South Moat

I hiked today with my daughter’s best friend and her mom.  My daughter abandoned us claiming too much homework to join us.  I knew nothing was going to beat the brilliant blaze of colors on Iron Mountain last week, but the 360 views on the rocky summit of South Moat came close.

There is some active timber harvesting at the start of the trail.  Look for a small arrow pointing to the left of the clearing and follow the bright trail-marker ribbons leading you around the harvesting back to the trail.

The recent rains left running water, wet leaves and slippery rocks on the trail making it a little tricky in places.  We all did a butt-thump at least once during the hike.  

The people I hiked with today are good casual hikers.  My daughter’s friend scurried up the trail with ease.  Her mom, who is not used to the craggy New Hampshire trails, was cautious and a little hesitant but hiked at a steady clip.

Being a mostly solo hiker, I learned a couple of things on today’s hike.  A trail that is easy for me to follow is not necessarily clear to other hikers.  For example, if I see random branches laid down across the trail, I know it’s a ‘heads up’ not to go that way.  Hikers new to NH trails will walk over them and keep going.   I also learned I need to look behind me more often to make sure fellow hikers are not far behind.  Although I stop and wait every 5 minutes or so, I should never let hikers get out of sight at any time (duh...Hiking 101).  After stopping on the trail and waiting a few minutes, I did not see or hear my friend and started to hike back up.  She was fine but there was a fork in the trail (I hadn’t noticed) and she didn’t know which way to turn.  I could tell she was a little shaken thinking she was going to get lost.  It was a very good lesson for me.

All and all, it was a great hike with great company, stunning blue skies and a beautiful summit.  

42 down 10 to go!

360 views on the South Moat Summit

The ERD and Copper at the bridge watercrossing

Pleurotus ostreatus - The Oyster Mushroom! Yum! I left some for the next hikers.
 They are on the left side of the temporary trail (left of the clearing) at  eye level. 

Views of Chocorua and the Sisters from the trail

Views from the trail

Hanumanasana on summit rocks

My daughter's friend, her dog Copper and my chihuahua the ERD

the ERD at the summit

Summit views! It was beautiful, but WINDY and cold :).  Not a day to bask on the rocks. 

EPUD (eka pada urdhva dhanurasana) on the summit rocks

grilled oyster mushrooms!

added to clam chowder 

Iron Mountain and South Cliffs - a short hike with banging views

Utthita Padangusthasana on South Cliffs

I thought about driving up the night before and car-camping at the trailhead, but after reading numerous posts about the ‘very narrow’ and ‘steep’ condition of Iron Mountain Road, I was really worried about travelling on it at night.  I decided to get up early and drive to the trailhead. I woke up to my alarm, grabbed my gear (and the trusty ERD) and was out of the house and ready for my 3 hour drive by 4:15AM.   

Iron Mountain Road was much better than expected.  It was a very well maintained, flat, smooth-graveled road.  Yes, the road is narrow but unless you are driving a Mack truck, it’s not going to be a problem.  I can see where it would be a little hairy if you need to pass someone; however, there are two pullout areas along the road and there are only a few occupied houses, so I don’t think passing cars is a frequent occurrence.   

If you are a fellow car-camper, the parking area is a nice (large enough for 4-5 cars), seemingly safe place to spend the night. You also have the bonus of waking up to an incredible view.  As I walked through the field to the trail I was surrounded by fall’s brilliant color palette, stunning mountain views and the earthy sweet smell of fading ferns.  It felt like I was walking through a Van Gogh painting. 

View in the field near the trailhead... a landscape waiting to be painted.

Many hiking logs indicate that the Iron Mountain Trail is a very eroded, steep trail.  One log said some hikers turned back because it was too difficult.  Yes the trail is eroded, but it isn’t a difficult trail.  Adding the South Cliffs without heading to the iron mines, the trail is only 3.2 miles round trip and 3.6 miles if you add the iron mines.  I didn’t feel it was too steep; any steep areas were offset by level ones.  I do recommend watching your step because of the numerous loose rocks now hidden under fallen leaves.  I would imagine in the spring with thawing snow and running water it would be quite an adventure to hike this trail.  I took photos of the trail, so you can judge for yourself.    

I-would rate this hike on the easy side of moderate.  I am not a trailblazing, red-lining, long distance hiker.  I am an intermediate, slow-paced, photo-taking, meandering-What’s book time?, kind of hiker.  So I was surprised at the ‘difficulty’ level most online logs rated this one.  White Mountain Guide 28th Edition, Suggested hikes section (pg 72),  contradicts this and gives it an Easy rating.

