+ x NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GUIDE INCLUDING ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR SURVIVAL BY MARIA SUTRYN Copyright © 2014 by Maria Sutryn Dedication All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic For my family or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief Thank you for giving me passages embodied in critical articles or in a review. so many opportunities to love the outdoors. Printed in the United States of America. 2 3 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION In New Hampshire there are a variety of different activities to do, from hiking, kayaking, Introduction................................................................................................................................... 5 swimming and camping. New Hampshire is an ideal choice for your northeast hiking vaca- Map Index...................................................................................................................................... 6 tion. More than 500,000 people visit New Hampshire to hike every year. With the right trail, Section the right gear, and some of the most majestic views in the US, hiking in New Hampshire is 1. Kayaking................................................................................................................................... 7 sure to be a most memorable experience. 2. Hiking....................................................................................................................................... 11 3. Camping.................................................................................................................................... 20 There can be nothing better than being alone with nature. From the Great North Woods, to 4. Survival...................................................................................................................................... 27 the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, and beyond – New Hampshire camping is a great way to vacation. Summer in New Hampshire means classic family vacations, time together enjoying the beach, canoeing on the lakes or roasting marshmallows around the campfire. With hundreds of lakes, ponds, and rivers, New Hampshire is a boaters’ paradise. Summer residents usually get their boats in the water by mid June and enjoy the season until October. To make the activities more enjoyable, don’t skimp on buying: 1) Comfortable & well-fitting footwear 2) Warm sleeping gear Doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money, but don’t go with low quality/low perfor- mance. Blistered feet and a shivering night’s sleep will turn you off to the whole outdoor adventure quicker than just about anything. You can get by with an inexpensive pack, an economy tent or tarp, a simple foam pad, inexpensive water bottles, etc. But you need to treat your feet with respect and sleep warm. LEAVE NO TRACE People go out in nature to see nature. The last thing hikers and campers want to see is a bunch of trash and cigarette butts littering the site, bottle caps, cans in the fire ring, etc. Let the next person enjoy it as much as you did. 4 5 SECTION 1 KAYAKING 7 SACO RIVER The Saco River DISTANCES Start: 302 Bridge in Conway NH to Weston’s Bridge = 10.1 mi - Lovewell’s Pond to Brownfield Bridge = 5.9 mi The Saco River is a favorite New England - Weston’s Bridge to Swan’s Falls = 3.4 mi - Brownfield Bridge to Hiram Bridge = 13.8 mi waterway with beautiful river views and - Swan’s Falls to Canal Bridge = 3.8 mi End: Hiram Bridge in Fryeburg, ME scenery. Viewing the White Mountains - Canal Bridge to Walker’s Bridge = 7 mi Total Distance: 48.7 mi - Walker’s Bridge to Walker’s Rip (falls) = 2.7 mi from the riverbed is breathtaking on a - Walker’s Rip to Lovewell’s Pond = 2 mi clear spring or summer day. With clear water and a sandy bottom; it’s perfect for swimmimg. There are lots of options in terms of put-ins and take-outs, it’s just a question of matching up the campsites. According to the AMC Guide, you can park cars at Saco Bound on Rt. 302, at Swans Falls, at the Canal Bridge on Copyright ©2005 Josh Mathis The river originates at Mount Washington Rte 5, at Walker’s Bridge on Rte 302, at the Brownfield Bridge on Rt. 160 and at the Saco Valley Garage in Hiram. (6,288 feet). As the river makes it’s way down Mount Washington, it spills into Saco Lake, a Distance from Rt. 302 in Center Conway is: small body of water in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. From there, the river runs 134 miles Swans Falls - 10 miles and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean below Biddeford and Saco, Maine. In NH, the Canal Bridge – 14 miles river flows quickly as it drops 1,515 feet over 45 miles. Old Saco – 17.5 miles Walkers Bridge (Rt. 302) – 21 miles Walker’s Falls – 23.5 miles RIVER