Black Mountain Ski Trail Adventure

In our continued quest for hikes with a view and modest effort, we discovered another Jackson gem in the Black Mountain Ski Trail.  Once again, we took Carter Notch Road up and followed the signs for Black Mountain.  After parking Horace the Honda, we easily found the trailhead.

Trailhead 

A short hike up the road and we came upon a elderly gent clearing some wood. Turns out he lives right on the boundary of the trail.  He said he was 86-years-old and skis about 50 days a year.  Whatever they drink in the water in New Hampshire, I want some!

Road to the trail

This is another woods trail that heads straight up the mountain.  Easy on the feet, but not so much on the lungs.  It doesn't get really steep unit the top and even then, the ground is secure.  It is a 1.4 mile trail with elevation gain of about 1,200 feet.  

Start the hoof up

It was a little muddy, but not too bad.  All in all I think it took us about 45 minutes to sweatily scurry up.  

Woodland trail

From the distance, I could see the top of the cabin that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s (thanks FDR).  It was renovated in 1992 and is very rustic (no electricity and an outside toilet).  But it's only around $20 a night, sleeps 8, and offers a great view of Mount Washington. 

Cabin ho!

We met Alex at the top, who had been staying at the cabin for a few days.  He also stayed at the South Doublehead cabin.  We had lunch and chatted with him and another lovely couple we met from Connecticut for a bit before climbing the additional 0.4 miles to the summit.

Rustic cabin

The Fat Man took these Sepia photos, which really capture the beauty of the cabin.  There's a small wood stove, which Alex said kept him warm.  I might have been game for staying there one night until he mentioned that mice scurry about all night long.  I frown upon free-ranging rodents around my pillow.

Needs a woman's touch

In my opinion, a coat of fresh white paint, decorative glassware, and some hooked rugs could really turn this place into something cozy.  But I think I'll stick with the less rustic AMC huts and comfort-laden bed and breakfasts.  Of course, the Fat Man would love to sleep here.  Alone.

Kitchen area

Pack off break

When the cloud cover moved off, you could actually see the weather station atop Mount Washington.  Alex said he had a telescope and could see cars driving up the auto road.  

The big W: Mount Washington

We packed up and continued up the mountain to the summit.  It was a short, but steep post-lunch climb.  Kind of wished we'd waited to eat at the top as my body was lobbying for a nap.

On to the summit

The view was not as open as at the cabin, but if you stood on a rock, you could see the mountains in the distance.  

Summit view

From the summit, we took a loop trail that brings you back around to the cabin (to the right).  I don't know where the Badland trail leads, but the name alone was enough to dissuade me from taking it.  Some adjectives about bad from the dictionary: wicked or evil character; poor or inferior quality; causing or liable to cause sickness or bad health.  Give me a Goodland trail and I'll take it.

Side loop trail

After the hike, we had a wonderful dinner at the Ledges restaurant at the White Mountain Hotel and Resort.  The Fat Man had scallops and lobster in a delicious pastry puff and I had the gluten-free sesame encrusted ahi tuna (rare).  We both also indulged in a dessert of hot fudge sundaes.  Yum.

Heidi's rating: ★★★ Good work out and a cool place to have lunch.

The Fat Man's rating: 1 pack of black cherry Blox and 2 Snicker's bars.

Picnic at Hall's Ledge

Yesterday the Fat Man and I took a break from cliff climbing to check out a little trail in Jackson, New Hampshire called Hall's Ledge.  We saw a 2011 article in the White Mountain Shopper by John Comptom, which described this little gem of a trail. 

You can start from the bottom on Route 16, but the Fat Man thought we could shave off some of the elevation by picking up the trail off Carter Notch Road. We parked our car at the end of the road in a small parking area, then walked back on the road and up to the right.  

Starting up the road

It was a wide road with a gentle incline. As soon as you pass the Orchard Trail on your left, take the next trail, which takes you to the Hall's Ledge trailhead.  There's a sign that says Wildcat Valley. Also look for the sign below. 

Take this trail off the road

We weren't sure it was the right trailhead so we walked on the road about a 1/2 mile further than we needed to and had to double back.  But it afforded us some extra mileage and a lovely view.

Pretty view from the road

The leaves are starting to change here and it's really quite magnificent.

Fall colors

We nicknamed this the "poop road and trail" because all day long we came across poops of various sizes and colors.  

Got poop?

We also found some moose tracks and were hopeful we might see one of these amazing beasts.  But it was not to be.  

Moose tracks

It was a pretty deserted trail and I thought we might see a bear or two.  Normally we don't worry about bears, but we just heard about a black bear that killed a Rutger's University student at a place we often hike.  Unfortunately, this boy was inexperienced and didn't know that running is the worst thing you can do.  Back away slowly and do not make eye contact.  If you have sticks, wave them in the air to make yourself look bigger.  Never play dead (that only works with Grizzly Bears).  

More of the trail

The trail meandered up for a while in the woods until we reached a spot that afforded us some unbelievable mountain views.

Gorgeous scenery

The picture above almost looks like a painting.  The light was just right to pick up all the beautiful colors and the mountains in the distance (this view was actually much better than Hall's Ledge itself).  

The trail was filled with all kinds of greenery, including ferns.  A little ways on the trail we passed a giant rock that had a memorial plate.  Apparently, 500 acres of the Wildcat Reservation were donated in the memory of Charles Morrill Baker.  

We don't know the exact mileage, but after a ways, we finally found this sign directing us Hall's Ledge.  It might have been around 1.5 miles.

