, what makes me happy is knowing I'll be back time and again to visit places that have become special to me.
Well thats enough of a rant
, but overall a great hike and a good time to reflect and, to quote a Beatle, get back to where I once belonged. #41 of 48
Pictures here...enjoy...
