Take a Hike, Fat Man text and photography by Kevin Davis 38 Kearsarge Magazine Fall 2013 kearsargemagazine.com
You may think that hiking over mountains and through the forests sounds a bit daunting, but if you can walk, you can hike. And hiking is not only a great way to get outdoors and enjoy all the wonders of Mother Nature, it can also be a great way to shape up and lose weight. In fact, I ve done just that, losing 30 pounds over the course of the last year just by getting up and going for a walk in the woods, hence the title of this article. It is up to you how easy or how difficult your hiking adventure will be. You may decide that a simple stroll along an abandoned rail trail is all the adventure you re suited for, and, if so, you ll find no shortage of such trails in the area. Or you may decide that you want to challenge yourself and start bagging peaks of the highest mountains around. Either way there are a few precautions you ll want to take before heading out. First of all, make sure to tell someone else where you re going and when you expect to return. Hopefully there won t be a need to send out a search and rescue party to find you but, just in case, they ll know where to start looking. It is also a good idea to bring along a water bottle even if it s just a short hike. For longer hikes you may want to consider a comfortable backpack that can accommodate more water and perhaps a sandwich or a snack. Having a map and compass and knowing how to use them is a must if you re planning to go traipsing through the deep woods. There are many smart phone apps available that can map your progress, but keep in mind that cell coverage may be weak or even nonexistent depending on how far out in the woods you are. Relying on just your smart phone may not work out the way you hoped. Writer and photographer Kevin Davis at the top of Mount Kearsarge It s also a blog! You may think the title of this article is offensive, but it s meant in good humor. It s also the title of Kevin Davis blog, which you can find at http://takeahikefatman. wordpress.com/ A view from the summit of Mount Sunapee starts at the lake and ends at the White Mountains. kearsargemagazine.com Fall 2013 Kearsarge Magazine 39
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A panoramic view of Cole Pond Other items that may come in handy on the trail are a flashlight, sunscreen, bug spray, a First Aid kit, and perhaps a sweatshirt or jacket. Keep in mind that Mother Nature s conditions can change rapidly, even more so as you increase your elevation, so you ll want to be prepared in case the weather takes a turn for the worse. Now that you re ready to go, here are four places to try. #1 Mount Sunapee Hike Where: Newbury, N.H. Length: Up to 6.5 miles, depending on your course Difficulty: Multiple routes ranging from easy to moderate to difficult The summit of Mount Sunapee, elevation 2,743 feet, can be reached via any of the ski trails or via the Summit Trail, all of which are accessed from the Sunapee Lodge at the base of the mountain. At various times throughout the summer and fall the chairlifts are open for those who want a leisurely ride to the summit. Once you get there you can find several trails that make for short day hikes that offer some great views. For those who want the full experience of hiking up the mountain via the SRKG trail (see sidebar Left: The setting sun makes the colors glow along the trail to the summit of Mount Sunapee. on page 40), park your car at the Newbury Post Office and retail lot on NH Route 103. From there, walk west on Route 103 for a short distance, turn left at Newbury Heights, then turn right onto Lakeview Avenue and see the trail sign on the right. The Newbury Trail ascends 1.3 miles through a hardwood forest before meeting the Rim Trail. Turning left the SRKG will ascend a stone stairway cut into the hillside and then arrive at a viewpoint at the South Peak that looks out upon Lake Sunapee. On a clear day the views extend all the way to the White Mountains in the north. Continuing on past the South Peak, the Newbury Trail will merge in with the Solitude Trail to take you to the summit. Along the way be sure to stop off at White Ledges cliff, which provides a stunning overlook of Lake Solitude. Once you ve crested the summit, the Summit Trail will lead all the way down to the lodge. The SRKG actually branches off the left of the Summit Trail before you reach the lodge and comes out onto Old Province Road in Goshen, a total distance of 5.4 miles from where you began. An alternative route to the summit can be found by following the Andrew Brook Trail. This Road, south of Newbury Harbor off of Route 103. #2 Cole Pond Hike Where: Enfield, N.H. Length: 1 mile Difficulty: Easy For those who want a relaxing walk in the woods with a stunning view as an end reward, look no further than the trail to Cole Pond in Enfield, N.H. The trailhead is located off of Bog Road; just look for the N.H. Fish and Game sign that marks the access to the trail. Cole Pond is managed by the N.H. Fish and Game Department as a remote access trout pond, and is a part of the larger Henry Laramie Wildlife Management Area. This 17-acre body of water is stocked every summer with trout via a helicopter, as there is no vehicle-accessible road to the pond. If you want to try your hand at fly fishing there s no better place to do it than here. If fishing doesn t interest you, the peaceful serenity this deep woods pond offers is a sheer delight. The trail is just a little over a mile long from Bog Road to the southern edge of the pond. It is a gradual climb and you may experience some muddy spots as it passes through boggy areas, but all in all trailhead is found off of Mountain it is an easy hike that anyone kearsargemagazine.com Fall 2013 Kearsarge Magazine 41
