Trip/Event Location: Lincoln/North Conway, NHUS
Trip Leader(s): Gandalf , JDNnh
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Views/lunch from East Ledges, main summit, Allen's Ledge and deep snow covered spruce forests in between!
Hoping this will a butt surfing hike - pray for some snow! The hike is moderate but the
From the east, turn off NH 16 in Conway onto the Kancamagus Highway [NH 112] and drive about 14.3 miles. From the west on I-93, take Exit 32 in Lincoln and drive about 21.8 miles on the Kancamagus.
You'll see a sign for the turn to the trailheads on the south side of the highway: the Downes Brook, UNH, and Mount Potash trails. Turn here and drive in to the large parking area. We'll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.
Hedgehog Mountain (2,532 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,400 ft
Trails: UNH
Distance: 4.7 miles roundtrip
Duration: 4 hours (includes stops for breaks along the trail, at the east ledge and at the summit)
Difficulty: Moderate
Another “NH 52 with a View”! And views gay-lore! Such a beautiful trail with a moderate ascent and stunning views that rewarded us today! Phil and Kevin met us at the parking lot. The skies were mostly cloudy with a high ceiling, but the sun did occasionally make an appearance.
After everyone arrived we started around 10:45AM. The trail was broken but soft so Jon, Phil and I used snowshoes. Kevin opted for MicroSpikes and was fine overall; but he did posthole a few times.
We hiked this loop trail clockwise. The trail grade was fairly gradual and constant for the first 2 miles, then it narrowed and emerged onto the east ledges. We stopped for a lunch here for about 20 minutes enjoying the stunning views south and east, with an impressive view of nearby Mt. Passaconaway! Phil’s quads were bothering him all day and knowing there was still a bit more to climb, he decided it was best for him to turn around. After our ledge lunch we started up to the summit.
I am always impressed with the many ledges as we approached the summit. Nearby ledges on the summit provided views in most directions. After the summit, we took a short spur trail on the left to an outlook with views to the west. Right before we descended, we saw an awesome view of snow-capped Mt. Washington!
On the descent, there were a couple of steep pitches where we enjoyed a bit of butt sliding.
Jon and I were eager to go on this hike since the last hike we planned I had to cancel because I came down with the flu. It felt great to get out and hike with Phil and Kevin as well. It felt great to be outdoors, hiking in snow, and surrounded by good company and the beautiful New Hampshire White Mountains!
Mike and Jon
Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
