Hiking in the White Mountains: Shoulder Season Sarge

11/2/23

Cog Railway Path

6.5 miles (3,700' elevation gained)

Trip Report:

- As October rolled into the November the mild temperatures and solid trail conditions continued on most trails in the White Mountains. Sarge and I took advantage of this for a cold but comfortable hike up to the Rock Pile via the Cog Railway with our friend Ashley who we helped with a car spot for her northern presi traverse to finish off her November Grid.

- We started at sunrise and made our way up the wide cleared swath that parallels the train tracks. There was a dusting of snow down low that transitioned to a couple of inches of snow and some minor ice once above Jacob's Ladder.

Sarge greets the plastic moose located near the bottom of the Cog Railway

Sarge hangs out at the winter fire pit. The Cog runs in the winter to Waumbek Station where passengers can get out and experience the winter conditions before warming up by the fire

Jacob's Ladder

- Below treeline the temps were in the twenties, up high temps were around ten degrees with a light breeze. I put mushers wax on Sarge's pads to protect him from the cold and snow and once above treeline I put on his puffy jacket. He had no problems with the cold temps and snow and easily made his way up and down Mount Washington.

- Views were pretty amazing above treeline, wish we could have joined Ashley for her trek over the Jefferson and Adams but we had to get back home for work. Still, our short morning in the snow was a great way to start the day!

Sarge patiently waits for us to catch up to him

Sarge makes his way past the top of the tracks with a nice view to the south behind him

Summit Sarge!

Sarge enjoying the abundance of sunshine from the top of the northeast

Tag-Alongs (snowballs) on Sarge's face!

Sarge taking in the view of the Great Gulf with Mount Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison

Sarge makes his way back down along the tracks

11/4/23

Coos Muti-Use Trail System: 1.4 miles / Pine Mountain Trail: 3.8 miles / Pinkham B Road: 2.0 miles / Presi Rail Trail: 4.0 miles / Coos Multi-Use Trail System: 2.0 miles

13.2 miles (2,020' elevation gained)

Trip Report:

- Saturday Sare and I got on the trail early to get in some miles before having to head back home to finish up getting the yard ready for the winter.

- We decided to do a loop up and around the small peak that rises from the center of our hometown of Gorham, Pine Mountain. 95% of the elevation gained for this thirteen mile loop was achieved over the first 3.5 miles up to Chapel Rock and the summit of Pine Mountain.

- Good views can be had from Chapel Rock along with two more outlooks, one small but sweat view from north of the summit, and a big sweeping view from the ledges south of the summit.

Chapel Rock.

Sarge takes in the view of the Wildcat and Carter Range

Looking down at the town of Gorham and east to Shelburne

Carter Notch to the left and the shoulder of Madsion (Osgood Ridge) to the right

- Once past the ledges we made our way to the road section of the route, about three miles, one on the Horton Center's road, and two on Pinkham B Road. There's nothing too exciting about this section, the first mile is relatively flat followed by two miles of moderate downhill. Since it's been a mild fall, Pinkham B Road was still open but we didn't see one car over the two miles.

- Next up was an easy four miles of flat railroad grade over soft dirt and gravel before hooking onto the Coos trails for the last two miles of some easy up and downs.

- The loop took us just over two and a half hours and we didn't see a soul until running into a mountain biker on the Coos trails.

- We made it back home by 10AM and took a few hours to relax before spending the afternoon in the yard finishing off the last of the cleaning out of the flower beds and garden which soon enough will be buried beneath snow until mid April :(

Sarge poses for a picture at the national forest boundary on Pinkham B Road

Along the Presidential Rail Trail

Mount Madison from the Coos multiuse trail system

11/5/23

Middle Mountain Trail: 2.7 miles / Peaked Mountain Trail: 1.1 miles / Black Cap Connector: 2.7 miles / Black Cap Trail: 0.6 miles / Cranmore Trail: 1.1 miles / Ski Trails: 1.8 miles / Conway Rec Path: 0.7 miles

Total Miles: 10.7 miles (3,255' elevation gained)

Trip Report

- Sunday was another early wake up call for Sarge and I as we headed to the valley for a loop hike in the Green Hills Preserve before heading to the new Market Basket!

- Our route shot quickly up to Middle and Peaked mountains followed by a longer traverse up to Black Cap Mountain and over to Cranmore before a short and fast descent down the ski trails to the recently paved recreational path.

- We saw one early starter on our way up to Middle Mountain then didn't see another hiker until just below Black Cap Mountain, an older gentlemen and his small dog. The dog joined us for a few hundred feet before realizing his owner wasn't keeping up so the small pooch shuffled back down the trail.

- Once over the summit of Black Cap we saw two more hikers on our way over to Cranmore and then one mountain biker on the Cranmore mountain biking trails.

- I'm very familiar with the Cranmore ski trails as every Friday from early June to early August is Friday Night Vert put on by Run the Whites. This is a group or solo run to the top of the ski area where everyone hangs out until the last runner gets up followed by pizza back at the bottom. It is always a fun and laid back setting, more info on it can be found here

- After bottoming out at the base of Cranmore we made the short run along the rec path back to the Jeep and headed over to Market Basket which did not disappoint. The place is great, has everything, and the employees are on the ball, hopefully this will get Hannaford and Shaw's to step up there food and hospitality game.