Webster Slide Mtn & nearby AT

[arghman]

Am thinking of doing the stretch of AT from Rt 25 in Glencliff area (doing a car spot w/ a friend), + side trip to Webster Slide Mtn, to some point X where I haven't determined X yet:

(a) Rt 25C -- looks like about 4.5-5 mi total. Too short.
(b) road betw. 25C and 25A ("Cape Moonshine Rd?" I left my book at home) -- 6-6.5mi total. A bit short, perhaps?
(c) Rt 25A -- looks like 10-11 mi.

Any advice as to parking, trail conditions, & whether Topozone USGS maps are uptodate as to trail routing?

Also any recommendation if there are obviously "better" sections of the AT nearby that would make a good dayhike in the 5-7hr range. Am thinking possibly Mt Cube but seem to remember Quinttown Rd being hard to find & don't want to deal with an unmarked dirt road w/ mud issues.

 

[poison ivy]

Well if I had to choose between the section you're planning to hike and the one with Smarts Mtn & Mt. Cube in it... it would be an easy decision to head up Smarts & Cube. I really liked Cube especially and the view from the Smarts Mtn fire tower is fantastic.

A friend & I did the six-mile hike for the section near Webster Slide Mountain... it is super easy and not very exciting. We skipped the side trip up Webster Slide (after having planned to do it) because there was thunder and lightning once we got there, so I can't comment on that.

As I recall, the parking along 25A is on the side of the road.

Hope that helps,
Ivy

 

[David Metsky]

I like Webster Slide Mt and Wachipauka Pond, but Cube and Smarts offer much better views. With a car spot you can climb Cube via the AT and return via the Cross-Rivendale trail which mainly follows the old AT back down to 25A. For Smarts you can go up the AT and down the Ranger trail, no need even for a car spot there.

-dave-

 

[arghman]

Hmm. Suggestions noted, maybe Webster Slide is better for a day that invites easier hiking (or snowshoeing).

Smarts & Cube (have hiked Cube before via Cross-Rivendell, that was a fun one) sound intriguing... but would like to stay on the AT proper as much as practical (working on NH AT redlining) and avoid there&back hikes. Car access to AT between Smarts & Cube looks iffy to me, maybe I'm wrong.

return via the Cross-Rivendale trail which mainly follows the old AT back down to 25A

Does the relocation show up on the newest USGS maps and/or the DOC map?

what about Moose Mtn and Holts Ledge? (e.g. approx from Lyme Center to Hanover Center) By my map, that looks like about 7.5 mi.

 

[Don L]

In late Sept. I did the AT from Glencliff to the Connecticut River in three day hikes. Day 1, parked at the Glencliff Tr parking lot on Sanitarium Rd (aka High St), rode my bike to the Rte 25-A crossing (14 miles), locked the bike to a tree in a bit on the trail, and hiked across to Glencliff, between 11 & 12 miles.
This section is on the AMC Mossilauke-Kinsman map.
Day 2, my wife followed me to the Dartmouth Ski area near the Lyme-Dorchester Rd (where I left my truck) and shuttled me to Rte 25-A. Then hiked south to Lyme-Dorchester Rd, about 16 miles.
Day 3, my wife followed me to Hanover and the Dartmouth College "A" lot on East Wheelock St. (Parking for hikers by permission, call 603-646-2204). She shuttled me north to Lyme-Dorchester Rd. and I hiked south to the Vermont side of the Connecticut River, about 18 miles.
The trails were for the most part in good shape and had easy to moderate terrain. There were sections that were overgrown, had a few blowdowns, and where the main trail was not obvious, but overall the trail was not difficult to follow. The section from Rte 25-A to the Lyme-Dorchester Rd, over Mt Cube and Smarts Mt had the "roughest" terrain. All the sections have areas where there are views.
I used the ATC maps for the AT, getting the DOC maps would be more helpful with side trails.
Hope this helps.
Happy hiking,
Don L

 

[RoySwkr]

Smarts & Cube (have hiked Cube before via Cross-Rivendell, that was a fun one) sound intriguing... but would like to stay on the AT proper as much as practical (working on NH AT redlining) and avoid there&back hikes. Car access to AT between Smarts & Cube looks iffy to me, maybe I'm wrong.

You probably cannot drive to the AT between S & C, the road is gated.

As a historian perhaps you should redline former AT routes also, so go up Smarts from Quintown via Daniel Doan Trail (former AT) and back by present route.

Or up Doan, down Ranger, and back to Quintown by road between Smith & Mousley (former Quintown Trail/AT).

Between this map http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4859739&e=738662&s=200&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG100
and the blazes you should be OK

 

[Waumbek]

As a historian perhaps you should redline former AT routes also, so go up Smarts from Quintown via Daniel Doan Trail (former AT) and back by present route.

Or up Doan, down Ranger, and back to Quintown by road between Smith & Mousley (former Quintown Trail/AT).

Avoid the Doan Trail at present unless you really like hiking in a stream bed. This is a wet trail that will be even more so with the continuing rain and snow melt conditions over the next few days at least. I believe the Nat. Geo. map (the "green one") shows the current route well although mine took a hike so I can't check to be sure.

Moose Mtn. and Holts Ledge make a nice hike; check out the new(ish) Moose Mtn shelter. Smarts and Cube will give you the best views, esp. from the fire tower.

 

[arghman]

thanks everyone for the comments, I broke down & purchased the VT/NH ATC guide, the maps / trail profiles there are helpful.

I'm planning on Holts Ledge / Moose Mtn (9 mi, not the 7.5 I estimated), & will save Smarts & Cube for next May when there's lots of daylight & I'm still waiting for snow to melt at higher elevations.