TDawg
Well-known member
When driving along Tenney Mtn. Highway (Rt. 25) in Plymouth I've often looked up at Stinson Mountain and thought, "those look like some nice ledges." Having gone to PSU and/or lived in the area for the better part of 8 years now, I've looked at Stinson from this angle many times. But only in the past few years I've begun to get into some sweet bushwhacking adventures, and actually going up there was a real option.
A couple weeks ago after consulting my map I took a recon trip out East Rumney Road where a tiny sliver of WMNF land abuts the road there north of Loon Lake. Here, I found there was a skidder trail which was blocked by large rocks and a sign telling about a timber harvest back in the 80's. What you say? A clear path for at least part of the trip? This was enough to get the wheels turning on this one.
This afternoon I followed some of the skidder trails until I was able to spot the ledges through the trees. I took a bearing on an area of the ridge to the south of the main ledge, where according to the map was less steep figuring I could gain the ridge there. I crossed a couple open areas where there had been some logging activity, this was kind of pain because of all the slash and puckerbrush, I would avoid them on the return. My bearing worked perfectly though, and I was able to avoid the steep slabs to my right and gain ridge after some steep whackin'. The woods were pretty open the entire way. I would eventually climb up to the top most ledge (2100ish ft.), passing a few nice areas along the way.
The views were very nice across the Baker River valley over to Tenney Mtn. and the Polar Caves cliff, Mt. Crosby, Fletcher Mtn., and out to Cardigan.
I got a nice view down over Loon Lake, Plymouth Mtn., and Tenney Mtn. Last year I had the opposite view from a kayak when my friends were vacationing on the pond.
Above is the view more to the east over Bog Pond, Squam Range, Mt. Israel, Campton Mtn., and Sandwich Dome. I have a few friends that live out off Bog Rd. and I could see their houses there on the hillside below Bald Mtn.
This turned out to be a great spot! I explored a bit further up the ridge towards the Stinson summit, but was short on time for more "ledge finding." Dark comes awfully soon this time of year. I'll have to return and look for a better view north next time, or just go straight to the top and climb Stinson "the hard way."
Full album here, enjoy. Thanks for reading.
A couple weeks ago after consulting my map I took a recon trip out East Rumney Road where a tiny sliver of WMNF land abuts the road there north of Loon Lake. Here, I found there was a skidder trail which was blocked by large rocks and a sign telling about a timber harvest back in the 80's. What you say? A clear path for at least part of the trip? This was enough to get the wheels turning on this one.
This afternoon I followed some of the skidder trails until I was able to spot the ledges through the trees. I took a bearing on an area of the ridge to the south of the main ledge, where according to the map was less steep figuring I could gain the ridge there. I crossed a couple open areas where there had been some logging activity, this was kind of pain because of all the slash and puckerbrush, I would avoid them on the return. My bearing worked perfectly though, and I was able to avoid the steep slabs to my right and gain ridge after some steep whackin'. The woods were pretty open the entire way. I would eventually climb up to the top most ledge (2100ish ft.), passing a few nice areas along the way.
The views were very nice across the Baker River valley over to Tenney Mtn. and the Polar Caves cliff, Mt. Crosby, Fletcher Mtn., and out to Cardigan.
I got a nice view down over Loon Lake, Plymouth Mtn., and Tenney Mtn. Last year I had the opposite view from a kayak when my friends were vacationing on the pond.
Above is the view more to the east over Bog Pond, Squam Range, Mt. Israel, Campton Mtn., and Sandwich Dome. I have a few friends that live out off Bog Rd. and I could see their houses there on the hillside below Bald Mtn.
This turned out to be a great spot! I explored a bit further up the ridge towards the Stinson summit, but was short on time for more "ledge finding." Dark comes awfully soon this time of year. I'll have to return and look for a better view north next time, or just go straight to the top and climb Stinson "the hard way."
Full album here, enjoy. Thanks for reading.
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