Temps in the Whites

David Metsky · Jul 24, 2006, 7:48 PM

It'll pretty hard to find a reasonable place to camp on the Welch-Dickey Loop. If you want to camp in the woods you're much better off on Sandwich Dome, but you'll want to set up camp down low. Keep in mind that you'll be in the Wilderness Area so camping must be 200' from any trail, no cutting of standing wood of any kind, LNT is encouraged.

Frankly, with newbies I'd much prefer camping at one of the NF campgrounds in the WV area and dayhiking. In my experience they will enjoy it much more that way. The WV campgrounds are generally very nice. I'd avoid Tripoli Road camping, it can get wild and woolly on a Sat night but the others are fine.

Another option would be to come in from the other side and set up camp at Flat Mountain Pond, to the south of Sandwich Dome. There's a shelter there that doesn't get much use. Another option is Three Ponds shelter. Nice secluded camping area near the shelter, ponds to observe and explore a bit, you can cook and hang around the shelter before retiring to your tents for the night.

-dave-

ctenidae · Jul 24, 2006, 8:09 PM

Thanks, Dave. We've actually been to Tripoli Road once- it was raining off and on and was pretty miserable. Plus, it was crowded, with people constantly walking through. Something I want to avoid.

We've also been to Three Ponds. It was very bugy, and pretty swampy all around the area. With the rain we've had, I imagine it's pretty wet out there. I'd have been fine out there myself, but the wife likes certain comforts (the zipper on the noseeum fly broke when the dog tried to go outside in the middle of the night, so I spent the night being awakened by my wife swatting bugs and the dog freaking out at the bugs. I really should hike by myself more often.)

Sandwich Dome looks pretty good. How's Algonquin Trail? AMC guide says it's pretty steep and rocky. Seems like the ledges at Black Mountain would be good views, then head down Black Mountain Pond Trail and run across grade towards the Mary Cary Falls to camp, or possibly the site of the old shelter at Black Mountain Pond? Would summiting Sandwich Dome be feasible for people who are in reasonably good shape, if inexperienced?

ga2ski · Jul 25, 2006, 8:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Metsky

Another option would be to come in from the other side and set up camp at Flat Mountain Pond

Flat Mountain Pond is a great shelter, but can be a long hike out is the shelter is full... . I hiked there in college and the shelter was full. Lucky for us the 10 MTBers that were there were cool and let us steal some dirt outside of the shelter.

David Metsky · Jul 25, 2006, 10:26 AM

Algonquin is very nice, the ledges do offer great views but there is a bit of scrambling. Here's a trip report from a loop I did a few years ago.

Again, the problem will be finding a legal and good camping spot near water.

-dave-

ctenidae · Jul 25, 2006, 10:36 AM

Again, the problem will be finding a legal and good camping spot near water.

The old shelter site at Black Moutnain Pond is, at least according to AMC, out of the widlerness area. I'd rather not be too close to water, but if the shelter site is still flattened, it may be a good spot.

David Metsky · Jul 25, 2006, 3:07 PM

Black Mountain Pond shelter is still there, as far as I know. As is Flat Mountain Pond Shelter. The three shelters removed in that area are Camps Rich, Heermance, and Shehadi. Camping by the shelter will be fine, it's camping up on the Algonquin trail that I think would be difficult.

-dave-

skibum · Jul 25, 2006, 3:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctenidae

Anybody walked the Smart Brook Trail off 49 in NH? It joins with the Sandwich Mountain trail at the end. AMC guide says it's 3.5 hours to the junction, which with this crowd would probably be more like 6, so we're definately not going up that far.

Hiked it earlier this year. I didn't make it to the top, but wasn't really planning to anyway. Lower portion is very heavily traveled by locals out for a stroll with the dog. Upper portion was getting very overgrown, had to push away many branches and brush in spots. Not many views, I turned around at a stream crossing where I could see ledges above that I considered out of reach with the amount of daylight I had left.
Smart's Brook Gorge is definitely worth seeing along with the old foundations and abandoned cemetary along Old Waterville Road.

Bob R · Jul 25, 2006, 3:25 PM

Props to David here.

