Tobit
Active member
Well, I am really glad I ended up doing this hike today instead of many others I had on my short list. Today featured several firsts:
I started the day on the Shannon Brook trail and quickly made my way to Bald Knob Cutoff trail. Shortly after I started on the Bald Knob Cutoff trail, I had happened to look back and saw a tree with 3 blazes on it. This seemed to be quite excessive but I guess it is better than no blazes. Blazes were quite plentiful all along the cutoff trail. Many times, the trail was covered completely with deep leaves so I was thankful for all the blazes. That tree just seemed a bit of of place with all those blazes.
At the other end of the cutoff trail, I continued the 0.4 miles up to the top of Bald Knob. However, soon after I started, I came upon a tree with a normal white blaze along with a green triangle shape blaze with a white arrow pointed at this mess. I thought it might be noting a geological oddity but I didn't see anything other than a very steep and thick area I had no interest in climbing. I continued on to the summit. Do any of you Ossipee regulars know what this is/was?
I had truly awesome views of the lakes from the summit. However, the wind was gusting quite a bit up here and made it feel much colder than it was. I don't normally where a watch so the only time I had was what my digital camera was telling me. The camera was telling me it was already 12:44. I didn't think it had taken me this long to make the ascent. However, I trusted it and, also because of the wind chill, decided to not ascend Turtleback after all and just head back.
Rather than return the way I came, I decided to continue down the main Bald Knob Trail. Holy cow, the type and condition of this trail was a sharp contrast in difference compared to my ascent route. Now I know why Rocket21 suggested I not ascend via this route. The very top of this blue blazed section of the trail was quite steep, rocky, and densely covered in leaves. This side of the mountain also had quite a bit of ice at upper elevations. I made my way very slowly down this route as I had no clue what was under the leaves with each step and I did not have my usual Asolo hiking boots on. About 3/4 of the way down this side of the trail, I ran into my first people sighting. A group of 6 adults and a large dog were making their way up the trail. Eventually I reached the flat, smooth, beginnings of this trail and reached Route 171 and began the 1 mi. road walk back to my car. After the descent, I found walking on the asphalt to be an excellent cool down.
I made it back to my car at 1:38pm. Based on the time shown on my digital camera at the summit, and my slow descent, I had half expected it to be closer to 4pm. This meant the time on my camera was off by almost 2 hours. I was pleasantly surprised because my pace wasn't as slow as I feared it was. However, I was a bit disappointed as I probably would have had time to go to Turtleback as well. Oh well, it probably worked out for the best anyway.
I really enjoyed this hike. I'm not sure of the actual mileage or elevation gained/lost. I need to sit down and look at the maps again. I really do need to strap some type of time piece to my pack. However, I've been saying this for awhile now. Maybe now I will finally learn my lesson.
I will be back in the Ossipees soon. Will probably head back in a few days to do Turtleback. 8)
Picture Gallery: http://albums.phanfare.com/3472949/3039517#imageID=53580098
Slideshow View: http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?u=3472949&a_id=3039517
- First time in the Ossipee range
- First time hiking this time of year and in weather this cool
I started the day on the Shannon Brook trail and quickly made my way to Bald Knob Cutoff trail. Shortly after I started on the Bald Knob Cutoff trail, I had happened to look back and saw a tree with 3 blazes on it. This seemed to be quite excessive but I guess it is better than no blazes. Blazes were quite plentiful all along the cutoff trail. Many times, the trail was covered completely with deep leaves so I was thankful for all the blazes. That tree just seemed a bit of of place with all those blazes.
At the other end of the cutoff trail, I continued the 0.4 miles up to the top of Bald Knob. However, soon after I started, I came upon a tree with a normal white blaze along with a green triangle shape blaze with a white arrow pointed at this mess. I thought it might be noting a geological oddity but I didn't see anything other than a very steep and thick area I had no interest in climbing. I continued on to the summit. Do any of you Ossipee regulars know what this is/was?
I had truly awesome views of the lakes from the summit. However, the wind was gusting quite a bit up here and made it feel much colder than it was. I don't normally where a watch so the only time I had was what my digital camera was telling me. The camera was telling me it was already 12:44. I didn't think it had taken me this long to make the ascent. However, I trusted it and, also because of the wind chill, decided to not ascend Turtleback after all and just head back.
Rather than return the way I came, I decided to continue down the main Bald Knob Trail. Holy cow, the type and condition of this trail was a sharp contrast in difference compared to my ascent route. Now I know why Rocket21 suggested I not ascend via this route. The very top of this blue blazed section of the trail was quite steep, rocky, and densely covered in leaves. This side of the mountain also had quite a bit of ice at upper elevations. I made my way very slowly down this route as I had no clue what was under the leaves with each step and I did not have my usual Asolo hiking boots on. About 3/4 of the way down this side of the trail, I ran into my first people sighting. A group of 6 adults and a large dog were making their way up the trail. Eventually I reached the flat, smooth, beginnings of this trail and reached Route 171 and began the 1 mi. road walk back to my car. After the descent, I found walking on the asphalt to be an excellent cool down.
I made it back to my car at 1:38pm. Based on the time shown on my digital camera at the summit, and my slow descent, I had half expected it to be closer to 4pm. This meant the time on my camera was off by almost 2 hours. I was pleasantly surprised because my pace wasn't as slow as I feared it was. However, I was a bit disappointed as I probably would have had time to go to Turtleback as well. Oh well, it probably worked out for the best anyway.
I really enjoyed this hike. I'm not sure of the actual mileage or elevation gained/lost. I need to sit down and look at the maps again. I really do need to strap some type of time piece to my pack. However, I've been saying this for awhile now. Maybe now I will finally learn my lesson.
I will be back in the Ossipees soon. Will probably head back in a few days to do Turtleback. 8)
Picture Gallery: http://albums.phanfare.com/3472949/3039517#imageID=53580098
Slideshow View: http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?u=3472949&a_id=3039517