.March 25, 2007 Hike #1
I have two hikes planned for this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Madison and I headed off on Doublehead Ski Trail which as you can tell from the name is also used by skiers.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Madison loves to crawl in the snow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I came to the junction with the Old Path but continued on the ski trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Since this trail was also used by skiers, it is nice and wide.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We made it to the top of North Doublehead at 3053 feet. There is a cabin there. It was locked but can be rented for just $20 a night.
For information on renting the cabin, you can call toll free 1-877-444-6777 or go online at www.ReserveUSA.com. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
On the back side of the cabin, I followed a short path to a scenic overlook. Here's the view east.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Off to South Doublehead
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The trail drops quickly into the col between the two mountains where I reached the junction where New Path and Old Path split.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Then up the other side. Just before the summit there is a great view of Mount Washington.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To the northwest I could see the Carter-Moriah Range. That's Carter Notch in the middle which is one of the steepest ascents and descents on the Appalachian Trail. Runtrails completed this whole range in one long day on Day 125 of her 2005 journal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Madison takes in the sites.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Endless blue ridges to the south
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We had to take a short side trail to reach the top of the 2939' summit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The trail continues just a bit further before dead ending at these cairns.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ There were more great views east but the view east was about the same from both North and South Doublehead so I didn't take another picture. There was also a view south to Kearsarge North Mountain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Madison and I made our way back to New Path. The trail going down the mountain was very steep before leveling off just before the road. We then had a short 5-10 minute road walk back to the car. As we drove back towards the town of Jackson, I got a view of both peaks of the mountain we just climbed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I have a couple hours of light left, so I am going to try to find the trail that leads to Eagle Mountain.
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