Jimmy Legs and Little d
03-01-2009, 06:17 PM
Our winter vacation began with our first time hike to Mount Hedgehog which is located off the Kancamagus Highway. The temperature at the beginning was 15 degrees at our starting time of 10:00am.
The trailhead can be found down a short road opposite the Passaconaway Campground.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog1.jpg
We took the Downes Brook Trail .2 miles to the junction of the UNH trail.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog2.jpg
Following the loop clockwise to the East Ledges we encountered moderate grades and an unbroken trail.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog3.jpg
At our first viewpoint a fellow hiker named Ebenezer approached from the rear, thanking us for breaking the trail and offering to go ahead of us to return the favor.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog4.jpg
Around 11:30am we reached the East ledges where we saw Mount Chocoura off in the distance.
The view was hazy, but sunny.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog5.jpg
Following the trail broken out by Ebenezer, we continued crossing open ledges with views.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog6.jpg
A short time later we were met by a lady with her dog named Ginger. She asked if it was OK to hike with us since she didn't want to put on her wooden snow shoes.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog7.jpg
Kathy who was from Maine had just bought the "jacket" for Ginger who felt it uncomfortable and would find anything or anybody to scratch herself on, including between Little d's legs.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog8.jpg
Kathy offered to take our picture with Chocorua in the background.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog9.jpg
From this spot we also could see Mount Passaconaway.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog10.jpg
Continuing on we could see another set of ledges.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog11.jpg
The trail looped around via switchbacks where we encountered drifts several feet high.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog12.jpg
Finally reaching the upper ledges and the summit of Mount Hedgehog, we could see the path we had just taken below as well as commanding views of Chocorua.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog13.jpg
Continuing on we eventually reached Allen's ledge, where we could see a broken trail in the valley with Bear Mountain in the distance. Also, we could see additional views of Mount Chocorua.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog14.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog15.jpg
In all it took us four and a half leisurely hours to complete our first snowshoe hike of the season.
The trailhead can be found down a short road opposite the Passaconaway Campground.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog1.jpg
We took the Downes Brook Trail .2 miles to the junction of the UNH trail.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog2.jpg
Following the loop clockwise to the East Ledges we encountered moderate grades and an unbroken trail.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog3.jpg
At our first viewpoint a fellow hiker named Ebenezer approached from the rear, thanking us for breaking the trail and offering to go ahead of us to return the favor.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog4.jpg
Around 11:30am we reached the East ledges where we saw Mount Chocoura off in the distance.
The view was hazy, but sunny.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog5.jpg
Following the trail broken out by Ebenezer, we continued crossing open ledges with views.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog6.jpg
A short time later we were met by a lady with her dog named Ginger. She asked if it was OK to hike with us since she didn't want to put on her wooden snow shoes.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog7.jpg
Kathy who was from Maine had just bought the "jacket" for Ginger who felt it uncomfortable and would find anything or anybody to scratch herself on, including between Little d's legs.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog8.jpg
Kathy offered to take our picture with Chocorua in the background.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog9.jpg
From this spot we also could see Mount Passaconaway.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog10.jpg
Continuing on we could see another set of ledges.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog11.jpg
The trail looped around via switchbacks where we encountered drifts several feet high.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog12.jpg
Finally reaching the upper ledges and the summit of Mount Hedgehog, we could see the path we had just taken below as well as commanding views of Chocorua.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog13.jpg
Continuing on we eventually reached Allen's ledge, where we could see a broken trail in the valley with Bear Mountain in the distance. Also, we could see additional views of Mount Chocorua.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog14.jpg
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/jimmylegsandlittled/Hedgehog15.jpg
In all it took us four and a half leisurely hours to complete our first snowshoe hike of the season.