Trip/Event Location: Waterville Valley, NHUS
Trip Leader(s): JPHiker
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate
On the southern edge of NH's White Mountains, the Welch-Dickey trail is among the first to be clear of snow in the spring. It is also among the most popular trail in the Whites due to its
We will meet at the trailhead parking lot. Directions are as follows: Take I-93 exit 28 [Campton/Waterville Valley] and go east on Rt. 49, the Mad River Road. Approximately 4.5 miles after the intersection with Rt. 175 (the Campton dam & traffic light), turn left onto Upper Mad River road. In 0.7 mile turn right onto Orris Rd., there should be a Welch-Dickey hiker's sign there directing you to turn right, so you can't miss it. Drive another 0.6 mile to the parking lot on your right. I drive a gray Toyota Rav4, which is NOT a chick car...
We set out to do a traditional Spring warm-up hike on the always popular Welch-Dickey Trail only to be greeted with Summer like conditions. Eight GO members quickly discarded the cold weather gear, and set off in bright blue skies, with temperatures in the high 70's. In other words, weather more typical for July or August. Even the water in the stream was down to levels usually seen in Summer. We all thought that if these conditions persist, we are in for quite a drought this Summer. In any event, we did not complain at the current conditions, and enjoyed the opportunity to linger at some of the scenic ledges on this trail. As always, this was a great group of guys, and the conversation ranged from the sublime (the architectural wonders of Gaudí's Sagrada Familia) to the....well, you know, it is a gay group.
After the hike some of us went over to the Sunset Grill, and hung-out at the outdoor back porch. It was indeed a great Summer day outing.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate
