Upper Valley Ledges 3/26-3/27

[grouseking]

The idea for the weekend was to get in some leisurely hikes around the upper valley, with French's Ledges on Saturday, and then Holts Ledge today. ALl was going well today till my friend's hip started hurting, so we ended up turning around partway up. I was particularly looking forward to hiking up Holt's Ledge, because I was going from a section of the AT from Goose Pond Rd in Lyme, a new section to me. I'm def coming back in the fall, because there is a lot of deciduous up there.

One thing of note: I saw my first black bear of the season (yes folks, they are out!!) I was taking a picture of an ice flow comin off a ledge, and then I heard some weird commotion right above my head. So, like curious George, I went to see what was the matter. When I got up there, I saw a bear running away as fast as possible up another ledge and out of sight! Gotta love sightings like that.

Anyways, here are some pics from the weekend. First on Saturday...French's Ledges. These were taken in Plainfield NH. This is a GREAT beginner's hike with top notch views, and a mix of nice flat walking and a short almost scramble at the summit. It gives the beginner hiker a taste of different types of hiking.

Interesting skies, snow showers and virga

Okemo

A look south to Ascutney

And now a look east to Corbin Park

And now, pics from today and the play on and off the Holts Ledge

Bluebird day

another month or so, of stick season

really neat ice flow

View of ice, and South Moose Mtn in the distance. It was at this time when I heard the commotion of the bear above, as I was hanging from the rock...

and a nice pond on the way out, winter slowly loosening its grip

Nothing stunningly spectacular, but I hope you like.

grouseking

 

[grouseking]

more upper valley adventures

Today I took a trip up to Signal Hill in Lebanon...about 1200-1300 feet in height. This should only interest people who live in the area. But if you do a little research on the trails around here, you will find the ones for Signal Hill. Its more of a walk up along the side of two large fields, then left into the woods, where there was a bunch of rotting snow. Then it leads out to an area with a fire pit and wooden benches, where apparently there used to be great views. Right now, you can see Ascutney if you stand in the right place. haha

A couple pics

Whaleback ski area in the distance

Ascutney

a sense of scale

spying on the hanover well to do people

Hope it wasnt your house

grouseking

 

[RoySwkr]

You can get what used to be a $3 map of Lebanon trails free from Parks & Rec in city hall, which shows Signal Hill and several other properties

Note that the actual HP of Signal Hill is just off the preserve, occupied by an astronomical observatory behind another nice house