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.

Prancing Up Peaked Mountain

The Fat Man and I decided to stay local and check out Peaked Mountain and Middle Mountain right here in Conway, NH.  If you bag both peaks, it's about 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1650.  Modest by New Hampshire standards, but whatever they put in the water here, it ain't available in New Jersey.

The trailhead starts on Thompson Road.  Take Route 16 to Conway, and turn onto Artists Falls Road (under the railroad track).  Then take a right onto Thompson Road.  The Pudding Pond parking area will be on your right.

Parking area sign

Road that leads to the trail

We met Jeff in the parking lot and he told us the views on Peaked Mountain were nicer, so we decided to hit that first.  The sign for the trail was easy to find. 

First signpost

While I was getting my gear together, this noisy squirrel made it known that he was not happy about me being in his space.  I told him to chill and that we'd be gone in a minute.

Nasty little bugger

When you get to the telephone pole, you will be tempted to go the right, but don't.  As you can see, the road forks and the correct path is to the left.  

Don't go to the right

Stay left at the fork in the road

The trail starts off quite nice with a few minor ups and downs.  I was feeling chipper, and thinking the trail was going to be forgiving the whole way, I jogged on the ups, which was something I regretted later.

Pretty woods trail

Very well-marked trail

At the next signpost, we joined the Black Cap Connector Trail, which can take you all the way out to Hurricane Road.  Black Cap Mountain is a little-known gem here in Conway, and going this way would certainly add some extra mileage to that hike.  But Hurricane Road is an experience in itself.  It is the closest thing to a roller coaster via automobile.

Gentle climbs

For most of the way, we were on a woodland road.  It was a cool day, which was lovely.

More of the trail

When you get to the next sign post, you take a right and the next mile to the summit is all uphill.  Most of the way you are on a dirt trail until you get to the ledges, which are less steep than other trails up here.  It is certainly a good workout.  I'm sure the natives probably jog up this hill, but they don't have good bagels here, so that explains everything.

Hang a right here

Get ready to feel the burn

Just when you think you must be close to the top, this sign reminds you that you've really only gone a little more than halfway. 

Cough up a lung from here on

When you get to the first ledge, it feels like a summit, but there are actually a few false summits, so just keep going.  

Mount Cranmore from the false summit

The views from the false summits are quite lovely, especially on a clear and sunny day.

View from the ledges

Great views for modest effort

The big W (Mount Washington)

At the next ledge we found this memorial stone.  While it looks like a good place to stop, keep going.

The path continues to climb to the summit and gets a little gnarly with tree roots in one section.  At this point, the Fat Man announced that we would also climb Middle Mountain.  I didn't say anything, knowing that we still had a long way to go.

Getting closer to the summit

At long last, we arrived at the summit.  It affords 360 degree views of Conway, Middle Mountain, and Mount Washington from the backside.  

View of Middle Mountain from Peaked Mountain summit

We were the only ones there, which made for a lovely lunch.  Within the half hour, we were joined by four other folks, including Jeff, who bagged both summits (overachiever).  He didn't have an ounce of fat on him.  

Time for some lunch and sun

We took the connector trail down, which wasn't too steep.  Like our descent down White Ledges, my knees were starting to hurt.  Despite joining a gym (and actually going to it), nothing prepares you for hiking than hiking.  What goes up, must come down, which is why I don't like to climb too high. Perhaps if we move here and drink the water long enough, we too will gain super hiking powers.  

When we reached the trail for Middle Mountain, the Fat Man announced that maybe we wouldn't climb it after all.  I just smiled to myself, reveling in my vindication.  Any hike that doesn't end with a hissy fit is a plus in my book.  Since I've been planning most our hikes this leg of our journey, so they have been very pleasant.  

Starting our descent

This was a real gem of a hike that afforded fabulous views without having to climb too high.  We will definitely come back and do Middle Mountain at some point.  

Heidi's rating:★★★★★ Great views and great workout.
The Fat Man's rating: 5 Kit Kat bars.

Arethusa (Water) Falls

The Fat Man and I had intended to climb Arethusa Falls yesterday, but when we reached the parking lot the skies opened up and it poured.  The Weather Channel app said there was 0% chance of precipitation.  If you can't trust the Weather Channel, whom can you trust for your immediate weather needs?  

Limmer Boots

We ended up taking the cog railway up to the summit of Mount Washington.  If you are one of the 5% of people who suffer from acrophobia (fear of heights), use the cost of the ticket ($62) to get a half-hour massage at the Mount Washington Hotel or a combination manicure/pedicure in town.  Trust me on this one.

Limmer boot fitting

Before setting out, we stopped at Limmer and Sons, the custom shoemaker.  The Fat Man ordered a pair of their hand-made boots a little over 12 months ago, but there's a waiting list of 18 months before they even start making your boots.  Today he just had his foot outline traced.  They are expensive (about $800), but that's the cost of having a boot made just for your tootsies.

There is a lower and upper parking lot at the start of the Arethusa Falls trail.  You can save yourself a hump up the hill by parking in the upper lot.  There's an outhouse with a no-frills, open-holed crapper by the lower parking lot.  It was a far cry from the pristine toilets I had grown accustomed to at Mount Willard and The Lincoln Woods Trail.   

Top of Arethusa Falls

Like Black Cap and Mount Willard, the 1,000 foot elevation gain on the Arethusa Falls Trail was steady, but gradual.  There were some sections that were a big step up (if you are under 5'2"), but still doable.

Tree root ankle twisters

Arethusa Falls Trail

Unlike our disappointment with the underwhelming Franconia Falls, Arethusa Falls is a very impressive waterfall.  In fact, at more than 200 feet high, it is the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire.  

Click on the sound file below to hear the powerful falls for yourself.

 
Arethusa Falls by Heidi and The Fat Man
 

Arethusa Falls Trail

You can also click on the Fat Man's Mantra sound file (below) to hear his directive when you are starting to get weary on the trail.  He is quite the taskmaster.

On the trip back, we took the Bemis Brook Trail, which eventually brings you back to the Arethusa Falls Trail.  It was only an extra half mile, but it was a steep descent and the trail was largely covered with exposed root trees.  If you like that kind of thrill, go for it.  While the view of the Fawn Pool was impressive, I would avoid it next time.


Fat Man's Mantra by Heidi and The Fat Man


The gliede (the guidebook that lies) said it was a "pleasant walk," but I have learned that the authors of these guidebooks are seasoned hikers.  What's easy for them is moderate for the Fat Man and I.  Perhaps when we get stronger and lose more weight, we will be able to climb higher and longer.

Speaking of losing weight, today we decided to take pictures of our bellies as a baseline to track our progress.

My belly baseline

The Fat Man's belly baseline

We hope to share much flatter abdomens in the near future.  My goal is to lose 10-15 pounds.  The Fat Man hopes to drop 10 pounds.  As I am writing this he is eating warm apple crisp with Hagen Daz vanilla bean ice cream.  Truth be told, I ate two large pieces of chocolate from the Bavarian Chocolate Haus in North Conway and am feeling somewhat remorseful.

Heidi's rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ What a majestic waterfall!
The Fat Man's rating: 4 Snickers bars