grouseking
Well-known member
I expected this hike to be a nice very uneventful and mellow hike. I did not expect to have so much company from nature's wildlife. I'll get into that momentarily.
I need to start by saying that I think the Southern NH trailguide has to be revised. To get to the Sutherland Trail normally you have to travel up a long dirt road and then park at the top. Then you take a right, pass a house on the right and keep walking until the trail appears on the left. Well, there is now a link trail that doesn't cross the house's land that starts further away. (We didn't know about it until it was too late, and were welcomed by their loud and very muscular dog.)
Before we made to the trailhead, I was started by a ruffled grouse that flew away when I came within 10 feet of it. I should have known that it would be an active wildlife day, but didn't think anything of it. As for the hike up, it was pretty easy and there was a light dusting of snow covering the landscape. The trip was at first uneventful and the only thing we were fighting was the biting wind chill. Then during a break, I decided to take a jaunt further up when I came across something I didn't even think I would ever see...a snowshoe hare! It jumped and frolicked around (well actually it saw me and took off at near lightning speed). Then I saw its tracks so I could prove it to the others that I saw it.
On we went up to the top and rested for awhile. Well actually I continued to explore and check out the actual summit. I went over to the west side of the cliffs and took in the views of Mt Cardigan and Newfound Lake...a pleasant suprprise for sure. Then I headed back and we went over to a rocky outcrop called Pikes Peak . Yes Pikes Peak. The views were awesome, and the wind was kept at bay for a little bit so I could snap away. After that, it was time to head down. Halfway down, we came across another thing I wouldn't expect to see, a porcupine! Not a few hundred feet away mind you, 10 feet away. Jennie nearly stepped on it! We slowly moved past it and I stuck around an extra minute and took a few pics of it. Then not a half mile later I heard a turkey call. I called back and it actually called back to me! Quite funny, but my friends decided to keep going, while I decided to hang back for a minute. Then the turkey showed itself for a brief moment. It was too dark to photograph and I took one step toward it and it took off.
The rest of the walk down was pretty easy until we were attacked by that dog. If you hike this mtn via the Sutherland Trail, make sure you find a way up the link trail that goes to the Sutherland Trail. I think the other way may be private property and I wouldnt want to make the family upset. I know the dog was. Anyways it was a good day, and it far exceeded my expectations. If I had been alone, I probably would have seen a bear, moose and a mountain lion!! I have pics...probably too many, but here they are
Plymouth Mtn
grouseking
I need to start by saying that I think the Southern NH trailguide has to be revised. To get to the Sutherland Trail normally you have to travel up a long dirt road and then park at the top. Then you take a right, pass a house on the right and keep walking until the trail appears on the left. Well, there is now a link trail that doesn't cross the house's land that starts further away. (We didn't know about it until it was too late, and were welcomed by their loud and very muscular dog.)
Before we made to the trailhead, I was started by a ruffled grouse that flew away when I came within 10 feet of it. I should have known that it would be an active wildlife day, but didn't think anything of it. As for the hike up, it was pretty easy and there was a light dusting of snow covering the landscape. The trip was at first uneventful and the only thing we were fighting was the biting wind chill. Then during a break, I decided to take a jaunt further up when I came across something I didn't even think I would ever see...a snowshoe hare! It jumped and frolicked around (well actually it saw me and took off at near lightning speed). Then I saw its tracks so I could prove it to the others that I saw it.
On we went up to the top and rested for awhile. Well actually I continued to explore and check out the actual summit. I went over to the west side of the cliffs and took in the views of Mt Cardigan and Newfound Lake...a pleasant suprprise for sure. Then I headed back and we went over to a rocky outcrop called Pikes Peak
. Yes Pikes Peak. The views were awesome, and the wind was kept at bay for a little bit so I could snap away. After that, it was time to head down. Halfway down, we came across another thing I wouldn't expect to see, a porcupine! Not a few hundred feet away mind you, 10 feet away. Jennie nearly stepped on it! We slowly moved past it and I stuck around an extra minute and took a few pics of it. Then not a half mile later I heard a turkey call. I called back and it actually called back to me! Quite funny, but my friends decided to keep going, while I decided to hang back for a minute. Then the turkey showed itself for a brief moment. It was too dark to photograph and I took one step toward it and it took off. The rest of the walk down was pretty easy until we were attacked by that dog. If you hike this mtn via the Sutherland Trail, make sure you find a way up the link trail that goes to the Sutherland Trail. I think the other way may be private property and I wouldnt want to make the family upset. I know the dog was. Anyways it was a good day, and it far exceeded my expectations. If I had been alone, I probably would have seen a bear, moose and a mountain lion!!
I have pics...probably too many, but here they arePlymouth Mtn
grouseking
