Mount Roberts and Faraway Mountain in the Ossipees 11/24/12

Silver Glass

Mount Roberts 2582' and Faraway Mountain 2782'

8.5 miles 1800'Elevation gain

Mount Roberts Trail / High Ridge Trail / Faraway Mountain Trail

Kevin, Judy and Emma

We love the Ossipees. We've had many a good hike there. It's another place where we can always explore new territory, or visit some old favorites. As Emma's hiking career is winding down the lower elevations and good footing help to keep her going. Once she is in the woods she puts away her "Old Dog" clothes and moves like a puppy again. In November with the trees all bare there are astounding views of Lake Winnepesaukee. From the many outlooks we could watch as the sun and the clouds played a magic game of dancing light on the waters.



We had taken a similar route on our last trip to Mount Roberts. Taking the Mount Roberts Trail from the parking area near the Bottling Company we wound our way along the carriage road and up along the easy grades to the first outlook. There are many opportunities to stop along the ledges and take in the magnificent scene of sunlight and water below us. Though Winnepesaukee is miles away its enormity takes up most of the view to the west. Across the lake the Belknap Range rises on the far shore.



Emma was in high spirits and trotted along at a good pace. The brisk November air sure beats the heat and humidity when you wear a fur coat while hiking. When we had made this hike before we had gone past Mount Roberts in search of Faraway Mountain. With everything so well marked we were surprised to find that the trail to Faraway was not signed. On our first trip we walked right by and never made it to the summit. The trail to the summit is quite obvious, but not signed. This time we followed the trail to the radio tower that is marked on the maps as Faraway Mountain. There may be a higher point to the south of this, but we didn't bushwhack to it.



From Roberts to Faraway the High Ridge Trail is a carriage road, so very easy hiking. To return we made a loop taking the High Ridge Trail to the junction with the Cold Spring Trail back to Shannon Pond and the parking area. From Mount Roberts on we followed carriage roads which made for very easy hiking, though we cut off some of the mileage as we soon tired of the round about switchbacks along the road. With the leaves gone and the woods open it was easy to bushwhack down and pick up the road again in many places, thereby cutting off a good deal of mileage wasted on switchbacks.



It was a great day to be out walking in November woods. The "silver glass" reflected sunlight on Lake Winnepesaukee reminded me of a favorite scene from "The Lord of the Rings":

Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf?... See what?
Gandalf: White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: [smiling] Well, that isn't so bad.
Gandalf: [softly] No... No it isn't.

Full set of pics HERE:
KDT

Great pics! Roberts is one of our favorites! That whole area is full of easy to moderate hikes that give you amazing views. Next time we'll try Faraway!

I usually do Mt. Roberts as an up and down by the trail, either from the bottling plant or from the Shanon Brook trailhead (in the latter case of course using the Brook Walk in one direction ). I rarely do the loop because I find the old carriage roads boring ... love the suggestion of cutting switchbacks, though a quick look at my GPS traces suggests little saving in distance (but less boring!). May give it a try soon.

Yes! Looping it that way is great, and no, BWing the switchbacks probably doesn't save a whole lot, but with the leaves gone it is very easy to spot a point of reference through the open woods, especially the blazes, so makes it a quite easy thing to do. Great filtered views to the lake on the way down, too!

KDT

For those who enjoy avoiding some of those switchbacks on the way down from the High Ridge trail I have attached a map that may give you some easy to follow routes. The first time, it will be easier from the bottom up. Follow the road from the bottling plant, out to the spring. At the end, go to the left of the open building and follow the logging road up, bearing left at the first intersection and left again on the Cold Spring carriage road. When the Cold spring makes a hairpin turn to the right, go straight ahead on a decent old logging road.
Follow this up until you reach the Faraway Mountain Trail and turn left. I have added some red dots where there are two short cuts across switchbacks. The first short one is an obscure skidder track that doesn't really save much distance but the second which leaves from a hairpin where the road turns right is cleared and easy to follow UP. It is a narrow track that was cleared by some young hotshot skiers and saves a lot of boring tramping on the High Ridge trail. The shortcut hits the HRT about 150 Ft. east of the bench on the overlook.