Also on this trip

Trails Used

Bolles trail, Bushwhack, Bickford trail, Brook trail, Liberty trail, Westside trail, Piper trail, Middle Sister trail, Champney Falls cutoff, Champney Falls trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

A beautiful day with no wind and perfect temps to hang out on the summits. I only saw a handful of people out throughout the 13.5 miles and 4,100’. It took me 6 hours with long summit breaks. I hit the whack from the hol on Bolles and got lost in thick spruce, might not have found the jar without gps. Surprisingly nice views from ledges once I made my way there. Easier coming back. After summiting Chocorua I had planned to go down Beeline trail, but the top of Brook trail was indeed terrifying to think of descending, and there were passing showers in between sunshine. The rock was a bit slippery in the shade, but dry at the top. I decided to take Champney down, which I was able to run most of, it’s such a moderate grade. I stopped at Pitcher Falls too which was lovely.

Parking

Fee area but I have an annual pass.

Water Crossings

Too many to count. Two crossings on Bickford trail were tricky submerged rock hops, but I have long legs and I found a way without taking my boots off.

Wildlife

A few mosquitos, only noticed them in the parking lot.

Trails Used

Champney Brook Trail, Champney Falls Cut-Off, Piper Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Beautiful day on Chocorua. Probably goes without saying, but this route is 100% winter free at this point. Amazing how quickly everything is coming back to life!

Parking

A dozen cars when we got there at 8:30, full lot upon return at 1. Turns out there was a large group (maybe about 20?) that met up early in the morning which was the majority of the cars we saw upon arrival.

Water Crossings

All 3 were able to be rock-hopped without issue.

Wildlife

Very little bug activity, which was a very pleasant surprise.

Trails Used

Nickerson Ledge, Piper, Liberty, Hammond, Weetamoo

Trail Conditions

Notes

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-hampshire/mount-chocorua-loop-trail Everyone does Cohocorua via piper trail (guilty). But this loop trail was much less traveled and an excellent loop. Great views on the northern ridge section. I had never been by or seen Liberty cabin. Thats cool, worth checking out. Who knew? Brought microspikes. Didn't wear. Only lingering monorail was within .2mi section on the piper trail approaching summit north face. Easily sidestepped. Leave traction at home, for this trail.

Parking

Good shape. Sedan accessible.

Water Crossings

Only crossing of note was at bottom of Wetamoo where chocoura river crossing is. Easy to stay dry on obvious rock hops.

Wildlife

Not yet. Soon.

Trails Used

Bolles Trail, Bee Line Trail, Brook Trail, Liberty Trail, Piper Trail, Champney Falls Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

This was a long loop: South on Bolles Trail, up Bee Line Trail to Brook Trail, and down Champney Falls Trail. It was 10 miles round trip. There were patches of snow around the height of land on Bolles Trail. There was a bit of ice on Brook Trail, but the sketchy ledges were ice-free. The Chocorua summit area is also mostly free of ice. I didn't put on my spikes until I was descending Champney Falls Trail. There's a decent monorail from around 2500 feet to the top of Champney Falls Trail. Rock spikes are recommended. Chocorua was in and out of the clouds while I was up there. It was awesome watching the clouds race from Chocourua to Middle Sister, and there was no one else on the summit. That's a first for me.

Parking

Parked at the Champney Falls trailhead. The bathrooms were open.

Water Crossings

Bolles Trail crosses Twin Brook 10 times. Twin Brook was relatively high, but the crossings weren't too bad. Champney Falls Trail crosses Champney Brook twice. I got wet feet on one of those crossings. This time of year it's a good idea to have a plan B in case recent storms produce a dangerous amount of runoff. I didn't have to use plan B today, but you never know.

Trails Used

Champney Falls Trail, Piper Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Stacy and I ran back our “Meet me in the Woods” move and planned to meet at the Champney/Piper Junction. She came up Piper. I came up Champney, we hit the sign within 5 minutes of each other, military precision. Being that Champney is on the northern aspect I packed my spikes and was happy I did. Spotty snow/ice starting around 1400 feet and then just below the switchbacks around 2400 feet you will be dealing with it until treeline. I barebooted the whole way up, to the horror of my new friends Scott and Will. It was a fun game of hopscotch risk assessment. Jokes aside, there was zero chance I wasn’t putting spikes on for the descent. There’s a couple spots of slanted, hard water ice where you’d actually want a real crampon if you chose to stay right down the middle of the trail. So that being said, be mindful of where you are stepping, especially in Kathoola micros or rockspikes. Zero need for snowshoes, those can stay home. Great day out there sneaking some miles in before the rain. Stacy barebooted Piper both ways, though it sounded like she needed to make some careful steps in a few spots so it can’t hurt to have some traction in the bag.

Parking

Plenty of parking. Bathroom open. Bring $5.

Water Crossings

All 3 major crossings were hop-able. With a little thought you can mostly keep your feet dry.

Wildlife

A few ufos were buzzing around. We kept it Gen-Z casual and respected each other’s personal space without making eye contact or discussion.

Trails Used

Brook and Liberty

Trail Conditions

Notes

Just a few brief showers on this beautiful day with clouds below and views in all directions, including a domed cloud over Mt Washington. Wet ledges exciting to navigate. No videos were taken of creative ways down an exciting slab on Liberty Trail - frontal clinging, crouching tiger, butt slipping to name just a few in our group of six. While every type of trail condition was present - dry ground, mud, running water, ice, pockets of snow, all were easily navigated. The wet slabs were the sobering challenge of the day but we made it with dignity and all body parts intact.

Parking

Fine. Last mile of gravel road a bit rutted but passable by low car.

Water Crossings

Passable

Wildlife

Still snoozing

Trails Used

Champney Falls Trail, Piper Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Beautiful day for Chocorua. Woke up to barely an inch of fluff in Lincoln, which was a poor indicator of what had actually happened elsewhere overnight. Stacy and I had already planned to give the roads some time. Coming from different sides of the world, the plan was for me to ascend from my side on Champney and her to ascend from her side on Piper. We met at the junction within 3 minutes of each other, not too shabby. Trails had a fresh 4-6 with some ice hiding underneath which made for challenging footing. Snow was wet down low, less dense up high. People were in a mix of snowshoes and spikes, pick your poison as everything changes day to day at this point. To the best of my knowledge, Coach and one other guy barebooted Piper. On Champney there were 3 people in misery slippers and two of us in spikes. No tracks to Middle Sister or down the falls loop on my way out. Summit cone was drifty in some places, icy in others. When you come out of the trees make sure you go right. We met a guy retreating after a failed summit attempt, do not follow his tracks to the left. Offered to show him the way but he was cold, wet, and burned out from his adventure. Great chatting with Denny for a few minutes up on the summit.

Parking

Parking lot was already plowed at 930.

Water Crossings

All 3 crossings were rock-hopable

Wildlife

Nada