Champney Falls

March 29, 2008

We weren't really in good enough shape for Champney falls. For some reason the gym has not been calling our name! So we really only made it about half way past the fork. On the way back down we noted that someone had come up behind us and skied back down off-trail.

What killed us was that people were bare booting in front of us. Breaking this stuff out was tough.








Duh checking out what was visible of the sign at the fork.





Aye, aye, aye!

Lincoln Woods Trail

March 9, 2008

I guess the best thing I can say about the Lincoln Woods Trail is, well, not much. A flat road to nowhere. Very surprising given the good things all of the "Best in the Whites" books say. I found it hard to believe, but we cut our losses after about 45 minutes and turned around.

A good shot of "Interstate 49" in Waterville Valley.



Not a complete loss as you can see. The water was pretty neat, too.



A little fake Glissading off the side of the trail.

The saddest 9" snowman I've ever seen.

Brook Path

March 1, 2008

Unbelievable! A foot of new snow in March. Kind of stupidly we took off in the early morning for Wonolancet in really bad weather. Route 16 was about 35MPH. We will be back to this quiet area.

As we were making our way around the numerous frost heaves/moguls on 113A we saw this rafter of turkeys cross the road. Note the lower left of the snowbank...the turkeys broke out their own foot deep path over the snowbank!




The trail goes through these trees under 18-24" of powder.



Muh breaking trail for the first time. Check out the knee deep powder! Pretty tough work for a first timer.



Ha! Muh gettin a load from above...




Those same two trees after our about-face. I don't think we made it much more than a mile!



Note Duh's feet almost up to the handrail on this bridge. That's a pretty deep base.




Muh's snow trench turning a bend...



The farm's pump house.




Muh beat Duh over the snowbank...






OK. Pure envy here. Check out the view this poor guy on 113A has from his driveway!!

Artist's Bluff/Bald Mtn - 2287'

February 23, 2008

We made the trek all the way up I93 through Franconia Notch to Artist's Bluff and Bald Mountain. Since the trail takes off from the Cannon ski area's overflow lot, I would have to say this was the biggest trail head parking lot I've ever seen ;-)

This was a big step up for us on snowshoes. A little extra vertical. We stopped short of the Bald Mountain summit as it would have required us to jettison the snowshoes. After huffing and puffing our way over to the Artist's Bluff spur we were pooped and skipped the view--strapping the shoes on our packs and barebooting it down to the street over the bare sun-exposed rocks. As we were taking the shoes off a bunch of youngins bolted by us with energy to spare. Punks!

Muh getting vertical...




Cannon's summit clouded in...



Muh not very happy about the strenuous nature of today's hike...





Duh checking out the cloud-covered Mt. Lafayette' Walker Ravine and Eagle Cliff (right)





Mount Lincoln towering over the Notch.

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...