Bobby
Active member
Now that I have you attention....remember, it's a hiking board 
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Eric and I met up with AMSTony in Nashua and loaded our gear into his car for the ride to the North Twin Trail. Tony and I were going back and forth all week between Adams and Madison or the Twins. The weather reports pointed us toward the Twins, as it looked like it would be windy up high and boomers were predicted.
We started up the trail a little after 8:00 AM, with cloudy skies. The North Twin trail isn't much for views, but we made the best of it. As you can imagine, there were numerous comments about us and "the Twins." Eric just laughed, but I could tell he couldn't wait to get together with his friends and share his new knowledge.
At the first crossing of the "not so" Little River, we opted for the bushwhack. The 'whack is in almost as good condition as the trail, save for some mud and a few blowdowns. We finally had to cross the stream, it was a little tricky, but not difficult. Eric had a mistep and flooded his boot, but thankfully didn't go for a swim. The trail steepened after the crossing, what the AMC Guide calls a moderate grade. I thought it was steep. We took a short break and continued on, reaching the summit of North Twin in about 2 hours 40 minutes. This was 4k #9 for Eric and #26 for me. I was able to get a photo of Eric sitting on another summit (on-going family joke here....most pictures of Eric hiking show him sitting.) Eric layered up, going with gloves and a jacket. After a brief rest, it was off to South Twin.
The North Twin Spur had a few steep descents, and a short level section through a very green col. Lots of ferns and other vegetation. Then it was up to the summit of South Twin, #10 for Eric and #27 for me. Once we broke out of the trees, we got the full force of the wind, which was blowing about 30 mph. We had zero views, but I was able to get a photo of Eric sitting on a summit . We had lunch and started back to North Twin. Tony got a little ahead of us, and as Eric and I were in the col, Eric said "look." I looked up and saw a gouse crossing the trail. My city kid said "I thought it was a pigeon." I had to laugh at him, and got a picture of the grouse, along with a Three Stooges "look at the grouse."
The clouds opened here and there on the way back to North Twin, and we got a few pictures. On the ledges just past the summit on the way down we had some brief views before the clouds blew back in. After that, it became a slog. We crossed the stream again, and continued down, once more using the bushwhack.
Tony finished before us, and walked back up the trail a bit to deliver a Diet Pepsi, which was much appreciated. Back at the car, he offered me an adult beverage, which was appreciated even more. The total trip time was about 7 hours. Eric slept most of the way to Nashua. Tony dropped us at our car, and we went to Wendy's, then back to Boston.
Another great day in the mountains, with lots of laughs. Our first experience with Twins was a memorable one.
Pictures from the Twins
.Eric and I met up with AMSTony in Nashua and loaded our gear into his car for the ride to the North Twin Trail. Tony and I were going back and forth all week between Adams and Madison or the Twins. The weather reports pointed us toward the Twins, as it looked like it would be windy up high and boomers were predicted.
We started up the trail a little after 8:00 AM, with cloudy skies. The North Twin trail isn't much for views, but we made the best of it. As you can imagine, there were numerous comments about us and "the Twins." Eric just laughed, but I could tell he couldn't wait to get together with his friends and share his new knowledge.
At the first crossing of the "not so" Little River, we opted for the bushwhack. The 'whack is in almost as good condition as the trail, save for some mud and a few blowdowns. We finally had to cross the stream, it was a little tricky, but not difficult. Eric had a mistep and flooded his boot, but thankfully didn't go for a swim. The trail steepened after the crossing, what the AMC Guide calls a moderate grade. I thought it was steep. We took a short break and continued on, reaching the summit of North Twin in about 2 hours 40 minutes. This was 4k #9 for Eric and #26 for me. I was able to get a photo of Eric sitting on another summit (on-going family joke here....most pictures of Eric hiking show him sitting.) Eric layered up, going with gloves and a jacket. After a brief rest, it was off to South Twin.
The North Twin Spur had a few steep descents, and a short level section through a very green col. Lots of ferns and other vegetation. Then it was up to the summit of South Twin, #10 for Eric and #27 for me. Once we broke out of the trees, we got the full force of the wind, which was blowing about 30 mph. We had zero views, but I was able to get a photo of Eric sitting on a summit
. We had lunch and started back to North Twin. Tony got a little ahead of us, and as Eric and I were in the col, Eric said "look." I looked up and saw a gouse crossing the trail. My city kid said "I thought it was a pigeon." I had to laugh at him, and got a picture of the grouse, along with a Three Stooges "look at the grouse."The clouds opened here and there on the way back to North Twin, and we got a few pictures. On the ledges just past the summit on the way down we had some brief views before the clouds blew back in. After that, it became a slog. We crossed the stream again, and continued down, once more using the bushwhack.
Tony finished before us, and walked back up the trail a bit to deliver a Diet Pepsi, which was much appreciated. Back at the car, he offered me an adult beverage, which was appreciated even more. The total trip time was about 7 hours. Eric slept most of the way to Nashua. Tony dropped us at our car, and we went to Wendy's, then back to Boston.
Another great day in the mountains, with lots of laughs. Our first experience with Twins was a memorable one.
Pictures from the Twins