DIFFICULTY Lovewell’s Pond – 25.5 miles The river is primarily smooth water from North Conway to the Maine border, with some rap- Brownfield Bridge (Rt. 160) – 30 miles ids between Conway and center Conway. If you’re a whitewater expert, the upper section of Hiram Bridge – 43 miles the river is where you want to be. Between the Gorge at Notchland and the center of Bartlett has difficult rapids throughout with some drops for the more experienced. If you’re looking CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE RIVER for intermediate difficulty, Bartlett to Conway has quick water and sporadic rapids. Saco Base Pine (Base Camp) and Landing (between Bog Pond and the Old Saco) - 603-447-2177 The Beach Campground - 603-447-2723 Water Levels: Cove Campground- 603.447.6734 100 - 450 cfs - very slow moving water White Mt.National Forest- 877.444.6777 450 - 1000 cfs - gentle current Swans Falls Campground - 207-935-3395 1000 - 1200 cfs - quicker water Fiddlehead (between Bog Pond and the Old Saco) - 877-343-3534 Walkers Falls Campground - 207-441-2593 1200 - 1600 cfs - easy rapids Woodland Acres (near Brownfield Bridge) - 207-935-2529 Shannon’s Saco River Sanctuary (below Brownfield Bridge) - 207-452-2274 8 9 SECTION 1 SECTION 2 HIKING Copyright ©2014 Saco Bound 10 11 MT. WASHINGTON Mt. Washington HIKING ROUTES latitude 44° 16’ N, longitude 71° 18’ W The most popular trails start at From the west side of Mt. Washington, start- Pinkham Notch, on the east side of the ing near the Marshfield Station of the Cog At 6,288 feet above sea level, Mount mountain. Climbing from the east means Railroad, there are two routes: Washington is the highest point in the that you are sheltered from the usual northeastern United States. strong winds out of north and west for The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail (3.9 miles) the majority of the hike. Starts at a parking area just below the Cog Remember that the weather around Mount parking lot and climbs up the Lakes of the Washington changes suddenly and varies Clouds hut. From there hikers continue up on MAIN ROUTE the Crawford Path to the summit. greatly between the base and the summit. Copyright ©2013 George Cheatle Tuckerman Ravine trail (4.1 miles) *Easiest route The temperature can vary from 80 or more The Trail goes straight from Pinkham at the base to 50 or less at the summit in August. Above the tree line, clouds, rain, snow, sleet, to the summit, but is very steep at the The Jewel trail (4.6 miles) freezing rain, and lots of wind can be normal any summer day. Don’t be afraid to turn back. Headwall of the ravine. Leaves from the far side of the Cog Railroad parking lot (park at the Ammonoosuc Ravine PACKING ESSENTIALS trailhead) and climbs up to the ridge where it •Map Boott Spur trail (5.4 miles) joins the Gulfside trail. •Compass South side of the ravine and longer trail, •Warm Clothing (Including Hat And Mittens) but no more difficult. •Extra Food And Water •Flashlight Or Headlamp Lion Head trail (4.5 miles) •Matches/Firestarters On the North side of the ravine, this trail •First Aid Kit is steeper and rougher than the ravine. •Whistle •Rain/Wind Gear •Pocket Knife •Batteries •Sunscreen •Bug Spray 12 13 SECTION 2 MT. WASHINGTON Route Miles Elevation (Round Trip) Gain Tuckerman’s Ravine 8.4 4,300 Lion’s Head 8.4 4,300 Boott Spur 10.8 4,300 Boott Spur and Tuckerman’s Ravine Loop 9.6 4,300 Ammonoosuc Ravine 9.0 3,800 Jewell Trail 10.2 3,800 Ammonoosuc Ravine and Jewell Trail 9.6 3,800 Loop Great Gulf 15.8 5,000 Great Gulf and Tuckerman’s Ravine Loop 12.1 5,000 ©2014 Mount Washington Observatory 14 15 PEMI Note: This trail is nothing but hiking from peak to peak along ridges. You will be hiking up Mt. Pemigewasset and down sometimes very steep inclines. (Indian Head) The Pemi, unlike some other parts of the Whites, is a true wilderness with only the most seasoned of adventurers roaming its mountains. There are no parking lots on the tops of he Indian Head was formed by gla- T mountains and no highways cutting through the middle. cial action thousands of year ago. It sits overlooking Shadow Lake in Franconia If you are a peak-bagger, this is definitely a nice loop to go on as you hit the following peaks Notch. Out of the trees, the granite peak (listed in order of the trails above): drops straight down from the edge and leaves you with some very precarious 1. Mt. Flume (4328 ft) views down to the valley below. 2. Mt. Liberty (4459 ft) 2,557 ft mountain peak Copyright ©2007 Michael Costolo 3. Little Haystack Mountain (4780 ft) Moderate hike 4. Mt. Lincoln (5089 ft) Distance (round trip) : 3.6 miles 5. Mt. Lafayette (5260 ft) Elevation Gain : 1,200’ 6. Mt. Garfield (4500 ft) 7. South Twin Mountain (4902 ft) 8. Mt. Guyot (4580 ft) Pemi Loop 9. Mt. Bond (4698 ft) 2-3 day trip 10. The Cliffs (4265 ft) Climbs over 9000 vertical feet Between Mt.