Tamworth/Wonalancet lodging

[askus3]

I am interested in cheap lodging (under $250 for a week) in the Wonalancet/Tamworth area for a day hiking trip I am planning for 8 people in mid-October. Lodging should have accessibility to showers. Also, I can't get into the Wonalancet Cabin website. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[audrey]

Wonalancet Cabin has been sold to people who don't rent it out.

Do you mean you want to house all 8 people for $250? I know of no place that cheap. Or $250 each - for that you could rent a house.

 

[askus3]

I plan on staying at cabins in Deer Fram Campground outside of Kingfield, ME for a week next year when I do the 4,000 footers in that area. Their cabin rentals are $225 per week!!! All 3 cabins will run me $675. Check the website Deer Farm Campground So why can't I dream that I could get a deal like that in Tamworth. Anyway, I can up the ante to $1600 for the week, which would equate to $200 per person for each of the eight people or $28+ per person per night. But the cabin/house would have to house eight people in preferably singles or bunks. So if you know anything in the Wonalancet/Tamworth area along these lines, let me know.

 

[Waumbek]

How about this cabin? It comes with a pool table, pacman, 27" tv, heck you wouldn't have to go hiking at all! There's also an outdoor Chiminea. (What's an outdoor Chiminea?)

 

[SherpaKroto]

Waumbek, a chiminea is a clay or cast iron outdoor "fireplace". Those I've seen are about 4-5 feet high with a "pot-belly" bottom (so, I guess a shorter version of me )

 

[Waumbek]

Hey, thanks, SherpaK, gotta get me one of those. But with oil prices this year, I may put it in the living room!

 

[Stan]

Aaron, That's peak foliage season so you're wise to plan now but expect premium rates.

Have you considered WMNF cabins? The nearest is on the Kanc and there are also cabins just north of North Conway at Doubletop and Black Mountain. These are available by reservation at the Saco Ranger District (603) 447-5448. There is also Liberty Cabin on Mt. Chocorua but it is first-come-first-served.

The Hostel in Conway has bunkrooms (typically 6 bunks but other size rooms as well) that can be reserved. I paid $20 pppn last Columbus Day weekend for our group's accomodations.

 

[askus3]

This is my plan, so being up on the Kanc or worse yet on top of Black or Doubletop certainly does not fit into my itinerary. My annual White Mountain Trip XVI will take place in October 2005, with Wonalancet as a base. My plan is to climb or hike to:

1. Red Hill (en route to NH)
2. Chocorua via ascent: Brook & descent: Liberty
3. Cabin - Lawrence - Paugus - Mexico Loop
4. Square Ledge
5. Doublehead - Morgan
6. Sandwich from Jose's Bridge
7. Flat Mountain Pond
8. Major & Belknap (on return to NY)

BTW: I climbed Doubletop outside of Jackson on Memorial Day 2003. Got caught in a horrendous rainstorm and broke into the cabin. Sparse accommodations is what I am looking for but in the area I will be hiking. Also, need a shower.

Waumbek: That is a little bit more luxurious with stuff that is frivolous to say the least for what I am looking for. Quite the other end of the spectrum from what Stan is mentioning. However, the price is OK. So I will look into it. I will check into the bed/bedroom/shower info.

To all others, now that you have a better idea of what I am looking for, keep your suggestions coming. It is a shame, they don't rent out Wonalancet Cabin as that would have best met my criteria.

 

[Waumbek]

If you haven't been there before, I hope you get to Red Hill before the tower closes in the fall. This year it was staffed by Ed, Moltonborough Fire Dept. He's very knowledgeable and friendly and invites people up into the cab for the best view. The day I was there in Oct. it was spectacularly clear, and Ed pointed out Killington approximately 100 miles west. I never would have picked it out. Scudder's White Mountain Viewing Guide doesn't show it although it's worth having that book with you especially if Ed's not around. Thoreau raved about the already "famous" 360* view from Red Hill in 1858, long before the tower, although now you have to climb it to get above the trees that block the view especially to the west and northwest.

 

[stopher]

You can have my house for $800 (I'll go backpacking) but you'd be better off with Waumbek's cabin. You'd also have to promise to feed the cat. I can't think of anything off the top of my head but I'll ask around.

 

[audrey]

Wonalancet Cabin doesn't have a shower, so it wouldn't have met your needs.

I'd grab that "frivolous" house. The price is fantastic even though you'll have to force yourself to ignore those hedonistic amenities.

Columbus Day, if that's in your schedule, is very busy and lodging can be in short supply.

I applaud your decision to climb Paugus. The Lawrence Trail is an "unsung delight," in the words of the late Daniel Doan. My favorite route starts with the Kelley Trail, although there's a pleasant mile of road walking at the end or you can pick up the Gordon Path back to the Ferncroft parking lot.

 

[Waumbek]

Wonalancet Cabin doesn't have a shower, so it wouldn't have met your needs.

Nope, no shower, we used to go to a nearby campground and buy showers, but it did have two outhouses! And running water in the kitchen, sorta, if the hose hadn't broken or the pump lost its prime. But I loved that place. Too bad it's gone. I've never seen the other place I suggested, but I agree with Audrey, the price for 12 is darn good for the Tamworth area. In fact, I might try to take a group there myself, but not on CD weekend.

 

[askus3]

Thank you Waumbek. I contacted the realty and the place fits the specs. Now to pluck down my reservation deposit and hope for good weather. The trip I am planning is for 10/16 thru 10/23, 2005.

I put this trip together when I started figuring out what I wanted to see & do in the Whites, now that I have completed my NH 48. I compiled a list of trails, mountains, lakes and waterfalls that I really want to see. I liked the "52 peaks with a view list" and incorporated the peaks on the list that I have not done along with my other compilation and grouped them by region into six trips. So this trip is my first of six annual post NH 48 trips to the White Mountains I am going to do. So now I have the accommodation hurdle resolved.

As for the hiking in this area, when I was at the ledges on Whiteface on Monday, August 2, I saw a large area to the east going towards Chocorua that looked like a nice region to explore, so this trip will feature this area. I imagine it is as beautiful as everyone says it is.

Closer to the time I will post this trip again on the VFTT website under trips and invite all hikers to join and participate on a dayhike, several hikes or all hikes as individuals time and preferences allows.

 

[Waumbek]

Green Mountain (W. Effingham NH)

This is another small fire-tower hill like Red Hill. If you get there while the tower is still open, you will get some great views north towards Chocorua, a nice prelude to your target destination. If the tower is closed, there is no view anymore from the summit ground. This year Green Mtn closed mid-October. The fire warden, Harry, explained that the annual closing date has to do with state funds and how active the need is for fire watch.

 

[askus3]

I was at Green Mountain on Sat. August 5, 2000. The fire tower was staffed that day. Great views from the cabin. The view in this picture is of Mt. Chocorua and Silver Lake from the Green Mountain Fire Tower in Effingham.