Bay Circuit Trail Sharon/Easton 03-19-2016

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE:     3/19/2016    

                          

TRIP LOCATION:         BCT (Bay Circuit Trail) Sharon/Easton

MEETING TIME:         9:30    

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):                     9

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    3:30

LENGTH IN MILES:     6.7/7.4 (see other comments)

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 707’

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

LEADER NAME(S):      Bob Vogel

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Nancy Coote/Joe Keogh

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: We met, and left most cars, at the Pocquanticut Ave. parking lot of the BCT. We then carpooled to Gorwin Drive, Sharon to start the hike.  (We also dropped Nancy’s car at Borderland.. ‘just in case.’)

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:         Y                TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 10 minutes

WAS TRIP WITHING WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  N

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: BCT, a bit of water on the Rockland Street Trail at Borderland, otherwise fine.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Upper 30s, great day for a hike.

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

We hiked 6.6 miles of the route, and circled up just before the cars. Someone asked “What about the bear cave?” CRAP! I had walked past and forgot to stop. L   Oh well, some didn’t care and left, those that wanted to see the bear cave walked back to it. Since we had finished the hike early the few more minutes didn’t matter.  We did the 6.7 miles in 3:07, for a 2.14 mph, including stops. (Excluding the two separate lunch stops we averaged 2.44 mph. We were truckin’)

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

WLBH 3-15-16

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-15-2016     

                                        

TRIP LOCATION:         Blue Hills Reservation – Little Blue Hill

MEETING TIME:         10:30 am  

     

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         14

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    1 hour 30 mins

LENGTH IN MILES:     3.4 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 500 feet

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

LEADER NAME(S):      Paul Brookes, Cathy MacCurtain

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Pat Acorn

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: RT 138 Park N Ride in Canton

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:

Today was the last hike of the White Line the Blue Hills series (a 13-week series running from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox).  We did a shorter hike in the Little Blue Hill section of the reservation then the group went to the Hillside Pub for lunch and drinks. 

During lunch we celebrated a couple of accomplishments handing out Red Lining Patches to Pete Tierney for completing his first White Lining series (he began last year) and Bob Jabaily for being the second ever person to complete White Lining in one season.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Overcast but dry, mid 30’s.

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

The White Lining Series was well enjoyed and attracted a number of new people that had not hiked with SEM before. 

Winter Hiking Series Carter Notch Overnight Trip - March 4-6, 2016

TRIP DATE:      March 4-6, 2016                                

TRIP LOCATION: Carter Notch, Carter Dome, Wildcat A and B                   

MEETING TIME:  10:45 am                

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 11       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): app. 3.5 hours into the AMC Carter Hut 

LENGTH IN MILES:  3.8 miles each way on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail (plus 2.4 mi. r.t. for Carter Dome hike or app. 4 mi. r.t. for Wildcat A/B hike)         

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): app. 1,900 feet into hut (plus app. 1,550 feet for Carter Dome hike or app. 1,400 feet for Wilecat A/B hike)

DIFFICULTY:   ranged from “average” on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to “strenuous” on Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails due to steepness and icy conditons

LEADER NAME(S): Paul Miller, Maureen Kelly, Wayne Anderson, Mike Woessner, Dexter Robinson

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Barry Young, Paul Brookes, Peggy Qvicklund

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Parked at Nineteen Mile Brook Trail trailhead on Rte. 16, one mile north of Mt. Washington Auto Rd.  Pay box was covered, so we didn’t have to insert usual WMNF use fee

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:  Nineteen Mile Brook Trail mostly snow covered with a few icy spots, requiring microspikes; Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails very icy, requiring full crampons with front points

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Very nice sunny and clear winter weather with daytime temps in the 20s and 30s and nighttime temps in the single digits and teens.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) – Wonderful views from the summits of Carter Dome and Wildcat A.  Very challenging conditions on both Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails kept groups from continuing on to Mt. Hight and Wildcat D, respectively.

 

Mt. Kearsarge North Hike 3-12-2016

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-12-2016

TRIP LOCATION: Mt. Kearsarge North, Intervale, NH

MEETING TIME:  9:15 am

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 6

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 4 1/2 hrs. .

LENGTH IN MILES: ~ 4.5

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):  ~2000 - 2200’ .

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

LEADER NAME(S): Leslie Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Ken Carson

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Mt. Kearsarge North Trailhead 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 hiked the  Mt. Kearsarge North trail and the trail was mostly bare with some spots of ice and snow. We used microspikes for the entire hike because of the icy/snowy patches. We hiked approximately 3/4 of the way up the trail, beyond the ledges; however, we encountered significant slick solid ice across the entire trail  for quite a distance and decided to turn around because of insecure traction. All the other people we encountered hiking that day in microspikes also decided to turn around at that point as the trail was too treacherous.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: A beautiful clear, sunny day with temps in the high 40’s - lower 50’s. Not a cloud in the sky - views were great from the ledges.

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

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

WLBH 3-8-2016

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-08-2016     

                                        

TRIP LOCATION:         Blue Hills – White Line the Blue Hills Series, Woodland through Hike  

    

MEETING TIME:         10:00 am    

   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         17

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    3 hrs 50 mins

LENGTH IN MILES:     7.1 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 500 feet

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

LEADER NAME(S):      Paul Brookes, Cathy MacCurtain

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Pat Acorn

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: North Parking Lot, Trailside Museum RT 138

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        Yes                 TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 30 mins

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?         No

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Today’s hike which was part of the White Line The Blue Hills series was a woodland through hike from Shea Ice Rink to the Trailside Museum on RT138, not summiting any of the hills we kept to the valleys and lowlands.  It was nice to get a sense for the length of a large section of the Blue Hills by doing it as a through hike.  The day was perfect, with bright Sun and warm weather and the group enjoyed the hike a lot.  I mentioned I was planning a spring woodland through-hike from Shea to the very end by Fowl Meadow and many in the group expressed an interest in doing this.

When we arrived back at our cars, Len gave another reminder that his Spring Conditioning series begins the week after the White Line Series completes. A number of people from the White Lining series have signed up for his series which his great.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Clear skies, bright sunshine and mid 50’s.

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

WLBH 3-1-16

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: 03-01-2016     

                                        

TRIP LOCATION:         Blue Hills – Buck and Tucker Hills  

        

MEETING TIME:         10:30 am    

   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         19

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):    3 hrs  45 mins

LENGTH IN MILES:     5.6 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 496 feet

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

LEADER NAME(S):      Paul Brookes, Cathy MacCurtain

CO-LEADER NAME(S):            Pat Acorn

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Houghton’s Pond Parking Lot

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:

Today’s hike was from Houghton’s Pond to the top of Buck hill using some of the less know trails.  We had lunch at the top of Buck, basking in the bright sunshine and warmer weather.  We descended Buck on a new trail that was built by FOBH and NIMBA.  Before starting down, we circled up and Dexter gave us a fascinating background on the construction of the trail.  As we headed down I pointed out some interesting multiple-trunked trees (evidence of prior fire?), later Bob Vogel showed us two trees that had grown together and spliced and become one.  Quite the Show and Tell.  Everyone was into the hike and having a good time.  Next we climbed Tucker Hill before heading back to our cars.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Clear skies, bright sun and low 40’s.

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

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