Smarts Brook /Tri-townTrail

February 16, 2008

This week we went right back to Waterville Valley to hit the real Smarts Brook Trail making a loop with the Tri-Town Trail. While not nearly as nice as the Pine Flat Trail it was enjoyable for the most part. Smarts Brook Trail itself certainly did not live up to its billing, though. We've come to dislike wide open trails like carriage roads and old logging roads.

Getting ready to do the Duh limbo.



Muh dusting Duh...




The female half of a busy pair of Downy Woodpeckers...



Back at the trail head with Welch and Dickey Mountains in the distance.

Pine Flat Trail

February 9, 2008

So...out comes the AMC Guide and it says that the Smarts Brook Trail is something special. So that's were we go and promptly forget the admonition to turn right at the trail head. It turns out that the left is a wonderful cross country trail. It was bathed in snow and had gorgeous views of Smarts Brook. A heel blister kept us from making it to the beaver pond at the end. An A+ trip nevertheless.

So bathed in snow that our poles were busy overhead shaking snow off the bows.





The gurgling sound under the snow was very cool.




Duh checking out one of the many frozen "waterfalls".

W.Rattlesnake - 1200'

January 26, 2008

So, we picked up some Tubbs snowshoes during the week and headed out on our maiden voyage up the Old Bridle Path up West Rattlesnake Mountain on Squam Lake. We were hooked instantly. The gentle climb was just right.

Muh's first steps on floatation.



A very rewarding view of Squam Lake for the effort!



Duh's chowing a granola bar while checking out Mount Webster.



Muh munching...



And the descent...

Lovequist Loop

January 19, 2008

After the tumble down Cathedral Ledge and still unconvinced of the want or need of snowshoes, we took an easy route--Lovequist Loop (off the Kancamagus). Relatively flat and short, it was our first trip in complete snow cover. We barebooted the circuit and found out what post holing was all about. We had company, though as the broken trail had plenty of moose post holes as well.

The "no swimming" side of the Pemigewasset cascade at the trail head...



The most rewarding part of hiking thus far for Duh...(that's the bridge over the Pemi in the background)...



Muh investigating an odd growth.

Cathedral Ledge - 1125'

One we'd like to forget...


January 19, 2007 - We headed up to the AMC's Highland Center to go snowshoeing for the first time (to see if we liked it before buying some)...and got shutout. No snowshoeing for lack of snow in Carter Notch? So off to Plan B.


The parking lot at Cathedral Ledge was inaccessible so we hoofed it in from the street. No big deal. What was a big deal was trying to make heads and tails from the trail (non)markings. We finally found Bryce Path and made our way up to Cathedral Ledge.

Muh taking off up Bryce Path.



Stopping at the top of the log ladder stairs.



White Horse Ledge from Cathedral Ledge.


The White Mountain Hotel from Cathedral Ledge.



I'm thinking this is North Moat.





Driving to Carter Notch and getting shut out wasn't the bad part. Muh tumbled down BOTH stretches of the log stairs...and Duh "only" slid down one. The logs were sort of frozen moldy slime. Muh's noggin ended up about a foot from a one foot diameter tree. Shook her up pretty good.



Here's someone else's shot of the stairs.