Hello, Vermont! A view from the summit of Mount Kearsarge can do. More adventurous souls may want to explore the shoreline of the pond. There is an old stone chimney, the only remnant of an old cabin that has been reclaimed by the forest. You may also find an old canoe or two along the shore, no doubt dragged here by an ardent fisherman in the not-too-distant past. #3 Mount Kearsarge Hike Where: Warner and Wilmot, N.H. Length: 1.1 miles to 5.8 miles, depending on your course Difficulty: Multiple routes ranging from easy to moderate to difficult At an elevation of 2,937 feet, the views from the peak of Mount Kearsarge are some of the absolute best in our region. The 360-degree views extend all the way to Massachusetts, Vermont, and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 75 miles of SRKG Here in the Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee area, we are blessed with an abundance of great hiking trails. There is an interconnected trail system comprised of 14 different sections that stretches 75 miles and completely encircles the town of New London known as the Sunapee-Ragged- Kearsarge Greenway, or SRKG for short. The trails that form the Greenway are a fantastic way to get out and see our beautiful landscapes and scenic vistas. Some of the trails are leisurely strolls down old logging roads that wind through the forest, while others are considerably more strenuous and cross over some of the highest peaks of our region. As the name implies, the SRKG crosses the summits of Sunapee, Ragged and Kearsarge Mountains, and these sections afford magnificent views of the area. Kevin s hiking gear, ready to hit the trail 42 Kearsarge Magazine Fall 2013 kearsargemagazine.com
full SRKG experience have two options for beginning their trek. They can opt to park at the northern trailhead, located in the parking area of Winslow State Park, or they can park their car at the southern trailhead on Kearsarge Valley Road, just south of the golf course. The SRKG follows the Barlow Trail up to the summit and then descends along the Lincoln Trail. This section of the SRKG covers a distance of 5.8 miles and will take most hikers at least four hours to complete. The Link Trail on the way to the summit of Mount Kearsarge #4 Little Mount Washington Hike Where: Grantham, N.H. Length: 3.65 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Hikers looking for a secret, hidden spot in the woods should seek out Grantham s own Little Mount Washington. Though not nearly as big or as famous as its giant namesake to the north, this little gem of a cliff offers some stunning views in a 180-degree arc from Mount Kearsarge in the south to Mount Moosilauke in the north. The trailhead can be accessed at the end of Miller Pond Road in Grantham. The trail starts out as a Class VI logging road that climbs a steep hill about a There are a few different options for getting up to the summit. The easiest option is to drive up the auto road to the picnic area in Rollins State Park. From here is a half-mile walk up the Rollins Trail to the summit, climbing 300 vertical feet along the way. For those feeling a little more adventurous, park your car in the Winslow State Park and begin your ascent on the Winslow Trail, which will be marked with red blazes. This route climbs 1,100 vertical feet over the course of its 1.1 mile length. Once you ve reached the summit you can descend via the same trail, or you can opt to follow the Barlow Trail back down to the parking lot in Winslow Park. The Barlow Trail, marked with yellow blazes, is a more gradual trail, covering the distance in 1.7 miles while offering vistas of Andover, Ragged Mountain and Cardigan Mountain along the way. Hikers who are looking for the Looking for relaxation? Relief from chronic pain? Where healing happens Deborah Bermacchia, RN, LMT, is a Kriya massage therapist offering massage (including hot stone and aromatherapy), reiki treatments, foot rejuvenation, and a mobile massage service. Complex trigger point and deep tissue therapies available for people with chronic pain. Newbury Harbor Plaza, 976 Route 103 Unit #9, Newbury (603) 763-6163 www.sunapeelakemassage.com kearsargemagazine.com Fall 2013 Kearsarge Magazine 43
The Best Team in Town... Not the Biggest... Simply the Best Looking for your own place? We can help! Residential Land & Farms Waterfront P.O. Box 67, 224 Main Street New London, NH 03257 www.cbmilestone.com info@cbmilestone.com (603) 526-4116 Vacation Milestone Real Estate Casual Dining Inside and Out! Call 526-6040 n Fine dining and casual fare n Club Memberships available n Weddings, Reunions, Parties n Golf, Pool, and Tennis n Lunch & Dinner / 7 days/wk n 18-hole Donald Ross course www.lakesunapeecc.com Relaxed, affordable, everyone welcome! Exit 11, I-89 off Rte 11 New London, NH The summit view rolling hills and orange/ brown foliage from Little Mount Washington in Grantham, N.H. quarter of a mile before arriving at an area in the woods known as Grantham Four Corners. This spot is the intersection of two Class VI roads with a warming hut maintained by the Blue Mountain Snow Dusters club on the northeast corner. From here you ll turn right and head north. The trail is wide and relatively smooth, cutting directly through the Grantham Town Forest. After passing by Chase Pond on the left, the trail turns up a steep, grassy hill to the right. The trail bends to the right at the top of the hill and there in the trees you will see a couple of small, hard-to-spot signs, pointing toward a scenic overlook. Follow this narrow trail through the woods about a quarter of a mile before coming to a rocky outcropping that offers some magnificent views of the valley below. Kevin Davis lives in Grantham with his lovely wife and two teenage children. Look for him out on the trail and say hello. He ll be easy to spot because of the huge pack on his back filled with all of the stuff his wife and kids brought along but didn t want to carry. You can find more of Kevin s work by visiting www.kevindavisphotos.com 44 Kearsarge Magazine Fall 2013 kearsargemagazine.com