Becca M
Active member
May 26, 2012: Doublehead Mtn, Mt Squam, Mt Percival - a sample of 2000-footers along the backbone of the Squam Range. Went up Doublehead Trail, took a right onto Crawford-Ridgepole Trail down to Sandwich Notch Road, reascended Crawford-Ridgepole back up and across to Mt Percival and back to Doublehead and down. Another fun day seeing noone except on the summit of Percival!!!
The minute I opened the car door the mosquitoes (“piranhas of the woods”) swarmed. Deet worked OK but I had to reapply often and it wasn’t completely effective. The bugs were BAD. In general, the trails were really scenic but the ridge had more ups and downs than I was anticipating. I also had some trouble finding the blazes along the ridge - many are very light and difficult to see. I did a LOT of retracing to the last blaze seen. Additionally, I forgot how tiring it is to hike in the heat. I tried to go light and didn’t carry enough water but found a decent puddle along the ridge from which to quaff. It tasted earthy and yummy!!!!
Along the way I was privileged to find wildlife I’d never seen before!!!! Then, on the way home I took an AWESOME dip in the Baker River under the Smith Millenium (Covered) Bridge – first swim of the year – YAY! Cleaned off all that sweat and bug juice. And after that I found only 1 tick on me – behind my knee.
Here are some of the highlights!!!! I hope you enjoy!!!
At the start of the Doublehead Trail there are many beautiful stone walls and an area of HUGE trees.
Cellar hole along the way – very cool:
Once up along the ridge, I found this rabbit/hare. I never see them so I was surprised. It was quite large:
One of the many steep sections leading back to the ridge:
I’m not a person to take tree bark photos but this was the absolute DEEPEST bark I’d ever seen and the tree was HUGE! I should have focused on the lower part but you get the idea!!!!!
Along the ridge, some very pretty moss along the trail:
And another mossy treadway:
Approaching Mt Squam – like a rock pyramid:
I’m also not one to post flower pictures, but, this cluster of lady slippers was amazing:
At one point I almost stepped on this – I thought it was trash or something.
When I looked closer, I notice it was a snake unlike any I’d seen before!!! It turned out to be a ring-necked snake! How cool is that???? (There were quite a few garter snakes on the ledges as well!!!!)
The minute I opened the car door the mosquitoes (“piranhas of the woods”) swarmed. Deet worked OK but I had to reapply often and it wasn’t completely effective. The bugs were BAD. In general, the trails were really scenic but the ridge had more ups and downs than I was anticipating. I also had some trouble finding the blazes along the ridge - many are very light and difficult to see. I did a LOT of retracing to the last blaze seen. Additionally, I forgot how tiring it is to hike in the heat. I tried to go light and didn’t carry enough water but found a decent puddle along the ridge from which to quaff. It tasted earthy and yummy!!!!
Along the way I was privileged to find wildlife I’d never seen before!!!! Then, on the way home I took an AWESOME dip in the Baker River under the Smith Millenium (Covered) Bridge – first swim of the year – YAY! Cleaned off all that sweat and bug juice. And after that I found only 1 tick on me – behind my knee.
Here are some of the highlights!!!! I hope you enjoy!!!
At the start of the Doublehead Trail there are many beautiful stone walls and an area of HUGE trees.
Cellar hole along the way – very cool:
Once up along the ridge, I found this rabbit/hare. I never see them so I was surprised. It was quite large:
One of the many steep sections leading back to the ridge:
I’m not a person to take tree bark photos but this was the absolute DEEPEST bark I’d ever seen and the tree was HUGE! I should have focused on the lower part but you get the idea!!!!!
Along the ridge, some very pretty moss along the trail:
And another mossy treadway:
Approaching Mt Squam – like a rock pyramid:
I’m also not one to post flower pictures, but, this cluster of lady slippers was amazing:
At one point I almost stepped on this – I thought it was trash or something.
When I looked closer, I notice it was a snake unlike any I’d seen before!!! It turned out to be a ring-necked snake! How cool is that???? (There were quite a few garter snakes on the ledges as well!!!!)
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