[at-l] Trip Report: Columbus weekend - #5 Mount Kearsarge

[papabear.nyc at verizon.net (Papa Bear)]

Mount Kearsarge - October 12, 2003

It took about an hour to drive from Cardigan down to Kearsarge.  Basically, I returned to Canaan and went down Route 4 to West Andover and then took 4A to Route 11 and took the Old Winslow Road and followed the signs up to the state park.  The nice lady at the gate gave me a map after I paid the $3 fee, and she suggested I take the Winslow Trail up ("short and steep"), and the Barlow Trail down ("Longer, less steep")  I mentioned I had been to Monadnock on Friday and she said "We only have 2 trails, not four hundred like Monadnock".  So her route suggestion made sense to me.  With just two trails, you take one up, one down. :)

The weather had clouded over and a few sprinkles had hit the windshield as I was coming down Route 4.  This was the first mountain all weekend so far when the weather was less than perfect.  But this did not keep the tourists away: the lot had plenty of cars and there were families with kids all around. A few were starting up their barbeques and others were lounging under the picnic shelter.

I was off hiking on the Winslow Trail by 11:25 AM and the usual pattern of gentle then rocky terrain held true.  It was a short ascent with not much to speak about till I got near the top.  It was crowded however: I counted 43 coming down as I went up and 8 going up that I passed.  The lookout tower at the top was uncommonly ugly: it had huge microwave dishes on it's sides for some type of communication system.  Check the picture: http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_NEFF_Kearsarge/aae, I'm sure you'll agree.

I wasn't sure where the high point was: first I thought it was the base of the tower but finally I decided it was a rock ledge to one side.  I got someone to take my picture and then climbed the tower. It was actually open (the only one all weekend) and the fire warden was there doing his thing. He had set up a little string to separate his space from the tourists' space. He was happy because he said tomorrow was the last day of the season so he'd be done till next Spring.  There were nice views in several directions, particularly Bradley Lake to the north-east and a view of what I think was I-89 to the south.

The sprinkles started coming down again so I started down the Barlow Trail.  This was actually more interesting then the Winslow Trail. It wasn't so much less steep, but it went over rock slabs rather than just rocks and had more views. I prefer the slabs and views to the rocks.

Kearsarge was a short and easy hike, it was a bit crowded and the weather was a bit inclement, but nevertheless it was not a bad mountain.  On a blue sky day with no one else around it would be rather charming.

I was back to the car at 1:30 PM.  Some of the people were scurrying around to get away from the sprinkles and others were working on lunch.  I got driving, first back to Route 11 and then over to I-89 which I took back to Lebanon and then got Route 120 up to Hanover.  I had a nice shower and a nap and then a birthday dinner at Barry's and finally I saw the excellent documentary on Katahdin at the ALDHA Gathering.  A good day and a nice way to celebrate my birthday.  Climb a mountain!  Climb two!

Mount Kearsarge, Warner, Wilmot,Andover and Salisbury, New Hampshire 
No. 38 of the New England Fifty Finest
Elevation: 2920', prominence: 2100' 
Trails: Winslow Trail up, Barlow Trail down 
Distance hiked: 4 miles, elevation gain: 1225'

Resources:
Trail guide: AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide (1999)
Topozone: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=43.38333&lon=-71.8575&s=50&layer=DRG25&size=l&u=0
DeLorme New Hampshire Atlas and Gazetteer (2001), page 34

Photos: http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_NE_FF
 
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