bryan
New member
date: 5/3/14
peaks: mt. rowe, gunstock mountain, belknap mountain, piper mountain, whiteface mountain, mt. klem, rand mountain, west quarry mountain, east quarry mountain, north straightback mountain, mt. major, south straightback mountain, mt. anna, mt. mack
trails: ridge trail, ski trails, brook trail, blue trail, white trail, old piper trail, piper-whiteface link, whiteface mountain trail, round pond-piper link, red trail, quarry trail, quarry spur trail, major-straightback link, major trail, blue trail (belknap range trail), mack ridge trail, round pond trail
conditions: loads of parking at the main lot of gunstock mountain. all trails were snow free except for remaining snow on the gunstock ski trails. mostly dry, including ledges, with some mud a wet areas headed up whiteface and on sections of the quarry trail nearing north straightback. a couple of the steep quarry trail scrambles had wet ledge as well. trails were all in good shape with minimal blowdown most of which was on quarry trail (one big one on the east side of rand if i am remembering correctly). some great work blazing and brushing has been done in that area. all trails are well marked with occasionally vague footbeds on some of the interior trails. thanks to the amc womens trail crew there is now a nice official path to the true summit of klem and the bratts built some great new cairns yesterday on major marking the trails leaving the summit. numerous small brook crossings were all easily hopped including the largest one just off the summit of anna to the west. great information about these mountains and trails, including a new map can be found here: http://belknaprangetrails.org/.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: this was a hike i have wanted to do for years, but never quite got around too. cynthia was interested in checking out the belknaps so this seemed like it would be a good introduction and full day of hiking (clocked the hike at around 24 miles with over 6k of gain). other than a passing shower we had great conditions with a mix of sun and clouds and very comfortable hiking temps. spent the day in shorts and shortsleeves. thanks to some great work many of the trails, most notably in the quarry area, are much easier to follow than they were just a few years ago. lots of great views and nice walking. highly recommended if you want to avoid the deteriorating snow pack farther north. thanks to cynthia for a great day.
bryan
[email protected]
peaks: mt. rowe, gunstock mountain, belknap mountain, piper mountain, whiteface mountain, mt. klem, rand mountain, west quarry mountain, east quarry mountain, north straightback mountain, mt. major, south straightback mountain, mt. anna, mt. mack
trails: ridge trail, ski trails, brook trail, blue trail, white trail, old piper trail, piper-whiteface link, whiteface mountain trail, round pond-piper link, red trail, quarry trail, quarry spur trail, major-straightback link, major trail, blue trail (belknap range trail), mack ridge trail, round pond trail
conditions: loads of parking at the main lot of gunstock mountain. all trails were snow free except for remaining snow on the gunstock ski trails. mostly dry, including ledges, with some mud a wet areas headed up whiteface and on sections of the quarry trail nearing north straightback. a couple of the steep quarry trail scrambles had wet ledge as well. trails were all in good shape with minimal blowdown most of which was on quarry trail (one big one on the east side of rand if i am remembering correctly). some great work blazing and brushing has been done in that area. all trails are well marked with occasionally vague footbeds on some of the interior trails. thanks to the amc womens trail crew there is now a nice official path to the true summit of klem and the bratts built some great new cairns yesterday on major marking the trails leaving the summit. numerous small brook crossings were all easily hopped including the largest one just off the summit of anna to the west. great information about these mountains and trails, including a new map can be found here: http://belknaprangetrails.org/.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: this was a hike i have wanted to do for years, but never quite got around too. cynthia was interested in checking out the belknaps so this seemed like it would be a good introduction and full day of hiking (clocked the hike at around 24 miles with over 6k of gain). other than a passing shower we had great conditions with a mix of sun and clouds and very comfortable hiking temps. spent the day in shorts and shortsleeves. thanks to some great work many of the trails, most notably in the quarry area, are much easier to follow than they were just a few years ago. lots of great views and nice walking. highly recommended if you want to avoid the deteriorating snow pack farther north. thanks to cynthia for a great day.
bryan
[email protected]
