Sunday, October 4, 2015

Blueberry & Speckled Mtn. hike at Chapter Hut Weekend

TRIP DATE:  09/19/15

TRIP LOCATION:  Blueberry and Speckled Mountains in Evans Notch                     
MEETING TIME:         met at 9:15 a.m. in front of Conant Lodge at Cold River Camp for the short carpooled ride to the Brickett Place trailhead three miles up the road in Evans Notch.                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 12 (including 5 from Blueberry Mountain-only contingent

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       app. 6 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      app. 8.5 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    app. 2,000 feet

DIFFICULTY:       B/C –semi-strenuous              (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Paul Miller & Eva Borsody Das

CO-LEADER NAME(S):   Sandy Santilli

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

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?    Yes   
IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Hiked Bicknell Ridge Trail as short distance to Blueberry Ridge Trail, which we took up over Blueberry Mountain to rejoin with Bicknell Ridge Trail, which we took up to the summit of Speckled Mtn.  Returned to cars via Bicknell Ridge Trail.  All trails were in very good condition with a very minor blowdown on the Blueberry Ridge Trail

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:   Mostly sunny and warm, but fairly humid, with a light breeze in exposed places.
OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.): Excellent near-360-degree views from the summit of Speckled Mtn, with some “teaser” views on exposed ledges on the way up to the summit.  As John mentioned in his earlier post, the trip up to Blueberry Mtn. involves a few fairly steep scrambles, which while fun, can be a bit challenging for newer hikers.  This group didn’t seem to have any problems or complaints.  Also, hitting Blueberry first is definitely the best way to do this loop hike, since it gets the more challenging scrambles out of the way on the way up, and is a very easy hike down on the relatively gentle and civilized Bicknell Brook Trail (which used to serve as an access road to the former fire tower on the summit of Speckled. Mtn.

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