We decided to do a big loop today with a hike up the North Twin trail, turning off on the abandoned Mt. Hale trail (old fire warden’s trail) to the summit of Hale, down the Lend-a-Hand trail where we would split off to bushwhack to the summit of South Hale, a New Hampshire Hundred Highest, continue to bushwhack down the northwest side to the Little River trail where we would once again pick up the North Twin trail back to the car. We figured it was about a nine mile hike.
On the hike in on the North Twin trail we met Kevin, Judy and Emma from VFTT. They were on their way up to the Twins. It was great meeting you! Emma is so cute!!
Hiking in we must have been sleepwalking or too busy gabbing because we blew right by the turnoff to the abandoned Mt. Hale trail so we had to backtrack once we realized our mistake. We’ve hiked this trail before so it’s not like we had never been there before. The old trail is overgrown with ferns but still easy to follow. We passed through an area of beautiful white birch glades. This area is popular with telemarkers come wintertime when the snow conditions are right. There are a few big blow downs as you near the summit of Hale but nothing you can’t just walk around.
Lunched on the summit of Hale and chatted with a few folks up there and soon headed down the Lend-a-Hand trail to our departure point to bushwhack South Hale, a New Hampshire One Hundred highest mountain. I think we departed the LaH trail a little early. We had a tough go of it to the summit of South Hale. Not incredibly tough, but tougher than the cake-whack that others described once we hit the summit and read through the register. Others must have had a much easier time getting up there.
Instead of backtracking, we had decided we would keep going off the northwest side of South Hale, intercept the Little River and connect back on the North Twin trail by the third river crossing which is exactly what we did. The drop down from South Hale to the Little River was a little steep but the footing was good and we basically followed the ridgeline down off the summit. From the top we followed a great moose path partway down the ridge. The going was a little tougher when we hit the Little River, some side hilling, boggy areas and occasional blow downs to navigate.
We reached the North Twin trail, roughly following the old rail bed of the Little River railroad, and quickly sailed on back to the car.
Another great day in the mountains!
Pictures here.
On the hike in on the North Twin trail we met Kevin, Judy and Emma from VFTT. They were on their way up to the Twins. It was great meeting you! Emma is so cute!!
Hiking in we must have been sleepwalking or too busy gabbing because we blew right by the turnoff to the abandoned Mt. Hale trail so we had to backtrack once we realized our mistake. We’ve hiked this trail before so it’s not like we had never been there before. The old trail is overgrown with ferns but still easy to follow. We passed through an area of beautiful white birch glades. This area is popular with telemarkers come wintertime when the snow conditions are right. There are a few big blow downs as you near the summit of Hale but nothing you can’t just walk around.
Lunched on the summit of Hale and chatted with a few folks up there and soon headed down the Lend-a-Hand trail to our departure point to bushwhack South Hale, a New Hampshire One Hundred highest mountain. I think we departed the LaH trail a little early. We had a tough go of it to the summit of South Hale. Not incredibly tough, but tougher than the cake-whack that others described once we hit the summit and read through the register. Others must have had a much easier time getting up there.
Instead of backtracking, we had decided we would keep going off the northwest side of South Hale, intercept the Little River and connect back on the North Twin trail by the third river crossing which is exactly what we did. The drop down from South Hale to the Little River was a little steep but the footing was good and we basically followed the ridgeline down off the summit. From the top we followed a great moose path partway down the ridge. The going was a little tougher when we hit the Little River, some side hilling, boggy areas and occasional blow downs to navigate.
We reached the North Twin trail, roughly following the old rail bed of the Little River railroad, and quickly sailed on back to the car.
Another great day in the mountains!
Pictures here.
