Middle Mountain, Peaked Mountain, NH, 04/20/07

[threecy]

Middle Mountain, Peaked Mountain, NH

Date Hiked: 04/20/07

Trails(s) Hiked: Middle Mountain Trail, Peaked Mountain Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Conditions: Mud, slush, deep snow

With winter apparently over, I took to the trails after work on Friday. Blue skies and 70 degree temperatures made for excellent hiking weather.

After finding the trail (the 'snow fence' description from the area brochure is key, as there are two trails that seem to depart from the kiosk), I started up a slightly muddy trail. A few hundred vertical feet up, things changed quickly - it was now winter and there was very little recent activity on the Middle Mountain trail. Wearing shorts and hiking boots, this was a wet experience - a few knee deep post holes (including a terrible one where the snow gave way into possible knee deep water - cold!). Lots of cursing aside, I was able to finally summit Middle Mountain and take in the views, ranging from southeast into Maine to west northwest toward Crawford Notch. Mt. Washington was also visible, through some trees.

Realizing I was about as wet as I could possibly be, I decided I didn't have much to lose, and thus ascended up the submerged Peaked Mountain Trail. Things dried out near the top (as there was too much snow to allow for pooled water), and the summit featured some nice cliff views in similar directions to those off Middle Mountain.

I then descended down the Peaked Mountain Trail - what a scenic trail! Though extremely wet, the views of the Presidentials almost made it worthwhile.

All in all, a very wet hike. I'm not planning to do this one again anytime soon - that is, until the snow melts and the trails dry up a bit. After that? Possibly a nice sunset hike.


Mt. Washington as seen from Middle Mountain