bryan
New member
date: 11/26/13
trails: cohos trail, bushwhack, snowmobile trail 127, road walk
conditions: i drove diamond pond road from rt. 26 in colebrook to coleman state park crossing over into stewartstown along the way. the road was in good shape with some snow and ice, but is kept maintained with sand, etc. the boat launch parking area at little diamond pond is signed for winter parking to access the snowmobile corridor. it wasn't plowed after the recent snow and had a couple inches in the lot. from the parking i followed the snowmobile trail behind the visitors center to the cohos trail. a couple inches of fresh snow in this area. over the course of the hike depths varied from 2-6 inches with deeper drifted spots. the cohos trail was untracked and headed into the woods for a bit before rejoining the snowmobile corridor (trail 18). footing was difficult in spots where the snow covered up rough areas. occasional crusty ice. most of the muddy areas and drainages were at least partially frozen. i followed the trail up to its height of land, dropped just a bit and then bushwhacked in a direct line towards the summit of tumbledick. i was able to stay in nice open woods all the way to the summit. definitely hunters in the area and i crossed over some fresh boot prints in the woods on the way. dropping back down to the trail i followed it downhill a bit to a cleared view towards crystal ridge. at this point the snowmobile trail up to the summit of sugar hill takes off to the right. i didn't note any signage. the trail climbed steadily up to the broad and previously lumbered summit area of sugar hill. some searching of the various bumps within the highest contour did not turn up any sort of recognized summit. instead of back tracking i continued on the snowmobile trail that continues in a loop to diamond pond road. in theory the trail comes out at the swift diamond riders warming hut, but i ultimately continued straight down to diamond pond road via rustys road where it crosses sugar hill road. there were a couple of nice viewpoints, complete with picnic tables, along the way and after continuing as a grassy trail for a bit the trail follows a good dirt road in switchbacks down the hill. good footing on the frozen dirt with some wind packed snow on top with a bit of drifting. once down to diamond pond road it was a bit over a mile walk back to the state park.
equipment: blaze orange highly recommended.
comments: this wasn't my initial plan for the day when i left home, but ended up being a good call. the weather and driving only got nicer the farther north i went and though not sunny it was a nice day with good views in the northern tier. lots of deer sign along the way with some fresh moose tracks as well. nice views, especially to the dixville and nash stream areas. a couple good glimpses north as well. didn't quite beat the storm on the way south and the drive through pinkham notch in heavy snow was a taste of things to come. great to be out.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: cohos trail, bushwhack, snowmobile trail 127, road walk
conditions: i drove diamond pond road from rt. 26 in colebrook to coleman state park crossing over into stewartstown along the way. the road was in good shape with some snow and ice, but is kept maintained with sand, etc. the boat launch parking area at little diamond pond is signed for winter parking to access the snowmobile corridor. it wasn't plowed after the recent snow and had a couple inches in the lot. from the parking i followed the snowmobile trail behind the visitors center to the cohos trail. a couple inches of fresh snow in this area. over the course of the hike depths varied from 2-6 inches with deeper drifted spots. the cohos trail was untracked and headed into the woods for a bit before rejoining the snowmobile corridor (trail 18). footing was difficult in spots where the snow covered up rough areas. occasional crusty ice. most of the muddy areas and drainages were at least partially frozen. i followed the trail up to its height of land, dropped just a bit and then bushwhacked in a direct line towards the summit of tumbledick. i was able to stay in nice open woods all the way to the summit. definitely hunters in the area and i crossed over some fresh boot prints in the woods on the way. dropping back down to the trail i followed it downhill a bit to a cleared view towards crystal ridge. at this point the snowmobile trail up to the summit of sugar hill takes off to the right. i didn't note any signage. the trail climbed steadily up to the broad and previously lumbered summit area of sugar hill. some searching of the various bumps within the highest contour did not turn up any sort of recognized summit. instead of back tracking i continued on the snowmobile trail that continues in a loop to diamond pond road. in theory the trail comes out at the swift diamond riders warming hut, but i ultimately continued straight down to diamond pond road via rustys road where it crosses sugar hill road. there were a couple of nice viewpoints, complete with picnic tables, along the way and after continuing as a grassy trail for a bit the trail follows a good dirt road in switchbacks down the hill. good footing on the frozen dirt with some wind packed snow on top with a bit of drifting. once down to diamond pond road it was a bit over a mile walk back to the state park.
equipment: blaze orange highly recommended.
comments: this wasn't my initial plan for the day when i left home, but ended up being a good call. the weather and driving only got nicer the farther north i went and though not sunny it was a nice day with good views in the northern tier. lots of deer sign along the way with some fresh moose tracks as well. nice views, especially to the dixville and nash stream areas. a couple good glimpses north as well. didn't quite beat the storm on the way south and the drive through pinkham notch in heavy snow was a taste of things to come. great to be out.
bryan
[email protected]
