July 15, 2025 - Liberty and Flume

Taking advantage of the relative cool early morning woods, seven of the A group, plus two starting later, headed up the paved bike path from near the Flume Gorge, to the start of the Liberty Spring Trail. This trail is fairly easy hiking at first, but after climbing gradually for over a mile it goes up a steeper, boulder strewn section that seems never to end. Finally, we came to the Liberty Spring tent site, a good place to pause. A notice posted by the site caretaker said that there was a "bear incident" at 4:25 that morning! It was not specific as to the nature of the "incident" and we hoped it wasn't a camper dragged off and not his package of Hostess Twinkies. Then it was on and up to the Franconia Ridge, and the final 0.3 mile ascent to the top of Mt Liberty (4459 ft). Following a short snack break, we took the ridge trail the 1.2 mile descent/ascent to Mt Flume (4328 ft), where we had lunch. Partly due to the high humidity and partly due to lingering smoke from the western Canada wildfires, the views weren't their normally stunning panoramas. Still, being up on a high ridge always is impressive.

Then it was time to begin the return trek, off the Flume summit, over and finally back up to just below the top of Liberty, then to the top of the Liberty Spring Trail. That boulder-strewn next mile was slow-going, and all of us were glad to be off that part and back to a more easily traveled trail. It was interesting to note the several large groups of young folks (camp groups?) heading up toward both peaks, plus one that we let pass as they headed down, at a pace we older hikers may remember being able to do when we were that young. 

We had advanced warning from Pam and Doug, who were down well in advance of us, that they had encountered a bear on the trail, a short way up from the bike path. They backtracked and took an alternate route the remainder of the way to the bike path. It was some time before the rest of us got that far, so we stayed on the trail, keeping our eyes out as we descended. No Yogi for us. Having that 0.7 mile return trip along the bike path and back to the cars behind us was a relief. It had been a long day in warmth and humidity (per Alltrails, that was 9.4 miles, 4143 ft elevation gain.)

Below are Pat, Barbara, Marie, Jane, Michele, and David at the bridge on the bike path early in the hike (pic by Dick). I don't think we looked that fresh at the end.

 

 On July 15, the Turtles offered two different hiking options.

One group hiked to Crockett's Ledges at Hamlin-Eames-Smyth Recreation Area in Meredith:

Irena, Jane, Jorge, Mary, Christine

And they saw a turtle on the trail -- very appropriate! 

The other group hiked the Morgan-Percival trail.  (And they did see a sign for Turtle Crossing!)

Chris, Brian, Lorraine, Karen

 On July 8, the Turtles hiked the Rattlesnakes in Holderness.  One group hiked to the top of West Rattlesnake and back down, while the other group took the Ridge Trail to East Rattlesnake.

Ritva, Nancy, Lisa, Karen, Mary M, Mary D, Lorraine, Tracy, Jorge, Brian

A lovely view, as always!

B group hikes Mt. Roberts, July 3rd, 2025

The hike up Mount Roberts started well with some hazy views. As we got closer to the summit , dark clouds approached and we could hear some thunder. We made the decision to head back down. 
The photo shows everyone smiling despite not reaching the summit, being soaked through by the rain, and taking a wrong turn. All in need of a hot shower and a hot drink.
A tribute to the fortitude and patience of hikers. 

From Left to Right: Hilary, Anne, Donna, Katherine, Jean, David, Susan, and Mel


 

North & Middle Tripyramid - June 30, 2025

 A good number of us bagged North and Middle Tripyramid, on the ridge at the east side of Waterville Valley. The day gave us full sun, although we were deep in the trees for nearly all of the hike. We took a window in the weather with the temperature warm and humidity not too bad, for summer, although this was definitely a shorts hike. We (Pat, Marie, my son David, and I) went up from the Kanc, taking the Pine Bend Brook Trail up to the ridge. Just below the north peak, we met Larry, who had gone up the same trail, starting an hour ahead of us. Over at the middle peak, we encountered Doug, Pam, and Kit, who had gone up via the Sabbaday Brook Trail, which tops out at the col between the two peaks. Then it was back over the ridge to the north peak and down Pine Bend. The toughest parts of this route are the steeps going down from the north peak and then lower, down the steep head of the ravine just above the Sandwich Wilderness boundary, a considerable stretch over damp, slippery, partially or totally moss-covered boulders. Fortunately, the last two miles or more, below the boundary, are very easy and quickly covered. All told, for our part of the group, the outing took eight and a half hours, covering 9.6 miles with over 3400 feet of elevation gain, a nice hike but one to have behind us.

Below, at the middle peak, are Pat, Marie (standing above Pat), Dick, Pam, Doug, and Kit (pic by David).