Also on this trip

Trails Used

Sandwich Mountain Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

A FINE day in the forest was had. Winter is working its way down into the valleys. Powdered sugar snow above 2500', full coverage at 3990. The sun made an appearance on our way out, so it's likely melted. It's also 21 degrees as of this writing (sunday AM) so it may be ice now. Trail is in great shape throughout but this time of year with wet rocks, roots, and leaves, and temperatures around 32, a gentle reminder that everything, and I mean everything, wants to hurt you. At no point did I think spikes would be helpful on this trek. We are still in the awkward teenager phase of getting into winter. We opted to return the way we came instead of dropping down into Drakes Brook due to the sun coming out and we had some "snowliage" as the youth call it. Colors along the mad river in the valley are still quite nice, but we are well past. Some brilliant sugar maples and red oaks still offering pops of colors among the stick season views (Along with the beeches, some of those things are stage five clingers and drop super late)

Parking

One car at start, about ten upon return

Water Crossings

The initial crossing at Drakes Brook (near the power lines) was fine, even with the 2.5" of rain received. We did plan to walk to the road and walk on the other side of the culvert to avoid crossing (In your guide book!) but not needed

Trails Used

Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Bennett St Trail, Gleason Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

I went up Bennett St Trail to the summit. I was also on Bennett St Trail for most of the descent, but I took a detour to the short remaining section of Gleason Trail (0.5 miles). The upper part of Gleason Trail is officially closed. It was a beautiful autumn day in the woods. The view from the summit was spectacular. Waterville Valley and beyond are approaching peak foliage. Suprisingly, the Squam Lakes area still has lots of green. So, I don't think the southern White Mountain region is at peak yet. Safety Note: When I was starting my hike, two trucks arrived with hunters and several bear dogs. It's bear season until November 10 and of course there are overlapping seasons for deer and other game. It's time to think about wearing bright colors in the woods.

Parking

Parked in the lot at the end of Bennett St.

Water Crossings

A few easy crossings at the moment.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Guinea Pond Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Algonquin Trail, Road walk

Trail Conditions

Notes

Up Guinea Pond Trail, left on Black Mtn Pond Trail, up and down Algonquin Trail, and a short road walk back to the car. This route is very gradual for the first four miles or so (to Black Mountain Pond). Then it gets your attention by climbing the ledges south of Black Mountain (1000 feet in 0.8 miles). As you climb, the views from the ledges get progressively better. I enjoyed lunch from one of the ledges just below the intersection with Algonquin Trail. From that intersection to Sandwich Dome, Algonquin Trail is a 1.7 mile ridge walk, mostly in the trees with minor ups and downs. Below the intersection with Black Mountain Pond Trail, Algonquin Trail is very steep and scrambly. It makes for a slow descent, but it is a lot of fun. (I learned after the hike that Algonquin is one of the electives on the T25 list.) After the steep bits, Algonquin trail is a more gradual descent to Sandwich Notch Rd. Obviously, most people climb Sandwich Dome from the north. If you are looking for a bigger challenge, I definitely recommend this route. It features a beautiful Black Mountain Pond, varied terrain, and countless views. Despite the reputation for being notoriously wet in the Guinea Pond and Black Mountain Pond areas, take plenty of water. I didn't find any water flowing fast enough to put through a filter.

Parking

Plenty of parking off Sandwich Notch Rd, just north of the Guinea Pond trailhead.

Water Crossings

All crossings are very low.

Wildlife

Almost none.

Trails Used

Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Algonquin Trail was quite spectacular. Soft underfoot in the trees, challenging and picturesque on the ledges. This route would probably be used more if it wasn't for the 3.6-mile drive to the trailhead from Waterville on rough Sandwich Notch Road. But highly recommended. Great views south and west.

Parking

Room for two cars at trailhead. Room for two more cars just south and across the road.

Water Crossings

One crossing early on was barely flowing.

Wildlife

Slight wind kept the away amidst the humidity.

Trails Used

Flat Mountain Pond Trail, Guinea Pond Trail, Guinea Pond Side Path, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Mary Cary Falls Spur, Algonquin Trail, Bennett Street Trail, Gleason Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

I was very surprised to only see 4 people today! There was a nice breeze keeping it cool all day, and the visibility was excellent. Guinea Pond trail follows the site of the Beebe River Logging Railroad, so it is very straight and flat, but it goes through a lot of marshy area and has been flooded a lot. I managed to stay dry and avoid the mud, but there was a lot of wetness throughout this trail. While not dancing around the mud, it is a smooth and peaceful walk through the forest. I also enjoyed the marsh scenery, even if it was overtaking the trail in parts. Since it is so wide and flat it isn't hard to follow, expect for the flooded area. Guinea Pond Side path has flooded. Unlike the flooded section on Guinea Pond trail, there are very few logs. I got about halfway into the flooded area with some careful route finding and balancing, but with the trail under feet of water decided I had done the extent of remaining trail. Black Mountain Pond trail is amazing and an absolute hidden gem. I love that trail and it is one of my favorites, possibly even my #1 favorite trail. It is similar to Blueberry Ledge trail, but has more rock scrambles, very similar exceptional views, and Black Mountain Pond is a very pretty pond. I imagine this trail isn't used a lot, but is still relatively easy to follow. Mary Cary Falls was small, but maybe earlier in the spring with higher water levels it was larger. Bennett Street trail was in excellent shape, and appears to get more traffic than I was expecting. It was very steady and granted a pretty smooth descent.

Parking

There was one car at 8:00 and 3 at 2:00. The Bennett Street parking lot is big and doesn't seem likely to fill up. Bennett Street switches to dirt about 1 mile from the trailhead, and about a half mile out splits into the residential street and the street that goes to the trailhead. This last half mile is pretty rugged, my small SUV with 6" of ground clearance made it, but I wouldn't want to it with a lower sedan. The other cars in the lot had higher ground clearances than my car.

Water Crossings

All crossing were either easy to rock hop or shallow enough that I could walk through EXCEPT on Guinea Pond trail there is a section where the trail has been flooded about 3 miles or so from the Bennett Street trailhead. There are enough logs perfectly placed so it is possible to get across, but it requires some balancing. I managed to keep my feet dry all day.

Wildlife

I put on bug spray somewhat preemptively and they actually were not as bad as I was expecting. There were a lot flying around at the summit of Sandwich Dome, but they didn't appear to be biting.

Trails Used

Sandwich and Drake’s Brook

Trail Conditions

Notes

Fabulous hike.

Parking

Good parking

Water Crossings

Drakes Brook is swift and fast. 28 inches of water crossing it. Wading through it. Poles are a must. There is no rock hopping. But water was not cold.

Wildlife

None of any significance

Trails Used

Sandwich and Drake’s Brook

Trail Conditions

Notes

Fabulous hike.

Parking

Good parking

Water Crossings

Drakes Brook is swift and fast. 28 inches of water crossing it. Wading through it. Poles are a must. There is no rock hopping. But water was not cold.

Wildlife

None of any significance

Trails Used

Bennett Street Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

The trail was dry down low. I first encountered snow/ice on the upper portion of the logging road section at about 2900 feet. From there, patches and short stretches appeared intermittently - some just a few feet long, others as much as 20-30 yards. Some were avoidable by walking the dry edge, but some were not circumnavigable, so I carefully walked the hard-packed middle, which is still discernible for the most part. My micro-spikes stayed in the backpack. In the early going, the crossing of Pond Brook is poorly marked. You have to look for two small cairns on the FAR side of the stream. If you miss it, you'll wander up a herd path for a hundred yards before it peters out, and it dawns on you that you must have missed the crossing. Of course, you might be more perceptive than I was. In general, the trail could use a few more blue paint markers. There are a couple of ash trees in the first part of the trail that are sad examples of the infestation of the emerald ash borer. Look for the extreme 'blonding' of the bark. It was a quiet day. I saw no one all day.

Parking

Big, empty lot

Water Crossings

Streams are seasonally high, but no problems crossing.

Wildlife

A few just emerging and floating around trying to figure out what to do. No bites yet.

Trails Used

Flat Mtn Pond Trail, Bennett Street Trail, Gleason Trail, Jose's Bridge

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

There is still a lot of snow. Almost enough to wear snow shoes, but not quite. So we sank...a lot. There are many crossings, and all were doable, but in the next two weeks I suspect the flooding from the snow melt might change that. Until mid-April, do yourself a favor and hike elsewhere until the trails melt off and the water levels go down.

Parking

The final half mile or so of Bennett Street is now plowed.

Water Crossings

Crossings were signficant. I would avoid anything on this route until mid-April,since there is significant snow and the ice bridges will be non-existent