There are no blazes on the trail but the trail is easy to follow.  The fallen leaves bring peekaboo trail views along the way to the summit.  There are no views at the summit, just the remains of the old fire tower and piles of iron ore rocks (pretty cool).  There is a small handwritten sign pointing you in the direction of the south cliffs. 

Continue past the summit for .6 miles.  When you see a large boulder on the left of the trail you are about 5 minutes away.

Take a left where a small cairn marks the way.  This will lead you to the south cliffs rewarding you with sweeping, unobstructed mountain views.  Amazing views for such a short hike.  A highly recommended hike.

41 down, 11 to go.

The ERD scurrying around the ledges

Sweeping views and the ERD blending in with his surroundings

Foliage is not done yet!  Best colors I've seen in years!

Oh human...why must you take so many photos...

Sleepy Hanumanasana 

 

Bowing Hanumanasana

Remains of the old firetower at the summit of Iron mountain...no views but very interesting.

Piles of iron ore rocks all around

Lovely but inedible

Parking area for the trailhead.  Room for 4 or 5 cars.  My car (a Sequoia) on the left

Morning light on the South Cliffs

View coming down the trail back to the field to the car.

Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) also called moosewood.  (thanks Keith & Jon for the ID)

Trailhead sign at the parking area

View from the field walking back to the parking area

Along Iron Mountain Road near the trailhead.  I looked inside.  Strangely enough it looks like an old post office!

208 Iron Mountain Road - FOR SALE.  Interested?

Three Sisters Birthday Hike

 In a morning blur I woke up thinking I had nothing to do.  It’s Thursday.  I’ll take my daughter to school and crawl back into bed.  It’s raining, raining hard.  It’s cold.  Then I realize it’s not just a Thursday…it’s Thursday! I promised a ‘Happy Birthday’ hike for my friend Lisa.

I am always in for a hike but today was one of those cold, dark, rainy days where you want to curl up in a blanket by a blazing fire.  I pulled out my computer and checked the weather for Chocorua.  Mountain-forecast.com claimed sun and clouds, no rain.  I’ve been through this before – this proclamation of good weather.  I didn’t believe it.  So, I checked every weather forecast I could find online and all read, clouds and sun with warm temperatures.  I set off with the expectation that I may be in for another Paugus.  I picked up my friend (who was very excited about her birthday hike) and off we went.  

Magically the clouds pulled away as we pulled into the Piper parking lot.  The Gods are on my side today.

I had decided on Middle Sister since that was left undone when I hiked Chocorua with my husband in July.   I had read many logs about Piper and Carter Ledge so I chose a loop that went over the Three Sisters and captured the trails I wanted to hike.   Piper, Nickerson Ledge, Carter Ledge, Three Sisters and down Piper to the car. 

I couldn’t have chosen a better day or a better loop trail!

The trails were surprisingly dry.  All my weary ambivalence evaporated as I got above treeline on Carter Ledge.  I come alive on ledges.  I love letting my inner billy goat come out to play.  Whenever I can use my hands and feet, I know it’s going to be a great hike.  The ERD loves ledges and apparently he was letting his inner billy goat come out as well.  I had to help him up three steep ledges but other than that he leapt up the rest.  The ERD made my friend nervous as he darted up ledges and stood at the edge of cliffs surveying his surroundings. 

It’s an amazing trail but if you are nervous hiking ledges bring a friend who can help you get through it, or choose the less exciting, but very pretty trail, Champney Falls instead. 

We shared the summit with another couple who had hiked up Champney Falls.  We lingered hoping to have the summit to ourselves but they stayed and we had to accept the fact we had to share the summit.  

After an hour, we continued over the ridge to the Piper Trail.  The upper sections of Piper were a little wet but not slippery.  Below tree line there was a muddy section and some wet leaves, but they were easily avoided; the rocks on the trail were wet but not slippery. 

This 8.1 mile loop is well maintained.  There are some sections with missing or faded blazes but there are very clear trail signs (and God knows some signs are ambiguous at best!) making it easy to follow.   I would consider this a moderate level hike with killer views.   

This guy is here to greet you at the Piper Trailhead

 Leccinum, (the scaber stalks)

The ERD leading the pack

Lisa on the ledges

The ERD

Still a few black trumpet mushrooms around on the turnoff to Nickerson Ledge

Middle Sister Summit

Me standing on the edge

Chocorua views from Piper Trail

A beautiful hornworm

The ERD and Lisa on Middle Sister Summit

Lisa goofing around on the summit of Middle Sister

Lisa and I on the old fire tower on Middle Sister

Lisa and the summit invaders ;)  (they had it first - we were the invaders :))