I sometimes think the best part of hiking the eastern White Mtns is the drive through Chatham and Stowe. Fifteen-odd miles of broad farmland with views stretching out over now plowed-under fields, ringed by a wall of mountains: Eastman, Baldface, Meader, Royce, and more. Many of the homes are old farmsteads, weathered, a bit worn around the edges, but still showing the clean lines that only come from homes that were also homesteads.
Today's hike was Eastman Mtn. Really more a shoulder of Baldface Mtn than an honest peak, Eastman is not quite 3,000 feet. I came in from the eastern end of the Slippery Brook Trail; an in-and-out hike. I had hiked the western end of the trail, off of Baldface Knob, some years ago as part of a three-day loop through the Wild River area.
Like yesterday, the ground was covered with an inch or so of crusted snow, more at elevation. The trail leaves from the Baldface Circle Trail, not far from Emerald Pool.
Most of the initial mile and one-half or so is gradual, taking advantage of an old logging road that weaves through dense hemlocks. While the final mile accounts for close to 1,000 feet in gain, even then the trail is wide, dry, and not too rocky. Not only is it a pleasure to hike, but some Chatham Trails Association volunteer had been through in the last 48 hours to clear out any wind-fallen branches. Don't cha' just love trail volunteers?
Once on the ridge that comes off of Baldface Knob, the Slippery Brook trail drops down off the other side at the connector with the Baldface Knob Trail and the Eastman Mtn Trail.
It's an easy walk down the Eastman Mtn Trail to the summit cone, mostly through open birch and viburnum woods. At one point, my Springer Spaniel, Riley, kept stopping and looking up the trail. At first, I thought he had sensed a coyote or fox. But then, once I reached him, a partridge boomed out of a nearby tree. Lesson learned: trust the bird-dog.
The final 300 feet of elevation gain to Eastman's summit is a series of small climbs, with only a couple of ledges to go over. While no means difficult, Eastman does afford some great views--both down into the notch and over to the Wild River wilderness range. Doublehead Mtn, which from Jackson looks like a perfect 'matching set', has a decidedly less-even look from its backside. And Chandler and Sable Mtns, two trail-less peaks I've yet to climb, loomed considerably larger, no doubt due to their proximity.
Perhaps most visible though, directly to the north, was old Baldy, with all of its ledges dusted in white, framed by gray skies, and looking vaguely menacing. Winter hiking can do that to you.
Perhaps most visible though, directly to the north, was old Baldy, with all of its ledges dusted in white, framed by gray skies, and looking vaguely menacing. Winter hiking can do that to you.
A hike near Baldface is not complete without a stop at Emerald Pool. Years ago, I helped lead a group of campers--all boys about 12 years old--on a summer camping trip in this area. We stopped at Emerald Pool after hiking nearby. Even in the height of August, it took some time before they braved the cold water, but soon the bolder boys were jumping off rocks and swimming under the falls. How many children these days get to experience an honest-to-goodness swimming hole?
I was curious to see how the pool would look today on this sunless November afternoon. While the granite slabs and surrounding spruce seemed almost black against the snow's whites and grays, the pool itself still held a glimmer of its famous summer sparkle. Here's a photo and later sketch:
I was curious to see how the pool would look today on this sunless November afternoon. While the granite slabs and surrounding spruce seemed almost black against the snow's whites and grays, the pool itself still held a glimmer of its famous summer sparkle. Here's a photo and later sketch:
Like so many of the hikes I've recently done, there's a sweetness to these smaller, lesser-known trails; an incomparable sense of solitude, views the outperform the effort, and winding drives that alone make it worth the effort.
Total miles for day: 8.25
Miles completed today towards redlining goal: 3.40
Total miles completed towards redlining goal: 579.40
Miles remaining to hike all WMNF trails: 841.4
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