Mount Chocorua, NH, 11/22/06

threecy · Nov 25, 2006, 7:22 PM

Mt. Chocorua, NH, Three Sisters, NH

Date Hiked: 11/22/06

Trails(s) Hiked: Champney Falls Trail, Middle Sister Trail

Total Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Conditions: Sunny

Special Required Equipment: None

We embarked on our first hiking venture in the White Mountains via the Champney Falls Trail. Intending to summit with minimal crowds, we bypassed the falls and Three Sisters range and went straight to the Chocorua summit. Surprisingly, there wasn't a single person in sight.

After looking at the panoramic views on Chocorua, we went over each of the Three Sisters. We then took a very icy Champney Falls Cut Off trail back to the Champney Falls Trail, and then detoured down to the Champney and Pitcher Falls.

Looking north from the Mount Chocorua summit

Looking north from what I assume to be called Third Sister (northeast of Middle Sister)

**Mike P.** · Nov 27, 2006, 11:16 AM

Thanks for sharing, looks like no snow of very little anywhere to be found too.

**MichaelJ** · Nov 27, 2006, 12:18 PM

What a *wonderful* choice for your first foray into the Whites! That's a great route up Chocorua, and not nearly as heavily used as those trails from the east side; a good choice.

Was Pitcher Falls running? It's so wild to walk into that tiny box canyon up there!

threecy · Nov 27, 2006, 1:11 PM

Ya, the only snow visible was on Mt. Washington (and just patches). There was considerable ice on the Champney Falls Trail (wish I had crampons, but I don't do enough winter hiking to bother getting them yet).

Pitcher Falls was running, however the rocks across the brook were covered in ice, so I didn't dare to get too close.

It's a nice trail, however I must say that after Champney Falls on the return trip, it felt like it went on forever!

**MichaelJ** · Nov 27, 2006, 6:16 PM

LoL! Next thing to try is a hike that involves finishing on the Wilderness/Lincoln Woods trail. There's several miles of straight and flat to totally numb the brain at the end of the day!

threecy · Nov 27, 2006, 8:14 PM

For me, the two ultimates thus far have been the return hikes on my Mt. Ellen and Saddle Ball-Greylock hikes - 8.5 & 7.5 mile return trips, about as exciting as a Laverne and Shirley Marathon.

**MichaelJ** · Nov 28, 2006, 6:21 AM

I've done the out-and-back to Ellen from Lincoln Gap so I can commiserate. Two weekends ago I was up there again, but fortunately we had a car spotted and did it as a through-hike from Lincoln Gap to App Gap. Not much to see after it got dark, but still far, far, better and more fun than turning around.

threecy · Nov 28, 2006, 7:00 AM

Ya, I hear ya...I did the return trip from Ellen to the App Gap and it just wouldn't end! The advantage of Chocorua is that it's all down hill - the LT from Ellen is up and down many times.

Nov 25, 2006, 7:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 891	Mount Chocorua, NH, 11/22/06 Mt. Chocorua, NH, Three Sisters, NH Date Hiked: 11/22/06 Trails(s) Hiked: Champney Falls Trail, Middle Sister Trail Total Distance: 9 miles Difficulty: Difficult Conditions: Sunny Special Required Equipment: None We embarked on our first hiking venture in the White Mountains via the Champney Falls Trail. Intending to summit with minimal crowds, we bypassed the falls and Three Sisters range and went straight to the Chocorua summit. Surprisingly, there wasn't a single person in sight. After looking at the panoramic views on Chocorua, we went over each of the Three Sisters. We then took a very icy Champney Falls Cut Off trail back to the Champney Falls Trail, and then detoured down to the Champney and Pitcher Falls. Looking north from the Mount Chocorua summit Looking north from what I assume to be called Third Sister (northeast of Middle Sister)

Nov 27, 2006, 11:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mike P. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: CT Posts: 1,482	Thanks for sharing, looks like no snow of very little anywhere to be found too. __________________ Happy Trails, be safe & Good Luck Mike P.

Nov 27, 2006, 12:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,072	What a wonderful choice for your first foray into the Whites! That's a great route up Chocorua, and not nearly as heavily used as those trails from the east side; a good choice. Was Pitcher Falls running? It's so wild to walk into that tiny box canyon up there! __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Nov 27, 2006, 6:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,072	LoL! Next thing to try is a hike that involves finishing on the Wilderness/Lincoln Woods trail. There's several miles of straight and flat to totally numb the brain at the end of the day! __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Nov 28, 2006, 6:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
MichaelJ Flags on the 48 Mt. Isolation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Watch City Posts: 2,072	I've done the out-and-back to Ellen from Lincoln Gap so I can commiserate. Two weekends ago I was up there again, but fortunately we had a car spotted and did it as a through-hike from Lincoln Gap to App Gap. Not much to see after it got dark, but still far, far, better and more fun than turning around. __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry 21 days '07–'08 … bring on the '08–'09 season!

Nov 27, 2006, 1:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 891	Ya, the only snow visible was on Mt. Washington (and just patches). There was considerable ice on the Champney Falls Trail (wish I had crampons, but I don't do enough winter hiking to bother getting them yet). Pitcher Falls was running, however the rocks across the brook were covered in ice, so I didn't dare to get too close. It's a nice trail, however I must say that after Champney Falls on the return trip, it felt like it went on forever!

Nov 27, 2006, 8:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 891	For me, the two ultimates thus far have been the return hikes on my Mt. Ellen and Saddle Ball-Greylock hikes - 8.5 & 7.5 mile return trips, about as exciting as a Laverne and Shirley Marathon.

Nov 28, 2006, 7:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 891	Ya, I hear ya...I did the return trip from Ellen to the App Gap and it just wouldn't end! The advantage of Chocorua is that it's all down hill - the LT from Ellen is up and down many times.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode