Shell Pond Loop - Cold River Camp

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 9-19-15

TRIP LOCATION: Shell Pond Loop, Evans Notch, NH - Chapter Hut Weekend

MEETING TIME: 9:30 am

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 9

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  3 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES: 5.2 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): No elevation gain

DIFFICULTY:    Easy                            (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Leslie Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Stone House Road parking lot

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   No                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

We drove to the Stone House Road parking lot and hiked .5 miles up the road past the Stone House to the Shell Pond Trail loop (east). We hiked around Shell Pond clockwise with beautiful views of the pond and the Baldface mountains, passing some beaver lodges. Very little wildlife seen, but very peaceful. We returned to the parking lot and most people opted to walk back to Cold River Camp via the Leach Link trail which meanders beside Cold River. We ate lunch alongside the river.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: The weather was perfect for this hike - dry and sunny.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) - A wonderful flat, easy hike that suited the participants.

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Mt. Moriah

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: September 19, 2015

TRIP LOCATION: Mt. Moriah, Gorham, NH - Chapter Hut Weekend

MEETING TIME: 8:30 am

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 7

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  7.5 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES: 9.2 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 4049 ft.

DIFFICULTY:      Strenuous                             (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Maureen Kelly

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Ken Carson

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Bangor Rd. Gorham, NH, limited parking

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    No               TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Carter-Moriah Trail took us directly to the summit passing over Mt. Surprise. Weather conditions were great with both trails and rock ledges we encountered dry.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: 

At the beginning of the hike, the temperature was 56 degrees, sunny, with no wind. By the end of the hike, it was 72 degrees, sunny with low humidity.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

The views on Mt. Surprise and at Moriah’s summit were excellent. Great trip and everyone seemed to enjoy the hike. Most important, Peggy Qvicklund finished her 48th 4K Footers on this hike.

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Photo by Ken Carson

South and North Baldface Mts.

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 9-18-15

TRIP LOCATION: South and North Baldface Mts., Evans Notch, NH

MEETING TIME: 8:30 am

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 13

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  8 hrs. 15 min.

LENGTH IN MILES: 9.8 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 3603 ft.

DIFFICULTY:     Stenuous                              (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Leslie Carson, Eva Borsody Das

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: None

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   No                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Trails hiked were the Baldface Circle Trail to Bicknell Ridge Trail off of North Baldface returning to the Baldface Circle Trail then back to Cold River Camp.

Trails were dry, but steep going up South Baldface. Lots of rock scrambling, requiring hands-on maneuvers. Some steep areas going up North Baldface summit and descending. This hike should not be attempted in wet conditions because of the steep areas.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: The weather was perfect for this hike - dry and sunny, but a little too warm. Many people went through lots of water and electrolytes.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) - Great views all around!

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Photo by Ken Carson

RLBH, West St. September 10, 2015

AMC SEM Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 09-10-2015               

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills   

MEETING TIME:     5:45 pm   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):        9

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    1hr 5 min

LENGTH IN MILES:     1.73 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     178 feet

DIFFICULTY:            C                       (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):     Joe Keogh, Paul Brookes

CO-LEADER NAME(S):    Jerry Yos

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    West St.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: N/A

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Flat short hike for the end of the regular season. We were able to bushwhack the trail parallel to I-93, although it has grown over quite a bit since last year.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Wet overcast, light rain at times.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

RLBH, September 3, 2015, Chickatawbut

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 09-03-2015               

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills   

MEETING TIME:     5:45 pm   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):        18

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    2 hrs

LENGTH IN MILES:     2.96 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     1768 feet

DIFFICULTY:            B                       (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):     Paul Brookes

CO-LEADER NAME(S):    Jerry Yos

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    DCR parking, Chickatawbut Overlook pull-off.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: N/A

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Very hilly hike with multiple ups and downs of Chickatawbut Hill but everyone did well.  Peter Tierney completed his first round of Red Lining and brought celebratory cookies to share, which the group enjoyed when we stopped for a separation break.  After the final climb of Chickatawbut we put on our headlamps for the descent back to the cars as twilight was falling.  I decided to not do a couple of smaller trails and we descended on broad trails returning to the parking lot about 20 minutes after dark.  We had a new hiker this week and I noticed many people in the group went out of their way to make her feel welcome and explain how Red Lining works which was great.    

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Dry but humid, clear conditions, High 70’s

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

RLBH, August 27, 2015 Quarries

AMC SEM POST-HIKE TRIP REPORT

TRIP DATE:         August 27, 2015   

TRIP LOCATION:    Blue Hills Reservation   

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  No

MEETING TIME:     5:45 PM   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):    20

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    1 Hour 32 Minutes

LENGTH IN MILES:     3.1

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):     336

DIFFICULTY:        C                           (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Michael Swartz, Joe Keogh, Paul Brookes

CO-LEADER NAME(S):, Jerry Yos

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Quarries parking lot

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      no                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?      No

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Clear skies, cool

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.

Email to: hikingchair@amcsem.org and Cc hikingvicechair@amcsem.org