Trail head: Off the Kancamagus Hwy
Mileage: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,400
Season: Winter
Difficulty: Easy, more moderate in winter conditions
Wildlife/Scenery: not much wildlife, great open views at the top, freshly fallen snow on the trails
The Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire is one of the more scenic highways to take a drive down at any time of the year. My original intention and goal for awhile has been to tackle Moat Mountain. But this one seems to be better kept for a summer or fall hike as the trail head is harder to get to in the wintertime. Some of the trail heads had not been plowed after some freshly fallen snow had accumulated, so the plan was to inquire as to what was open at the visitor center and drive along the highway and pick a trail. The visitor center is a worthy stop to add on. They have a nice selection of tales of adventure and peril in the white mountains. I picked up this read below that gives an account of three days and two nights on Mount Washington in the mid-1800's when clear cut trails didn't exist. A time of true exploration and adventure. A time without visitor centers to provide direction.
Three Days on the White Mountains
"I was now to enter upon a new experience, - a kind I had never known before. I was then, in reality, to spend a night upon the dreary mountains. I will not ask anyone to imagine what my feelings were. Let them endeavor, for a moment, when they retire to their couch at night, to form an idea of them; and let me hope that they may never have similar experience. A dark, wild and scraggy mountain, a howling, pitiless storm of hail and snow, clouds above and clouds beneath, no food, no drink, with a bed of ice and a rock for a pillow, and five thousand feet above any human habitation! Here, shivering and chattering, I went to my dreary covert, not to sleep and rest, but to await in suspense the coming of another day." pg 31
"All this time, my mind, though oppressed with the constant cravings for sleep, remained not inactive.....I thought of our own family, at the hour of midnight, quietly sleeping within their warm houses, and little dreaming that one of their number, at the same time, was lying upon the cold side of a mountain. I thought of each of my friends and acquaintances, all of whom, I knew, would so gladly offer me a part of their accomodations, could they be made aware of my exposed situation. But I was happy in the belief that they were enjoying a warm shelter in their own quiet homes; and then I doubted not that there were others, in a more suffering condition than myself, - as Sir John Franklin and party, in the polar sea, soldiers in the Crimea, with shattered limb and mangled bodies, subjected to the severest exposures."... pg 32
-Dr. B.L. Ball - October 1856
But fear not, the experience on Mount Potash was nothing of the sort! It was a beautiful day with clear skies, albeit dreadfully cold if not dressed in appropriate attire for a winter climb. I had about 4-5 top layers on as well as 2 bottom layers, knee high gaitors, gloves, hat and waterproof hiking boots. I invested in a pair of gaitors while on my trip to Colorado and it has been one of my best investments yet for winter hiking. CO also has an amazing outdoors store called Jax, that has everything an outdoors person could desire, with separate sections for clothing, hunting and fishing. If in the area, I highly recommend a stop over there. I've never seen a store like it in the East.
Back to the Kanc Highway; it is a beautiful drive to take, even if not hiking for the day. There are a few scenic pullovers you can stop at to take in the scenery.
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| View from the Highway |
After some scenic breaks, we ventured onto the trailhead. We were the only ones there for the day. This seems to be one of the lesser traveled trails in the area. Maybe because it is not a 4,000 footer, but it rewards with just as amazing views as any other peak. Sometimes the lesser traveled is the most treasured route. It offers the most peace and solitude if that is what you are seeking for the day.
The trail starts on the Downes Brook trail for .3 miles which is pretty much flat. The snow really made for a gorgeous walk through the woods and in some ways it is more beautiful than any other time of the year.
Soon you will reach the junction where the 1.9 mile trail up to Mount Potash begins.
The trail is still not too strenuous. There is a river or stream you must cross that is pretty wide and in the wintery cold conditions it is hard to tell what is solid enough to step on. It was at the first crossing that we encountered the first and only other hikers we saw on the trail that day. Two hikers caught up to us as we stood pondering how to cross the water without falling in. They ultimately turned back and forfeited the hike. We decided to forge ahead and got by without getting our feet wet.
After a little bit of a climb, we came to our first viewpoint that we thought may have been the summit. Alas it was one of those false summits, we found as we kept going.
Once we did reach the summit on a steady climb, there were amazing views all around! We stayed for a few minutes to snack and take in the view, then headed back down as it became cold when standing still for too long.
On the way back down I gratefully took in the last views we had of the snow covered forest. It is such a beautiful place to be in. We finished about a half hour before sunset and it turns out that it seems we were the only ones up to the summit that day, and hence the last ones to summit Mount Potash for the 2013 year. It was a great way to end the year.
With the snow on the ground, our mileage per hour was quite slow and I believe the hike took us about 4 hours. (I'm the slow one). Here is the gps map from the hike, although there was a short distance from the summit in which I forgot to turn the app back on which is what I believe the yellow line is. The mileage also seems to be off, as the hike is just 4.4 miles. Not sure what happened there! I also learned on this hike how quickly cold temperatures drain a battery! Both the camera and phone batteries were almost empty by the time we returned to the car.
After the hike, we found a place to eat with really great food. I highly recommend it. I will definitiely be adding this as a stop on my thru-hike. They even have a beer on the menu just for thru-hikers that come by.
http://www.woodstockinnnh.com/
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| This ravioli was amazing! |
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| As well as this mac n cheese! |
Recommended Place to Stay:
Green Village Cabins These are small cabins for rent along the river. Although they are right off the highway, once inside you don't really know you are so close to the road. It feels as if you are home and some of the cabins have nice back window views.
Links:
The Kanc
Another hiker's account of this hike:
Blog
Music:
Happy Trails
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