I was just poking around doing some searches here and yes elsewhere. The most intersting and well explained info all led back to you.
Moose (new poster) uses you info as well. Reading on passconoway most recently. Back to high jacking other threads.

**MichaelJ** · Jul 26, 2006, 8:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga2ski

Flat Mountain Pond is a great shelter, but can be a long hike out is the shelter is full... . I hiked there in college and the shelter was full. Lucky for us the 10 MTBers that were there were cool and let us steal some dirt outside of the shelter.

There's a very large, grassy lawn to the side of the lean-to where you could put quite a few tents, a few right up next to the shelter and a lot further down low. See my pics here and [url=http://hiking.saletnik.org/gallery/flat-mountain-pond/dcp_0049[/url].

It's a gorgeous spot. You're sure to see or hear moose in the pond in the early morning or late evening.

Jul 25, 2006, 3:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
Bob R Sunday River Feb 27 2008 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashua NH, Campton NH, Sunday River Posts: 7,021	Props to David here. I was just poking around doing some searches here and yes elsewhere. The most intersting and well explained info all led back to you. Moose (new poster) uses you info as well. Reading on passconoway most recently. Back to high jacking other threads. __________________ Skiing is my addiction. Need a condo in the southern White mountain region?. http://nh.craigslist.org:80/apa/895368489.html

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Jul 24, 2006, 7:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
David Metsky Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 565	It'll pretty hard to find a reasonable place to camp on the Welch-Dickey Loop. If you want to camp in the woods you're much better off on Sandwich Dome, but you'll want to set up camp down low. Keep in mind that you'll be in the Wilderness Area so camping must be 200' from any trail, no cutting of standing wood of any kind, LNT is encouraged. Frankly, with newbies I'd much prefer camping at one of the NF campgrounds in the WV area and dayhiking. In my experience they will enjoy it much more that way. The WV campgrounds are generally very nice. I'd avoid Tripoli Road camping, it can get wild and woolly on a Sat night but the others are fine. Another option would be to come in from the other side and set up camp at Flat Mountain Pond, to the south of Sandwich Dome. There's a shelter there that doesn't get much use. Another option is Three Ponds shelter. Nice secluded camping area near the shelter, ponds to observe and explore a bit, you can cook and hang around the shelter before retiring to your tents for the night. -dave-

Jul 24, 2006, 8:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
ctenidae Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 4,936	Thanks, Dave. We've actually been to Tripoli Road once- it was raining off and on and was pretty miserable. Plus, it was crowded, with people constantly walking through. Something I want to avoid. We've also been to Three Ponds. It was very bugy, and pretty swampy all around the area. With the rain we've had, I imagine it's pretty wet out there. I'd have been fine out there myself, but the wife likes certain comforts (the zipper on the noseeum fly broke when the dog tried to go outside in the middle of the night, so I spent the night being awakened by my wife swatting bugs and the dog freaking out at the bugs. I really should hike by myself more often.) Sandwich Dome looks pretty good. How's Algonquin Trail? AMC guide says it's pretty steep and rocky. Seems like the ledges at Black Mountain would be good views, then head down Black Mountain Pond Trail and run across grade towards the Mary Cary Falls to camp, or possibly the site of the old shelter at Black Mountain Pond? Would summiting Sandwich Dome be feasible for people who are in reasonably good shape, if inexperienced?

Jul 25, 2006, 10:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
David Metsky Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 565	Algonquin is very nice, the ledges do offer great views but there is a bit of scrambling. Here's a trip report from a loop I did a few years ago. Again, the problem will be finding a legal and good camping spot near water. -dave-

Jul 25, 2006, 10:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
ctenidae Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 4,936	Again, the problem will be finding a legal and good camping spot near water. The old shelter site at Black Moutnain Pond is, at least according to AMC, out of the widlerness area. I'd rather not be too close to water, but if the shelter site is still flattened, it may be a good spot.

Jul 25, 2006, 3:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
David Metsky Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 565	Black Mountain Pond shelter is still there, as far as I know. As is Flat Mountain Pond Shelter. The three shelters removed in that area are Camps Rich, Heermance, and Shehadi. Camping by the shelter will be fine, it's camping up on the Algonquin trail that I think would be difficult. -dave-