We had read about the picnic table in the middle of nowhere and it was a lovely spot to stop and have lunch.  "Any trail that has a picnic table at the summit is okay in my book," said the Fat Man.  Unfortunately, the view of Mount Washington was a bit obscured by overgrown trees, but it was still a very pretty place to sit for a bit.

The Fat Man deemed the hike "whoopee-pie worthee" and polished off the second half of his dessert from Portland Maine.  I had some healthier apple slices.  

There really wasn't any ledge to speak of.  Later, we met an elderly couple who said the ledge exists, but not too many folks have ever seen it.  Sounds like a New Hampshire myth, if you ask me.

On the way back, The Fat Man snapped this picture of me gazing out over the mountainside.  I wish I'd sucked my gut in just a little bit more.  But those torturous step aerobics classes seem to be paying off.  

Later I almost stepped on this enormous toad.  He was very slow moving.  

Hall's Ledge definitely ranks as one of those trails that offer a great view for modest effort.  

Heidi's rating: ★★★★ Gorgeous mountain views.
The Fat Man's rating: 4 and 1/2 Reese's peanut butter cups.

Hedgehog Mountain Hurtle

Wake up, have coffee, and go for a hike.  That's been our routine this past week in New Hampshire.  

We were going to hike Potash Mountain, but we met a native who said we should try Hedgehog Mountain instead (2,532 feet with an elevation gain of 1,450 feet).

Hedgehog Mountain is in Albany, NH, just off the Kancamagus Highway.  You start on the UNH trail, which you can find in the Passaconaway Campground.  

Parking area

Like many of the hikes here, you need to either buy a day pass or a weekly pass.  Most places you can purchase them right in the parking lot. 

UNH Trailhead

The glide (the guidebook that lies) is correct about only taking this trail when the weather is good and dry.  It had rained the night before and there were some slippery sections, but fortunately they were low on the mountain. 

Beginning of the trail

Like most trails here, it starts off very nice and pleasant. Of course, that changes pretty quickly.

Starts out flat

When we got to the cross country ski trail intersection, we were informed that there would be a reroute of the trail at some point. We followed the yellow-blaze trail.

There was a reroute of the trail

There were some sections, both low and high, that were predominantly filled with exposed tree roots.  

Lots of tree roots for ankle twists

Most guidebooks suggest hiking the trail clockwise.  This gets you to the ledges faster and you hike the majority of the trail going up what is termed a "gradual ascent."  

Since I really don't like heights, we decided to hike up the steepest part (counterclockwise).  I prefer not to look down when it's really steep.  Coming down also hurts our knees more the going up, so we thought it would be a better route for us.

We went counterclockwise

As promised, it was pretty steep.  But since we've been hiking all week with similar elevation gains, it wasn't any more strenuous than usual.  In some parts, there are some rock slabs, which were not too difficult to walk up.

Slabs on the way up

There is no view from the summit because it is completely enclosed by trees.  But keep going and you will reach Allen's ledge, which affords some beautiful views.  

View from Allen's ledge past the summit

We stopped here for lunch and it was magnificent.  It was quite windy and cool, but after all that climbing (and sweating), it felt delightful.  

Fantastic views

We met some people coming up the trail clockwise.  They said it was fairly steep that way too, and mentioned one section with a big drop off.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it definitely gave me pause since I was already feeling a little squarely.  

From Allen's ledge

Gorgeous day

After resting, we continued down the trail, which winds around the mountain. 

Coming down from Allen's ledge

The trail wasn't as well marked and I thought we had taken a wrong turn, but the Fat Man assured me we'd pick up a blaze eventually and we did.  The section that is not well marked takes you back uphill for a bit.

Looking up from the East Ledges

After about 45 minutes, we reached the East Ledges, and the views were equally as fantastic.

Whoopee pie for the Fat Man

We stopped to take in the view, and the Fat Man ate half of the whoopee pie he purchased on our recent excursion to LL Bean in Portland, Maine.  I have to admit, it looked really good. 

More ledges to traverse down

We went down some more ledges and one area was a little close to the edge, so I assumed it was the spot we had been warned about.  

I really don't mind ledges when they are wide and open.  But then we came to a section that got really, really narrow with a complete drop off.  

Ledge narrows on a cliff (view of Mount Potash)

They say pictures add 10 pounds, and in this case, it adds width because it was much narrower than it looks.  If you do not like heights, you will not like this section.  

I got through it, but didn't like it, and had to do some deep breathing afterward. I was glad we got to it late in the hike.  I'm not sure I would have continued if we took the clockwise route.

If I were to do it again, I would have walked through the trees.  I'd get cut up, for sure, but would avoid getting close to the big drop off. 

Looks wider than it really is

Up until that point, the ledges were very wide and easily navigated and the views were stupendous.

Coming onto a ledge

More beautiful views

We still had about 2 miles or so to go and the trail was not as flat as we'd been led to believe.  Hiking up the steep section was a real workout and coming down was more of a conditioning hike.  If we went clockwise, I think it would have been much slower coming down the steep section.  

Mount Chocorua in the distance

We passed some big boulders, which felt a little Stonehenge-like.

Rock formation on the descent

The Fat Man twisted his ankle coming down.  He said he had to take a standing 8-count.  I came close to twisting mine, too, due to all the exposed tree roots.  We think the re-route added another 1/2 mile, so in total it was probably close to 5 miles.  It took us about 4.5 hours.  

We weren't completely toasted by the end of the hike, but we were glad to reach the car.  Once rigor mortis, settled in, it was painful getting up from a seated position.  If only the house we rented had a hot tub!

Heidis rating: ★★ for the spectacular views (would have been higher if there was no steep drop-off cliff section).

The Fat Man's rating: One and a half whoopee pies.