Recent content by Fred Shirley

Date of Hike: 6-30-10 Trail Conditions: great, except for a few big blowdowns on the ridge between Starr King and Waumbek, which will require a serious saw to clean up. Special Equipment Required: none Comments: see photos at: http://www.nhmountainhiking.com/waumbek.html

Date of Hike: 6-27-10 Trail Conditions: last night's rain and today's humidity made for some slippery rocks; otherwise fine conditions. Special Equipment: none Comments: see photos at http://www.nhmountainhiking.com/pierce.html

Thank you to Curious 1 and Keith. It was an amazingly fun 9-year journey and fun to have hiking friends who care.

Date: 4-22-09 Trail Conditions: Because Zealand Road was still closed, we had to park in the winter lot, walk Route 302, and then walk the road to get to the trailhead. All was dry and easy until we got half way up the trail and into nasty spring stuff: postholey snow and slick ice. The snow...

Date: 4-12-09 Trail Conditions: We did a loop hike over Mt. Klem, Mt. Mack and Mt. Anna, starting from Camp Bell and using the Red and Blue trails. This is a distance of about 8 miles, reaching a maximum altitude of 2000 feet, traveling in the Belknap Range (next to Lake Winnipesaukee). About...

Date: 4-1-09 Trail Conditions: There is still a lot of snow on the Champney Falls Trail, about a foot at the trailhead and perhaps two feet at altitude. Also a few minor patches of dirt, running water and ice. The well-packed monorail easily supports a hiker; but if you step off to either side...

Date: 3-25-09 Trail Description: Turtleback Mountain Trail is in classic Spring condition with a mixture of bare ground, ice and snow. Since this is a carriage road and snowmobile trail, everything is well consolidated. Turtleback Summit Trail (the spur trail going from the snowmobile trail to...

Date: 3-21-09 Trail Conditions: Near the trailhead the Mt. Shaw Trail is alternating bare ground and ice; near the summit is two feet of snow. In the morning, temperature was below freezing and everything was firmly frozen; in the afternoon, with warmth and sunshine the snow grew slushy. There...

Date of Hike: 3-15-09 Trail Conditions: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail and Kinsman Ridge Trail were all in fine winter shape: hard packed, with little ice, and as yet little danger of postholing. Special Equipment Required: Our group wore just about every popular form of foot...

Date of Hike: 3-4-09 Trail Conditions: the Hale Brook Trail is in excellent winter condition with a firm, well-broken path. Our group helped a little by tramping down the recent 4 inches of new snow and knocking snow off overhaning evergreen branches. There are a few blowdowns that are easily...

Trail Conditions: Valley Way from Appalachia to Madison Spring Hut was in ideal winter condition: a firm surface with just enough crusty snow to provide a little traction. Because all the rocks and roots were smoothed over, it was easier for me to hike than under normal summer conditions. Above...

Trail Conditions: the Wentworth Trail from Mead Base is a superhighway, having been trodden by at least 30 pairs of snowshoes today alone. We had to park along the side of the plowed section of the access road, then walk a short way up the unplowed section to Mead Base. Equipment: snowshoes...

Trail Conditions: Bryce Path is broken, as are the two spur paths to White Horse Ledge and Cathedral Ledge. The route is obstacle free and the shortcut over frozen Echo Lake is well-packed by snowmobiles. There is about two feet of snow on the ground. Equipment: snowshoes are probably best, but...

Jeremy, want to do a sunset hike Monday?

Date of Hike: 1-1-09 Trail Conditions: The trail was basically a concrete highway -- just enough new snow to provide a white surface to the hard pack underneath. Water crossings were narrow with good surrounding ice to walk on. No blowdowns. The last above-treeline trail segment was nasty: bare...